Ulster’s Contract Sales Manager, Francoise Kergoat, recently took part in La Pause – a lunchtime webinar by NEWH Europe. If you were unlucky enough to miss it, we thought we’d look at some of the topics that she covered.
MISSING OUR CUSTOMERS
Our European sales team has missed out on meeting our customers face-to-face recently, which has been tough.
“We don’t like the situation but we have adapted to meet the needs of our customers,” says Francoise. “Like La Fontaine’s Fable of The Oak and The Reed we have had to be flexible and resilient.”
MAKING A DIFFERENCE
One topic that every manufacturer has to consider is the environment. Francoise is a keen advocate of the sustainable processes undertaken by Ulster.
The development of our Dyehouse has been an integral part of our commitment to meeting our environmental and sustainability responsibilities.
“This is an area that we have been very proactive in,” Francoise explains. “We were the first textile manufacturer to be accredited to ISO 14 001-2015. We have also improved our industrial processes to divert 100% of our post industrial waste away from landfill.
“Then, of course, there is the fact that we use wool in our carpets, which is a rapidly renewable material that can be recycled.
“But we aren’t stopping there and we’ve opened a new Recycling Hub where waste carpet will be recycled into Axfelt Triple Layer Underlay. We will continue to review every aspect of the company to reduce our impact on the environment. I hope my children benefit from the fact that we take the planet’s health so seriously.”
THE PERFECT FIT
When asked why Ulster is such a good fit for the hospitality sector, Francoise outlined three major areas – skills, service and reliability.
The stunning ballroom at Intercontinental Paris, Le Grand Hotel.
“We have highly skilled teams at every level of the company,” explained Francoise. “Our designers are some of the best in the world and we have developed technology to allow them to translate their artistry into your carpet designs.
“After all, a carpet for the hospitality sector is a technical product, so it is key that we respond to meet these needs.
“Secondly, we provide high levels of service. Using our experience, we can anticipate a lot from the initial stages of a project right through to final installation and maintenance.
“We offer a full design and planning service and we can provide a range of resources, including our online archive, tuft boxes and bespoke samples.
“Finally, we are reliable. Our integrated manufacturing process puts us in complete control of every aspect from selecting, spinning and dyeing the wool to the bespoke design and, of course, the weaving. As a consequence, we are reactive to your needs.”
DESIGN COLLABORATIONS
The partnership approach at Ulster is an important part of our success and, as Francoise outlines, it is why interior designers, architects, managers and owners love working with us.
Collaboration forms part of our creative process.
“When guests start booking their holidays again they will want their trip to be special. That is why design is essential as it makes your venue unique. Our experience on working on hotels, casinos and cruise ships across the world means we understand the unique requirements of the hospitality industry. You are offering an experience for your guests and our designers will help your flooring be part of that.”
THE FUTURE
Now, more than ever, owners will be looking for a return on their investment and that is why they will look to Ulster for high quality flooring that will look better for longer.
Francoise said, “We listen to our customers and react to their needs. We have developed our services and offer a strong mix between woven and tufted carpets to meet a wide range of needs.
“Our bespoke design service is as popular as ever and is perfect for those venues that want the wow factor. For projects that require a fast turnaround within a strict budget, then we have a comprehensive Stock Contract Collection.
“As we control our manufacturing processes we can continue to develop new ranges and new technology. We have continued to add new products during the pandemic and we’re excited about our forthcoming launches in 2021!”
CLICK HERE to learn more about our design services.
