A new sales director at ERA Home Security and Zoo Hardware says he believes talent development and training will be key to supporting their customers through a new era for the construction industry.
Darren Bates, who has worked across ERA and Zoo for nine years in roles including senior key accounts manager and head of sales – distribution, is now in post as sales director – distribution.
In a changing and challenging market, Bates has stressed the business’s commitment to generating a seamless customer service experience from sales teams who are well-informed on wider industry change.
He said: “There are so many external factors which affect our industries, whether that’s from an economic, environmental or technological perspective.
“We want to be easy to do business with and offer more than just products to our customers.
“We have to remain versatile and acutely aware of the changing world we operate in – which starts with training and development at entry level and embedding an understanding of the market throughout our sales operation.
“It’s no secret that the market is challenging at the moment, but there is an appetite for investment and growth out there, and talent is the key to unlocking that bright future and giving our customers the very best experience possible.”
Factors such as fire safety in a post-Grenfell environment, digital product tracing and the Golden Thread are all high on the agenda for built environment professionals – which Bates believes presents an opportunity for ERA and Zoo to differentiate themselves in the market.
He said: “Product certifications, transparency and a deep understanding of the impact of regulations are more important than ever – it presents us with an opportunity, as these have been important to ERA and Zoo for a long time.”
Another key development for Bates and the wider ERA and Zoo businesses is the acquisition by Quanex last year, aimed at strengthening the diversified building products supplier with global reach and an expanded product portfolio.
Bates said: “I’ve been here for nearly a decade now and it’s a particularly exciting time for both brands.
“With the investment and support of Quanex, we’ve got all the tools we need to make the biggest impact possible – but most importantly, we will continue to focus on business growth and talent development, in order to best support our customers.”
