Poly Temp Scientific likes to be ''Part of your team'', not only for their customers, but also for their suppliers. Poly Temp recently visited Tolbert to visit Score, an expert in ergonomic chairs and stools. Poly Temp has been working with Score for a number of years and they see that ergonomics is becoming increasingly important in the laboratory world. In collaboration with Score, Poly Temp can offer the total package to the end customer. Poly Temp discussed this with product manager Cindy Visser-Cnossen of Score.
Not sanctifying, but saving
''The great thing about Score is that you really make people happy with our products'', Visser-Cnossen believes. ''With our capacity and R&D department, we can listen to the customer and create the best solution, which we are very proud of. We all want beautiful, but Score is first and foremost functional and then it can be beautiful.'' Cindy emphasizes that the solution actually lies in the person and how that person deals with his or her body. ''That chair is not sanctifying. It is sanctifying for the right policy within the entire organization. It starts with the person sitting on it and whether that person is aware enough of the fact that he is responsible for the health of his own body.''
Ergonomics is becoming increasingly important in the lab
Account manager Lucas Westerhof of Poly Temp works closely with Richard Beeksma, dealer manager at Score, and together they are increasingly becoming a team to offer the right solutions for the customer. Visser-Cnossen: ''Your account managers can really shape the whole picture. They don't just look at a flow cabinet and we have to put that in a facility. No, we have a flow cabinet solution that also includes the right chair. Poly Temp understands very well that the added value lies in the person and in the quality of the solution. Those who are actually busy listening to the customer are doing extremely well. And that also results in a very loyal customer relationship.''
"For that you need to work together to find the right solutions. Sometimes we don't have them, but that is input for us to start improving again."
Last September, Poly Temp and Score were at the LabNL trade fair, where Cindy noticed that ergonomics are also becoming increasingly important in the lab. She adds: ''These ergonomic issues, certainly for a company like Poly Temp, are playing a role at the moment. And for that, you need to work together to find the right solutions. Sometimes we don't have them, but that is input for us to start improving again.'' Both Poly Temp and Score consider the importance of dialogue with the customer to be of paramount importance. ''In a specialist work environment, you need dialogue to meet all requirements and protocols. And that is what Poly Temp knows about laboratories and we can supplement that in the area of sitting,'' says Visser-Cnossen.
Product knowledge in order
''Comfort is at the top, followed by quality, functionality and then it has to be beautiful. And people don't buy from a photo or picture. You really have to experience it and then they immediately feel the added value. We do a lot of trial placements and you do need a good explanation for that. For example with very hard chairs. If you sit on it for a while, it is very hard, but with an explanation of what it does for you when you sit on it all day, the experience is completely different. In that we are dependent on all those dealers who do understand that well,'' says Cindy. ''Our dealer managers ensure that the product knowledge is in order, so that the conversation between your dealer channel and ultimately also with the end customer will be much better, where Poly Temp is a strong player for us.''
With a view to the future
Commercial manager at Score Stefan Sijbom talks about the most important argument why Score chairs are sustainable: ''Our products are made to last at least 10 years, but in practice at least 15 years. Commercially speaking, that may not be the best choice, but we strive for sustainability. In addition, the feeling of customization for the customer remains important.'' Sijbom continues: ''Because we are active in so many markets, we cannot know all markets in detail. For that, we need dealers like Poly Temp. We are the specialist in ergonomic solutions. You are with the customer and want to offer that customer a solution. And the fact that you can take a supplier with you is also a strong formula.''
Sijbom: ''Score is heading towards its 50th anniversary, just as Poly Temp has been around for 40 years. That says something about the company. We also still see Made in Holland as an important USP that exudes confidence.''
Poly Temp's visit to Score emphasized the dialogue and why it is so important. Not only from Poly Temp to the customer, but also in the relationship between suppliers. Poly Temp felt very welcome at Score and was allowed to try out all the chairs and stools in the showroom. Poly Temp is looking forward to forming an ever better team to serve their customers better.