Z&R launches triggering podcast channel 'Z&R Cafe'

The life of the awning professional working in retail and trade is about to get even more fun! Because, of course, you can listen to Radio 538, Sky Radio or NPO Radio 1 while working in the showroom or during an assembly job. But how inspiring and informative is it to also listen to the podcast 'Z&R Café' on a regular basis? As far as Louwers Media Group is concerned, this will be the podcast for the sun protection and roller shutter industry. A pilot episode has been recorded and was well received. Both by the listeners and by the interviewees themselves!

A series of recordings will start soon, all of which will come online on a Spotify channel in the spring. It will definitely be stimulating and inspiring conversations with well-known and unknown professionals in the industry. After all, the hard-working trade in the country faces many big and sometimes complicated challenges. The interviewees have ideas about these and even offer solutions. They share their insights, trends, strategies. In short, plenty of inspiration and information - and as far as the creators are concerned, plenty of impact! - that shading professionals can take forward.

Why listen-worthy?

The presenter of the podcast is Jerry Helmers, who is no stranger to the awning profession: since the beginning of 2024, he has been responsible for the final editing of all content for trade magazine Z&R, but he has been associated with Louwers Media Group for various platforms since 2003. To him, then, the question of why the upcoming podcast series on the profession is going to be very listenable. "In all the podcasts I make, I always try to trigger the interviewees or interlocutors a bit. Or let me put it this way: I challenge them as much as possible to really come up with something useful for the listener. Of course we have preliminary conversations with all the guests in our podcast studio, so that everyone is up to speed, but of course the aim is for the conversations to remain spontaneous."

Jerry says he does not particularly like fixed scripts in which the questions and answers are strictly coordinated. "In fact, if I disagree with something or if I think the interviewee really needs to explain it better, I push for that as well. I am convinced that this makes this podcast very accessible. Like chatting with each other in a café, but of course on content. Because, the central question of each episode I do want to see answered. Simply because the employees in the trade in the Netherlands also want to know that answer. We make the podcast just for them!"

Project manager Erik Imming is also looking forward to all the episodes that will be made. "Listening to podcasts has actually become commonplace anno 2025. It is a very targeted way of communicating. We noticed a lot of enthusiasm from the parties we approached to participate in the podcast. At our headquarters in Weert, at Louwers Mediagroep, we have meanwhile installed a professional podcast studio with all the necessary equipment. So we can start in full swing! The microphones are open!" 

Episode 1 - The Pilot 
How do we solve the workforce problem in the awning industry?

Where does the Z&R trade in the Netherlands find good reliable employees? And, how do you retain them? As a retailer, what can you do to keep your employees happy? In this first episode of Z&R Café, we speak with Robert Bosch, responsible for sales of awnings at RainbowSol of Leerdam. With Robert, we go over the challenges in the awning labor market. Can we solve the shortage? And, what can each individual trade itself do about it?