12 9 13 2024 - number 4 - promzvak.nl Intermediary and supplier. Five identical questions. To a supplier and an intermediary, who do not know in advance who the other is. How do they each view the industry from their own perspective? In this episode: Bob Heerius from XD Connects and Wilco Vaessen from IGO Promo. Which trend/development do you see as unavoidable for the industry? "One of the most important aspects is the product passport, linked to certified recycled material. Recycled materials are sprouting up like mushrooms, but certification is often still lacking. We have been serious about this for some time. Having ten people working on product development is partly related to this. It takes more time and energy if you want to properly arrange certification and labeling for each product. We also have an ESG department with five people. I think the industry should lead in this. End customers will increasingly demand it. It’s not something that only affects our industry. Larger companies will take it more seriously as they cannot afford to lack substantiation. Additionally, companies will have to deal with the CSRD, which requires companies to report on the impact of business activities on the environment and society and to have this reporting verified by an accountant. Our customers can find the carbon footprint (impact) of each product in our collection on our webshop, allowing them to calculate the impact for their customers. This is still unique in our industry." What are your business expectations for the last months of this year? "It looks good; we had a strong first half of the year with significant growth. I don't think the industry as a whole had an exceptional first half, but the last months of the year will be busy. I expect printing on demand to increase even more. This puts some pressure on the average order value across the industry, but I think it will pick up again in the fall." Last year, you were Supplier of the Year in the generalist category. Do you expect to be on the podium again this year, and why? "I honestly do expect a podium spot, but it's never something to take for granted. We’ve won the award four years in a row, and it gets harder each year. That's why it's always an honor to win it. You can boast about how fantastic you are, but the most important thing is that others appreciate what you do. Why do we think we should win again this year? We introduced the Iqoniq textile line last year, a brand we developed entirely ourselves, with recycled material and product passports. Another new concept is our Vinga gift card, which we launched low-profile. Also, 80% of our assortment is now based on recycled material." Which brand can you not do without? "Urban Vitamin. It’s the brand for all your travel gear, from noise-cancelling earbuds to speakers, and from magsafe power banks to high-end cables. Everything in electronics is becoming USB-C. We're moving towards needing just one power bank and one plug to charge your phone and laptop. I'm not someone who feels the need to be brand-loyal. The only brand I've been buying for about ten years is Denham. They simply make comfortable pants, so my wardrobe is full of them." What can people wake you up for at night? "Anyone with a problem – my children, my partner, my family – can wake me up at night. They can always reach me if something is wrong. There are many things I love, such as good food and sports. I've been playing hockey for 45 years and rarely miss a match. But it's a stretch to say you can wake me up for that." "As an industry, you must lead in certification" Bob Heerius XD Connects "Everything regarding CSRD will impact our industry" Wilco Vaessen IGO Promo Which trend/development do you see as unavoidable for the industry? "It’s clear that everything regarding CSRD will impact our industry. The way we view our operations will change significantly because of this, and we realize it’s important to determine, describe, and then concretize strategic principles into an executable CSRD policy from this starting point. We at IGO Promo, as intermediaries, started with this early on and sought external help. The subject matter is so comprehensive and important that we don’t want and can’t do it alone." What are your business expectations for the last months of this year? "We expect a busy fall. The market seemed a bit volatile this spring, but we are operating steadily and on target. Technically, everything is in good shape. We have managed to fill our vacancies across Europe with good people in a timely manner, and we have great campaigns planned. In short: we are happy to leave the quiet summer months behind and look forward to the fall peak with confidence." Last year, you were Supplier of the Year in the best online performance category. Do you expect to be on the podium again this year, and why? "We don't just assume that. We see that our online-oriented colleagues in the industry are also doing great work and making significant strides forward. They deserve credit for this, and it keeps us sharp. We've had a good year, and fortunately, we notice that our customers and suppliers enjoy working with us. But whether it’s enough for a podium spot, we’ll find out soon. If we make it to the podium, we will be very happy, and it will give us a lot of energy and confidence for the future. If we don't, the well-deserved congratulations go to the winners, and we will enthusiastically pursue a new podium spot in the next edition." Which brand can you not do without? "Phew, that’s a tough question. I'm not necessarily brandloyal, to be honest, but after some thought, I have to mention Apple, specifically my iPhone. My entire life is wrapped up in that device: photos, news, social contacts, business contacts, payments, and so on." What can people wake you up for at night? "I prefer to sleep through the night, but I can always be woken up for a soccer game or a great concert." BY ALLARD FREDERIKS
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDcxNDY5