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Platform on sun and daylight control, shutters, patio covers and closures
If you see old photos of random historic inner cities in the Netherlands, you see many more drop-down screens than awnings. Yet the marquise has the reputation of being the oldest awning. Something similar applies to the construction of awnings. (Marquees are built, not made.) All awnings are custom-made and thus have a high degree of craftsmanship, yet that image clings most to the marquise.
The historical and artisanal image certainly did not hurt the marquis. On the contrary. This form of sun protection is unchanged in popularity, one also notices at Betalux® Marquees in Bolsward, specialized in marquees and canopies for private and commercial applications. "We produce for our own dealers, but also under private label," says director Michel Wierda.
Betalux® Marquees of Bolsward specializes in awnings and canopies. "Because we are specialists, awnings never get in the way with us," Wierda notes. "With a total supplier this is often the case, but our focus is entirely on building awnings."
Betalux differentiates itself from other awning builders in several ways, Wierda believes. "For example, through the plastic covers we introduced several years ago. Hardly distinguishable from wood, insensitive to moisture and low maintenance. Finished in a color of your choice, they have a beautiful wood look. The parts are pre-drilled, which saves quite a bit of time during assembly."
According to Michel Wierda, you can recognize a awning builder by the canopy. "Betalux® is known for the awning hood with double deck board. In addition, we also have the Fryslân type. That has the same sidewall, but only one deck board. The storm bar is standard with every model. With our computer-controlled milling machine, we are flexible in design and can shape any plastic - but also wooden - sideboard to customer specifications. Making a special shape for a private label is also among the possibilities."
A significant portion of the marquees produced by Betalux® Marquees are hospitality and hair salon marquees, often with text and logos hand-painted on the marquee. For these target groups, Betalux® has registered the websites www.horecamarkiezen.nl and www.kapsalonmarkiezen.nl. "When people search on the Internet for these types of awnings, they quickly land on our website," Wierda said. "We then refer them to one of our dealers, whom we support with a commercial plan and beautiful brochures aimed specifically at hospitality and hair salons. There are no prices or dealer names on our sites. We deliberately keep that very objective."
In 2020, Betalux® began to develop a new look and feel. "As part of that - despite the hustle and bustle of the past two seasons - we have developed a new corporate identity in-house with a fresh, contemporary look and feel," says Wierda. "It is first and foremost a quality boost for our brand, not so much an attempt to recruit many more dealers. Quality and delivery times go high above quantity for us: we want to be able to serve our customers optimally and offer the best possible after-sales service!"
Since 2003, Betalux® has focused entirely on awnings. "Making awnings our spearhead has been a good move," Wierda believes. "It has not done us any harm. From Friesland we supply customers throughout the Netherlands, but also in Belgium and Germany. We deliver everything ourselves, even on location if desired. We know the products will be delivered in perfect condition and it's also good for customer contacts."
"The human touch is important to us," Wierda concludes his speech. "We get along well with our fellow competitors, and if necessary, we help each other. We also deal well with our customers. The sun protection industry is still relatively small-scale, with short lines of communication. I myself still regularly pack parts or take the bus to deliver awnings to our customers. Those customer contacts are valuable. Because as an entrepreneur I am also involved on the shop floor, I keep in touch with the staff and the product. As far as I am concerned, that is a prerequisite if you manage a production company like Betalux®. We do everything here with a close and committed team - Team Betalux® - with the goal of serving our customers as well as possible."
