Discover how EUROPAGES customers have benefitted from the European B2B search engine and all the services available on EUROPAGES.
The following success stories describe the problems facing our customers and show how EUROPAGES was able to satisfy their specific needs.
Thank you to all our customers!
Bio UV was founded in 2000 as a result of a straightforward idea combined with genuine entrepreneurial expertise.
Having held various jobs in insurance and in the field of medical equipment, self-taught man Benoît Gillmann came up with the idea, through personal experience, of using UV rays to purify water. The process involves subjecting water – passed through a tank – to UV-C radiation. The results are better than those obtained by processes using chlorine or other chemical methods. What is more, there are many possible applications: swimming pools, drinking water, industry, etc.
In 2006, the company's sales shot past the €6 million mark. Exports accounted for 40% of sales. That same year, after the acquisition of an existing company, a subsidiary was launched near Los Angeles.
These figures convey the company's desire for international growth. In fact, this objective was at the heart of the initial undertaking. That is why the company's founder immediately hired the services of a skilled professional.
A number of complementary mechanisms have been deployed to support the process: the creation of an attractive Internet site in various languages to generate immediate contacts; participating in swimming pool trade fairs (Lyon, Barcelona, etc.); having catalogues and leaflets in 4 or 6 languages; making optimal use of directories that have a specific focus on this sector, such as EUROPAGES through which a large number of contacts have been established subsequent to an ad; exploiting the network effect of certain multinationals; sending out mailings; placing ads in the specialized press (Arab World Water, among others); not forgetting highly active press relations at trade fairs, with support from UBI FRANCE (French agency for international business development).
In line with Bio UV's two main markets (public/private swimming pools, drinking water production), its international partners include distributors and installers on the one hand, and large companies or public authorities on the other hand. This is the case in Portugal (leading market), the Netherlands, Norway and the United Arab Emirates…
However, faced with the complexity of the North American market, to say nothing of its potential, UV Bio made the most of an opportunity to acquire an existing company. The results obtained in one year (twofold increase in sales) on this market, which boasts 60% of the world's private swimming pools, bear testimony to this alternative approach.
The decisive factor for Bio UV comes down to more than just resources. It is above all about the talent and motivation of its people. Thus, for example, the 3 people in charge of export are trilingual (the department is quadrilingual). Reactivity is also one of the company's key values, and explains why Bio UV is able to provide such a competitive service. This reactivity concerns replies to customers (a reply to an e-mail must never go beyond 1 day), the development of solutions, as well as after-sales service and customer support. Herein lies the reason why Bio UV has managed to surpass its three French competitors in the space of just a few years.
The company's international prospects are extremely positive; in 2007, outside the USA, sales are set to increase by at least 25%. The company is positioned both on the leisure markets (swimming pools), and on more vital markets. To match its growth and its ongoing investment in Research & Development, a new pooling of resources will have to be envisaged. Indeed, as Benoît Gillmann points out, "you can't rely on banks".
The CEO of Bio UV believes that for an SME to succeed internationally, the first step concerns the relational side of things, and being perceived as highly professional. Other qualities are also important: being open to the world, remaining vigilant, and having the appropriate resources. Also staying humble, not taking oneself too seriously, and being able to count on one's own financial resources at all times - banks will come knocking when you least need them… Lastly SME's must never forget that mere technical expertise is never enough; communicating is just as important.
E*page : Bio UV
