Acquisition of awning company mainly because of historical importance

Rarely does Z&R come to a place in the sun protection industry where the history is so deeply rooted that it makes you pause for a moment. We sit down in Groningen, with Peter Hoekzema of Kortrijk Zonwering BV, an established name in the industry since 1888, as evidenced by the many, respectful displays in the showroom that refer to the past.

It is not just Kortrijk Zonwering, however, but also Waterborg Zonwering, of which Hoekzema is the new owner. Waterborg dates back no less than 1875. It is one of the reasons he worked to save the company from collapse. 

Good people with a sense of tradition and a healthy margin
"I myself have been in Kortrijk Zonwering since 1979, my son Cor since 2001," Hoekzema says. "We are aware of the history of our company. Blinds and shutters were machine-made as early as 1906. A wooden roller shutter that has survived the test of time hangs here in the showroom." 

When Hoekzema learned last year that Waterborg Zonwering had fallen on hard times, he felt the need to take action. "I wanted to save Waterborg from the receiver. First of all because of the good staff working there. But also because I couldn't get it over my heart to see a Groningen company dating from the same time as Kortrijk come to an end. Those are the two emotional reasons. There is also a business reason. In recent years I have seen that prices in the region have been put under pressure by Waterborg, unnecessarily. Through the acquisition, I want to bring balance to the market so that a good living can be made with quality material." 

The old factory where machine-made blinds and shutters were manufactured.

Awning scholar on board
René André will lead the charge at Waterborg. He graduated in business administration and has held numerous positions at well-known awning companies. André is therefore well versed in the industry. "In 1992, I first came into contact with solar shading through my graduate internship - which I had the opportunity to do at Kortrijk," he outlines. "At some point, the blinds virus gets you. In 1997 I worked for Sunpoint, then for ANON/ZBN in Rijssen and for Solmaat in Vroomshoop. Since 2016 I have been self-employed and help companies set up the ISP software package (also the transformation from FoxPro to Vision, ed.). Meanwhile, I have always stayed in touch with Kortrijk. When Peter told me that he had taken over Waterborg, one thing led to another." 

"We call René our 'awning scholar,'" Hoekzema says with a laugh. "The acquisition of Waterborg happened just before the Christmas vacations. We are now barely a month and a half along and today René has his first meeting with the staff at Waterborg. René is always up for a challenge, just like me. We know each other so well that half a word is enough. That is why I think he is the right man to drive that ship." 

Money has not been the biggest driver
Hoekzema indicates that he certainly did not acquire Waterborg for the money. "If you look at it soberly, of course I paid too much for it. Taking over the business through the receiver would have saved me a lot of money, but then there would have been irreparable damage. Now we have created a safe situation for the staff, and it is up to René to make sure that everyone there goes back to work with pride. The flame may flare up considerably!" It is certainly not the intention to run both companies under one banner, André adds. "Both Kortrijk and Waterborg will each retain their own identity and each serve their own customers. I will have to start proving myself at Waterborg and make sure we keep our own pants on." 

The wooden shutter in the showroom has the tooth of time survived.

Staying regional for best delivery and service
Asked about plans for Waterborg, Hoekzema replied that Waterborg will continue to operate regionally. "From the mud flats to Beilen and from Drachten to just across the border in Germany. It must be possible to deliver quickly and the service must be outstanding." André adds, "The first thing I am going to do is to normalize the prices so that there is also some earning. In terms of delivery program, I'm going back to the core business. So no more stoves, furniture and wall systems." 

A challenge of the highest order awaits André, but both men are confident that things will work out. "We have to deal with the legacy of the past," Hoekzema concludes. "But we are going to right the ship and ensure continuity. With staff with more than 35 years of experience and with a rock-solid name in awnings, we should be able to get that job done!"  

Text and image Jan Mol
Featured image: René André (left) and Peter Hoekzema.