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OUR CLIENTS, OUR FRIENDS
Sticking to the principles
From a company with humble beginnings supplying saw mill products to the fruit packaging industry to a leading foam manufacturer - that is the proud heritage of Nuvision's client, Strandfoam. In fact, through continuous innovation over the last 40 years, Strandfoam has become one of the largest independent foam manufacturers in South Africa.
It all started when founder Walter Laurie was looking for more cost effective alternatives for fruit cushioning products. After thorough experimentation and research, he found that the answer is in polyether foam. Additional uses for the product were soon identified and today Strandfoam manufactures a wide range of polyurethane products used for furniture, bedding, packaging and even in the medical industry.
Strandfoam is a family business and the team sticks proudly to their values and business principles. We asked Strandfoam executive director Robert Laurie to talk to us about their inspiring business approach:
Can you tell us more about Strandfoam's business principles?
We have always valued the importance of managing our cost of sales strategy meticulously. It is also vital in our industry to continuously seek for ways to reduce production cost. This should however never be done at the expense of quality.
For us the bottom line is: Protect your margins rather through a focus on cost effectiveness than increasing sales prices. The right cost of sales strategy can be positioned as both a competitive edge as well as a potential barrier to entry.
In the manufacturing business it's very important to use the best possible raw materials at the best possible price - thus creating a perfect balance between price and quality.
Regarding our suppliers, Strandfoam remains loyal and we do not abuse them in any way, establishing quality relationships across the spectrum (especially within the value chain). Management must find relevant ways to truly create an "ownership" theme in the business that will make ALL people feel important and responsible for the business' wellbeing.
Clearly your business has a very distinct culture and value system?
Yes, we believe in hard work, high ethics and accountability. Our philosophy is that success comes through only hard work, over a long period of time, and not through a quick fix or overnight solutions.
More than 40 years of running this business has surely taught the Strandfoam team a few valuable lessons?
Indeed. We have learned the significance of properly addressing the market's actual needs - to be fully in touch with the real opportunities in the market and to meet the demand as it is.
The possibility of creating your own market with innovation should also be taken into account, but the secret lies in the ability to remain flexible and to make sure the business can adapt to changing market trends and conditions.
In our industry it all boils down to product development which is key in remaining competitive and a frontrunner in the industry.
Although Strandfoam has this wonderful history, there are obviously new challenges to face?
Yes, this is an ever-changing market. Our current challenge is to align the various preferences and styles of the different generational groups (baby boomers and generations X,Y,Z, etc.).
Another challenge is to maintain the culture of hard work and ethical conduct in an environment where people nowadays tend to strive towards a more balanced work and life scenario.
Nuvision sees Strandfoam's business approach as highly inspirational and we are proud to be associated with them.
For more information, visit www.strandfoam.co.za