Interview with Antonio Puig, Spain-Director General of Nespoli Group Portugal

Since 1940, we are present in all markets of the European Union.

Our speciality are the tools of hand and necessary tools for professionals and the bricoladores, specialized in the world of decoration, restoration, painting, protection, coatings, pavements, carpentry and masonry.

For a professional, hand tools are his company in the development of their daily work, and each one of them looking for the tool best suited him and offered to him by greater expectation of performance and durability. These values may be coincidental or not for the bricolador, which does not perform a daily use, for that reason, there are differences in models and benefits, to meet all the demands of consumers.

End of this period will not be easy, consumer is receiving 'input' to postpone their decision to purchase, i.e., the work or scheduled repair can have, this trend may continue during the first months of 2009, therefore, the objectives will not be met, we must make changes in the promotions and continue offering new products, new solutions that encourage them to buy and to provide greater benefit.

We are working to bring to market new products in all families and as a common denominator have the search for new raw materials that will be more comfortable and more respectful with the environment. The handles of our tools are going to evolve, it will be his third generation plastic handles item to the 'Soft Touch' (smooth touch) and for 2009 we will launch the generation of soft touch the hands of the consumer-oriented. Another important development, will be the adaptation of the bristles in brushes and the tissues of the roller to paint the new formulations of paintings according to the EC 2004/42 rules regulating the emission of VOC (volatile organic compounds) into the air.

One might distinguish two types of bricoladores. Assets, with a positive attitude towards the DIY experts, know select products, want to learn and expect recognition, in addition to investing time. Non-experts, i.e. the casual, they have no choice but, buy any product, the cheapest and easy to use. Our families of products are designed for two types of bricoladores, satisfy the first and appeal to the second.

The value is the fair, prices are based on the materials with which the product is manufactured, the diversity of raw materials allows you to make different models of tool so that the consumer can choose your product according to the benefits you are looking for and the price that it deems proper.

Any of the two channels, both hardware and DIY centres, ready for the sale of products related to the DIY, is logical to think that DIY centres have a higher specialization, mainly due to the surface for the exhibition of the ranges. They are different distribution channels; hardware = proximity, DIY centres = displacement, the consumer can choose.

It is verified that the good sales them get those centres that have well ordered and exposed their product families. According to the provisions of space, they must adapt collections to offer the diversity of products. Our marketing and sales teams are ready and experienced to help figure out how you can get the maximum return with the space available. Another basic point is the training and information that have the vendors of the centres, to each family of products, more knowledge, more customers, more sales and more profitability.

The information is the basic quality which must be the product of DIY, any product requires that the manufacturer communicates well their characteristics and uses, this will enable the consumer to choose the product you need. We cannot regard a product for the DIY, without information, without specifications, while you have a good packaging.

The difference of a few manufacturers to others is in the evolution that they perform in their products. In the Nespoli group we have designers that are constantly working with r & d for the development of new models, more practical, more ergonomic, i.e., to facilitate and improve the use of the tool and greater comfort. The upside is in products of higher value added to the final consumer.

We appreciate any kind of Association, in the case of AFEB is working well, both in the exchange of information and studies of market, which otherwise would be more difficult to obtain. It is one of the most active associations. We also collaborate with DIY associations in other countries such as France, Italy and Germany, as well as collaborating with the International Association of manufacturers of brushes and brushes.

There is no doubt that the future is on the Internet; tools and supplies for the DIY have little presence in this channel, neither manufacturers nor distributors use their potential.