Interview: 6 questions – 6 answers
Daniela Koch, CEO, reviews the Swissbau trade fair and, at the same time, gives an outlook on the coming financial year.
What experiences did Schneider gain in participating at the 2024 Swissbau trade fair?
The "Swissbau Inside" format, which offers exhibitors a homogeneous and architectural staging, focuses on interior finishing, interior design and design products. The presentation is designed in a fundamentally different way: sustainable, downscaled and to the point. The products are the focus. We were thus able to present new trends, concepts and further developments in an ideal and targeted manner and gained valuable customer insights that will help us enrich the development of products. The appreciative feedback and inspiring ideas, such as the multifunctional usability of Schneider products, encourage us and, at the same time, confirm that lean and sustainable trade fair formats have the finger on the pulse.
Mirror cabinets and illuminated mirrors are an integral part of trendy bathrooms and home environments. Why is that?
The exhibition space at Swissbau Inside and the trend world for bathrooms are an indication that companies in this segment play a fundamental role in the industry. The focus is on wanting stylish, timeless and harmonious bathrooms and living spaces. Mirror cabinets and illuminated mirrors literally complement rooms in many ways. They are eye-catching and immediately arouse the viewer's interest. They create space and make the environment appear airier. As a decorative element, they support style and design and cleverly enlarge bathrooms, corridors or other living spaces. The response from trade fair visitors confirms how relevant our products are for the world of bathrooms and other living spaces. I'd like to quote a visitor who told me that she would never give away her Schneider mirror cabinet. It looks as if it is floating in the room thanks to the indirect light and invites you to linger in the bathroom.
The Schneider FLOAT was presented as a concept at Swissbau. Could you tell us more about the genesis of this design?
The FLOAT concept is a synthesis of various sources of inspiration. The basis for this is an ongoing information process of our marketing team and the business development department, which summarises, analyses and provides the development team with all valuable ideas and input from the markets. Things are continuously being added to the Innovation Canva through this. The sum of all the data leads to product concepts that are characterised by new shapes and colours and can be integrated into various style collections, such as entrance halls, living rooms, hotel lobbies, etc. The oval Schneider FLOAT mirror cabinet concept represents this process of innovation.
Were there any special encounters or insightful discussions at Swissbau that could have an impact on future business opportunities or partnerships?
Using the Scan2Lead app, we documented the essence of the discussions and purposefully evaluated the products on display and the experience of visitors. We were very pleased about the visitors from different industries. The discussions with trade representatives, interior decorators, designers, property managers and bathroom installers were valuable and show that long-term relationships help create mirror cabinets and illuminated mirrors that are timeless. The latter puts it in a nutshell and complements the knowledge gained from the discussions: we create products that make customers happy for years. Durability and quality characterise the products from Schneider. At our stand, we heard the statement several times that customers have flawless mirror cabinets from us that are 20 years old and older.
Everyone is talking about the integration of mirror cabinets and illuminated mirrors into different style collections. Can you explain why that is?
The classic Schneider bathroom mirror cabinet, which we know from childhood, will continue to be so in the future. New forms of living and architectural conditions offer consumers the opportunity to incorporate mirror cabinets and illuminated mirrors into their own living concept. In this context, integration means that, for example, the Schneider A-Line HCL fits perfectly into a lobby or that the Schneider Style-Line Comfort LED stylistically enhances a living room or an entrance hall. In addition, light plays an essential role in spatial planning. These days, Dim2Warm, HCL and Tunable White functions are no longer confined to the shadows and are, fortunately, an integral part of sustainable design products such as ours. From a functional point of view, new perspectives are opening up with regard to use. Light mirrors can be used excellently as a full-length mirror: one last look in the mirror and smiling at oneself before leaving the house has never been so easy!
What are the strategic priorities for Schneider in the coming financial year?
The subject areas of our roadmap are diverse and pursue the overarching mission: "We want everyone to be able to see themselves in the right light." We will achieve this mission with a cohesive, strong team spirit across all areas. In concrete terms, this means, for example, that we have supplemented our metalworking sector with a state-of-the-art CNC machine that is currently integrated into the production process. In addition, we attach great importance to a flawless service experience. We want customers to see us in the best light. In the future, we will be transferring this positive spirit to new and emerging markets.