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[November 2009]
Duravit Sets Up Subsidiary in South Africa
Duravit bathroom products are currently being marketed successfully in over 90 countries worldwide. Now the bathroom supplier, based in Hornberg, Germany, has gone a step further and set up its own subsidiary in South Africa.
The new trading base, established on 2 November 2009, will underpin the successful expansion of the business and is expected to increase levels of brand acceptance significantly. That’s why the new company is headquartered in Sandton, Johannesburg, right in the heart of the country, close to all decision makers and important institutions.
Duravit South Africa will handle all sales and marketing activities and provide blanket coverage of the South African market with a total of six staff, including a full in-house and field sales team and a project consultant.
Duravit aims to combine international marketing activities with the specific needs of South African people. “We offer the entire product range here,” reported Franz Kook, Chairman of the board of Duravit AG. With sanitary ceramics, bathroom furniture and the Baths + Wellbeing segment, Duravit covers all aspects of bathroom furnishing. “As a full-line manufacturer we offer a more diverse product range than practically any other sanitaryware manufacturer,” said Mr Kook. Correspondingly the products range from the low-priced Euroline through the mid-priced Profiline to the higher priced Studioline – from simple forms to the designer bathroom by Philippe Starck. Franz Kook added: “True to our motto of ‘bathroom design from jeans to dinner-jacket’ we cater for all budgets and lifestyles”.
In order to support activities in South Africa, Duravit has also set up a new warehouse and logistics centre. The customer thus benefits from the shortest possible delivery times and the rapid availability of the entire range. As retail and trade partner, Duravit will give its South African customers and partners comprehensive, professional support when selling, marketing, planning and installing Duravit products. “The support we have received from the market enables us to make further investments in our new office, as well as our sales, marketing and logistics infrastructure. This secures the availability of Duravit products in Southern Africa and the further development of our Duravit customer service,” said Karen Robyn, General Manager, Duravit South Africa.
ENDS