How was 2022 for Kärcher? What were the highlights? What were the challenges?

2022 will be another record year for Kärcher Oceania. We have seen the market in both professional and retail channels continue to grow, maintaining the momentum from the previous two years. We have seen significant growth across our strategic market segments, allowing significant iAfernvestment in our professional sales and service business to support this growth.

Some of the key highlights have been our continued investments of our Kärcher Centers opening two new locations in Newcastle and Gold Coast. The Kärcher presence in these two locations ensures we can meet the needs of Kärcher consumers in these regions.

We have seen key relationships with international and local key accounts thrive where we have provided large national and local machine roll outs throughout 2022. This has been extremely important in allowing for further investment within our Professional service organisation.

The challenges throughout 2022 were largely felt off the back of supply and logistics delays which were consistent from the previous two years. These challenges allowed the business to further develop a robust supply and operations process which meant we are able to plan and communicate both internally and externally to ensure we give our best chance of keeping our customers cleaning.

What have been some of the learnings from the past 12 months?

I am so proud of the way the Kärcher business has embraced chaos throughout this period of significant growth. Without each and every function within the business collaborating and looking for continual improvement, we would not have been able to achieve this success whilst maintaining our high performance and people centric culture.

What do you see as the main challenges the market is facing in 2023?
I would see resourcing as a continual challenge in the market in 2023 whilst unemployment is at very low rates. We are also expecting logistics cost to continue placing additional pressures across the market.

What are Kärcher’s main priorities for 2023?
One of the key priorities for Kärcher is to continually improve its sales and service offers. With significant growth we have encountered some positive growing pains, this has allowed the business to build robust plans including structural changes ensuring we continue to meet the current needs of our customers but keep the business driving for its 2025 vision.

Kärcher’s other main focus in 2023 is to really define the recent regional Oceania approach across Australia and New Zealand. It is exciting to be able to align the two countries which will create significant opportunities for collaboration and set the region up for future success.

What do you expect to be the big trends of 2023?

I would expect to see more opportunities to improve cleaning efficiencies with the key focus on sustainable cleaning practices. Kärcher is excited to be continually innovating as a business and being an active partner in trials in this focus area.

Are there any key sustainability commitments/targets Kärcher has made for 2023?

We have three pillars in our sustainability strategy 2025: Zero Emissions; Reduce, Reuse, Recycle; Social Hero. Our production plants across the globe are carbon neutral and have been since 2021.

We are continuing to reduce our CO2 emissions across the business, introducing recyclable packaging and ensuring we produce durable products that last longer.

As well as this, we will continue to develop our social and community activity with grassroots support, cultural cleans, and environmental clean-up days.

What advice would you give to fellow leaders in the cleaning industry?

In today’s fast paced evolving world, business culture and its people should be one of the highest priorities. The importance and focus on workplace culture, employee engagement, and wellbeing can mitigate some of the market challenges around resourcing.

More than ever, keeping your staff motivated, challenged, and involved will lead to long-term employee retention. This is applicable to any business in any industry, small or large.

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

As an industry we all have an opportunity to work more closely together on topics that benefit all. A great example of this is Thank Your Cleaner Day, a special day once a year dedicated to all cleaners.

This is an opportunity for the cleaning industry to thank the people who keep workplaces and public buildings clean, safe and hygienic.

The next Thank Your Cleaner Day is 18 October 2023, and I would like to encourage everybody to embrace this day, show recognition to our cleaners, and raise the profile of the industry.

This first appeared in INCLEAN magazine. 

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