This news article was originally written in Spanish. It has been automatically translated for your convenience. Reasonable efforts have been made to provide an accurate translation, however, no automated translation is perfect nor is it intended to replace a human translator. The original article in Spanish can be viewed at Los valores del comercio tradicional y su futuro

Specialize in quality and continue to be better, are the keys to future

The values of the traditional trade and its future

Ricard Puigoriol, Manager of Valls 190013/04/2010

Valls 1900 is a family company founded, as its name suggests, in 1900 and it opened its doors offering 'hardware and cookware items', as presented its founder, Ramon Valls, the store open in the Urgell Street no. 13. Today, the fourth generation, takes the reins of the business with three stores and 25 workers.

Today the or may not be of the hardware Valls passes through four basic areas such as: profession, values, beliefs and mink's future.

Firstly, trader who I am, we must claim our profession, appreciate and be proud; a profession based on deep values. It must also be aware of the risks and threats, such as aggressive policies of certain actors, the crisis, the lack of depth and breadth of product, relocation, etc.

But, for me, the most important risk is the generational change and the response has been to seek incentives for both parties.

Ramon Valls launched Valls 1900 with a commercial strategy aimed at the service the client: the best selection at the best price.

Secondly, we rely on values which are: the work and effort; trust, trust in people, in the team, suppliers, but above all confidence in customers and ethics. We must be consistent with your values and your behavior is expected of you.

In my opinion are permanent and constant values that are already applied in 1900 and was have been transmitted from generation to generation over the years.

Stores today

Valls 1900 currently has three stores in Barcelona in the same Urgell Street where he started, another in the P Valldaura and one in the Grand street of Sant Andreu.

As for the convictions, mainly is the belief that our type of business is existing, current and is based on being specialists:

Specialists in proximity, are urban stores, we are the store in the neighborhood, are coming.
Specialists in service.
Specialist in solutions, in our stores every customer leaves with a diagnosis, it needs to be optimum and immediate responses.
Prescribing specialist, we are ambassadors of our suppliers, their brands, their products, prescribe them.
And above all quality specialists, meaning quality the difference of what the client expects to receive and finally receives.

For my all these convictions are the keys to our past, present and future.

The beginnings

Copy of the letter sent by Ramon Valls as a presentation of the trade

Very me Sir,

Having acquired the establishment of hardware of the Urgell Street n ° 13 (near the market of S. Antonio), I am pleased to V. knowledge if you like to honor him with his visit. At the same time I must warn you that if you need an item of hardware and cookware, this home is for sale when you crave, then long years of practice in this establishment, together with that I am counting on the essential elements for this, allow me to assure you I'll always have fully stocked warehouse and I will be able to serve you at extremely cheap prices.

Thus, he hoped to be favored with the confidence of V. who takes the opportunity to offer in its more affmo. S.S.

Ramon Valls.

And that precisely our future must face with force this crisis, because they feel, it will make us become stronger at all. Also the future will become a journey of return of certain operators of the distribution that will seek more closeness and service.

Our strategy goes through two points:

-One, grouping all major operators in the sector are concentrating their efforts on communicating on a single flag. We must do the same, our sector is very atomized and there are many cooperatives and groups of shopping with their respective flags and marks. We must start a period of concentration. On our side we are associated with Cofac, of which my father was one of the founders, and that has undoubtedly been instrumental in our growth. We believe in Cofac as a reference in the market.
- And two, persevere; continue to be more forthcoming, persevere in giving more service, persevere in giving solutions, continue to give higher quality.

Ultimately continue to be better.