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Platform on sun and daylight control, shutters, patio covers and closures
The headline is off. The first recordings of Z&R Café, the new podcast channel for awning and roller shutter lovers in the Netherlands, have been completed. The relevant episodes can now be listened to on Spotify. In mid-March, the first official recording day took place in the professional podcast studio of Louwers Mediagroep in Weert, where Steven Heytens (Co-CEO at Brustor) and Sales Manager Jos de Weerd (Brustor), Philippe Goossens of Becker-Benelux and Eddy Hillebrand, President of the trade association Romazo, took place behind the microphone in separate sessions.
The moderator for those three recordings was presenter Jerry Helmers, who not only had a fine conversation with the guests, but also knew how to stimulate and tease regularly. And ... to please. Because, of course, laughter is also allowed. "To me, the essence of a good podcast is that you don't always have to agree with each other," he says. "It's allowed to rub off a little bit sometimes. Besides, that's great fun for the listener. And also exciting. Look, if you're working in the showroom, or you're doing your administration in the office... how cool is it to hear in the background that conversation about awnings and roller shutters, where developments in the industry are interpreted, where sometimes surprisingly useful product information is shared - without immediately turning it into a commercial - but where, above all, the goal is to inform and inspire everyone in the trade? Yes, that's very cool. It's actually remarkable that in an industry where so much is happening there hasn't been a similar podcast show before."
Given the reactions that not only the interviewees personally received after putting the episodes online, but also looking at the interactions that can be found on Social Media about the start of the podcast series (especially on Linkedin), its launch can be considered "extraordinarily successful. Project Manager Erik Imming, who has taken on the task of planning the next recording days, says that in the meantime it has become apparent that many other industry stakeholders are eager to join this podcast series. "They listened to the first episodes, they see the added value, they found the conversations and small discussions they heard fun and useful. And at the same time they understand very well that in a recording of 30 to 40 minutes you can share an awful lot of relevant information that is of real use to the trade."
Erik and Jerry emphasize that the podcast is ab-so-lutely not a commercial for the guests at the table and at the microphone. It can, of course, provide positive or useful PR. So it is again. "Of course we discuss the approach with the guests beforehand. After all, we don't want to surprise anyone unnecessarily but the conversations are otherwise spontaneous. Also, the three dilemmas we present to the guests at the beginning of the show are new to the guest at the time of recording. Well, say it ... do you agree or disagree with this statement? Very nice. Also for us because, of course, even we don't always know what the answers are. But those answers are always the trigger to further stimulate, tease a bit and ultimately please the listener!"
Is solar shading the holy grail for sustainable cooling?
Joining us at the table are Steven Heytens and Jos de Weerd. In this podcast, we talk about Global Shading Day, the important (international) day for the shading industry that calls attention to the importance of using shading versus air conditioning. After all, you can cool with shading too! But is solar shading ultimately the holy grail for sustainable cooling? We also discussed how to deal with consumers who do not believe in global warming. Can we still convince them? Or is that precisely where the importance of Global Shading Day lies? What role or responsibility does the trade have in this?
How do you involve the trade in innovation in the industry?
With Philippe Goossens, we talked about how to involve the trade in the Netherlands in stimulating innovation in the industry? And should we want to involve the trade in the first place? At that point you then also come to the question of what good sun protection must meet in 2025 and who will determine those conditions? We also discussed what steps we can still take with the development of motors for sun protection systems. What can we expect in the coming years? Philippe was additionally clear about how we should deal with AI with regard to customer communication. To use or not to use Chatbots?
Do consumers actually know the Romazo seal of approval?
In the industry, Romazo is well known. But ... do consumers actually know what Romazo is and what it stands for? We asked Eddy Hillebrand, the visibly enthusiastic chairman of the trade association. After all, does the Romazo seal of approval have any value if consumers don't know exactly what it means? We also talked about the audits that are done at the trade. Why are these important? And what or who exactly is the Smart Solar Shading Advisor? But also: can we judge the president of the Romazo on a number of goals that have been set?
