Industry Leaders Forum: Kristine Collins, Product Manager, SEBO Australia

How was 2020 for SEBO? What were the highlights? What were the challenges?

At the beginning of 2020 we had plans to showcase a number of new products at exhibitions both local and overseas. Instead we brought the products to market via a ‘cyber’ launch event. All four new vacuum cleaners – SEBO XP10, XP20, XP30 and SEBO Professional G5 were designed in mind to suit hospital, aged care, and healthcare sectors featuring our superior SEBO S-Class filtration system.

To meet the S-CLASS standard the filtration system has to remove a minimum of 99.97 per cent of particles of 0.3 microns and ensure that the fine dust particles and allergens stay in the closed vacuum cleaner system.

This high-performance filtration system improves indoor air quality (IAQ) for occupants as well as protecting the Operator’s health and safety too. SEBO vacuums are the perfect choice for correct soft floor care and maintenance in premises where high IAQ is of paramount importance.

Strong marketing and educational campaigns produced significant sales results over the past two quarters. Where it was initially reported at the start of the pandemic households would ‘tighten their purse strings’, the government assisted cash injections, people working from home, a greater focus on health, hygiene and domestic cleaning duties, SEBO website traffic tripled and we ran out of stock. Fortunately, we had containers on the water and we could once again meet the high demand.

How did SEBO adjust to the impact of the pandemic?

Providing a safe environment for our customers and staff will always be our number one priority. In the interests of staff and customer safety, and as part of ongoing efforts to give customers’ access to the SEBO products they need, SEBO offered staff the ability to work off site using the existing network in place.

With more than 50 per cent of our workforce female we identified early on in business the importance of flexible working hours and conditions especially for those who were returning to work from maternity leave.

With these provisions already in place it was very easy for us to implement a COVID safe plan with flexible working conditions, if required, for those staff members who were returned traveller’s, parents home schooling or caring for family members who were considered high risk in regards to health issues.

We experienced little disruption to our overall business activities. I congratulation the entire SEBO team both local and overseas who remained committed and compliant during this unprecedented time.

What will be the immediate focus for SEBO in 2021?

We have always placed high importance on providing industry specific education and tailored cleaning programs for our customers. We remain committed to giving advice on the correct cleaning methods for soft floor care.

Global media coverage has put a spotlight on harmful pathogens and allergens that cannot be detected by the human eye so no longer can society turn a blind eye and accept ‘if it looks clean, it must be clean’.

According to the National Asthma Council Australia, around two out of five Australians have allergies, including most people with asthma. Using a vacuum cleaner, like SEBO with an electric driven brush roller, that can extract maximum debris, dust and allergens from soft floor covers and seal them in an airtight system is paramount for improving IAQ. SEBO vacuums not only clean the floors you walk on but also the air you breathe!

What challenges and opportunities do you see for the industry over the next 12 months?

Most companies have already pivoted to a ‘new normal’, however, maintaining a high level of cleaning as the ‘norm’ across all industries is of great importance.

Consistent messages from health authorities, the government and cleaning experts as well as the need for tailored health education programs of which we in the cleaning industry can contribute and promote, to improve levels of knowledge, attitudes, and practices. The saying goes ‘Old habits die hard’.

The cleaning industry must lead by example and consistently maintain a high-level cleaning standard. Using correct cleaning equipment to suit the application and operator is instrumental to protecting society and supporting the workforce and the economy back to recovery.

How has the pandemic changed public attitude and behaviours in respect to hygiene and cleaning standards? Do you expect these changes to continue post-COVID?

The mitigation of COVID was highly dependent on cooperation and compliance of the whole of society. The knowledge, attitudes, and practices people (including businesses) hold toward COVID play an integral role in determining a society’s readiness to accept behavioural change measures from health authorities.

Society rightly deserves and expects a new level of clean and hygienic environment, however, we all have a duty of care, both as individuals and businesses, to ensure the correct education and equipment is available and that the message of the importance of hygienic conditions remains in focus.

Looking at the future what changes and adjustments should the cleaning industry must embrace?

Lead by example and maintain the best practices and highest standards. Supply effective and efficient products and technologies to the consumer.

Sustainable cleaning is a key component but this must all begin at the origin – at the products manufacturing plant.

SEBO’s manufacturing plant in Germany was designed all those years ago with the environment in mind. A combined heat and power system recovers virtually 100% of its primary energy source. The products and packaging must be at the forefront of technology that reduces the carbon footprint and does not add readily to landfill.

What additional advice or guidance do you have for the cleaning community now and after the pandemic?

It’s time for business leaders to seize the moment and consider how they want to evolve their workplace to be fit for the future. Tempted as you might be to save a few dollars, avoid resorting to back to ‘old cleaning hacks’ as a cost saving measure. Speak to a qualified cleaning expert (or two) and get the right piece of cleaning equipment for the application. Invest now to save later.

Is there a message you would like to share with the industry?

Looking after your mental health and wellbeing is just as important as your physical safety at work. We are all trying to build new skills to be resilient in ways we have not had to before.

The World Health Organization outlines mental health as “a state of well-being in which every individual realises his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community.”

Understanding the new situations, you and your staff face as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic should be taken just as seriously as business-related considerations. These may include but not limited to:

  • Stress and anxiety for people who may not yet feel comfortable or safe returning to work.
  • Reviewing expectations around productivity as a result of frequent cleaning of workspaces, hand-washing breaks, and other safety protocols.
  • Ways to further support remote working for those who need it.

This article first appeared in the January/February issue of INCLEAN magazine. 

Read the original article here.

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