Aqua-Seal STC Solutions – Interview

Hi,

As some of you will know, my good friend A’nge Kokkaliaris of Australia and I have teamed up to develop the Aqua Seal STC brand of premium care and maintenance products. Recently A’nge took some time out to be interviewed by Tile Today Magazine, Australia.

By kind permission I have the article here:

INTERVIEW – A’NGE KOKKALIARIS, AQUA-SEAL STC SOLUTIONS

 

TT:          In the last edition of Tile Today we briefly touched on your move from being a distributor of Aqua Mix products to a manufacturer and exporter of the Aqua-Seal STC (Stone, Tile & Concrete) Solutions brand. What challenges have you had to overcome and how was the transition?

AK:             Hi Tony, the last 4-5 months sure have been a rollercoaster ride for the team at Aqua Seal.  The transition from distributor to manufacturer brings along many challenges and changes in the way our business is run on a day-to-day basis.  However the commitment, expertise and energy our team put in to the Aqua Seal brand ensures that we are developing and delivering a great product range.  We know how to fill the void the industry has plus we are able to take what we knew as good products and develop even better ones.   Our customers obviously benefit as there is an advantage – what we like to call “The Aqua Seal Advantage”.  These are exciting times for us and our results and the feedback from our loyal customers, shows that we are on the right track

 

TT:          Apparently there are more than 50 companies manufacturing or distributing sealers in Australia, so you have a lot of well established competition. Why should resellers and applicators consider using Aqua-Seal STC products in preference to brands they know and favour?

 

AK: My involvement in the tile & stone industry is over 30 years and included having successfully distributed two other brands of tile and stone care products.  With my great team, we were able to take these two brands that where in reality minor players in the industry to being market leaders.  Our achievements were not so much because of how well the products performed but mainly because of the technical expertise we brought to our customers – we became the “Go to Guys”.  So for our customers, architects, builders and also reputable companies like ASA/Bostik, Ardex, Davco, Mapei, and Laticrete etc they know that it is A’nge and his team that can solve their problems.  The added bonus is also now having a better product to fix it.  Successful companies understand that being a specialist in your field makes all the difference.  In the complicated world of tile and you cannot be a master of everything and that’s why the successful companies stick to what they do best.

 

TT: How has the market place accepted your new range of products?

AK:  The transition for our customers has been very easy.  Apart from performance of the products, we ensured that our products are easy to use, label instructions are easy to understand and that the product support is always spot on.  The product range that we have launched satisfies the day-to-day needs that the tile & stone industry has.

 

TT:          Your products are currently specified in two large high-profile projects Crown Casino in Melbourne and Burswood Casino Complex in Perth.  Where and how are they being used?

 

AK:         Crown Casino Melbourne is redeveloping their Retail Walk area which is approx 3,500m2 and this included installing natural stone in high traffic walk areas and food areas.  They tested a range of products for a period of 3 months on site and determined that our products gave them the performance and protection that would satisfy their needs.  We have been working closely with the Project Division of Crown Melbourne to ensure that their maintenance staff is able to successfully maintain the floors to keep them in their optimum condition and in a very cost-effective manner.  With the success of our products at Crown Casino, we have been specified at Burswood Casino Complex in Perth.

 

TT:          Are you distributing your product outside of Australia??

AK:         Yes.  From Australia we are exporting to the Pacific islands, New Zealand, and into Asia.  We have opened an office in UK which looks after our UK and Europe sales.  We are currently exporting to eight countries in Europe and demand for the brand keeps growing.  Our UK/Europe Division is being handled by Ian Taylor who has over 30 years of experience in the tile and stone industry along with over 15 years in the chemical industry.

 

TT:          What new products can we expect from Aqua Seal STC™?

 

AK:         Over the next 4 months we will be introducing one new product per month.  The first one to be released in October 2011 will be Aqua Seal STC™ Boost™ which is a no rinse, streak free, every day neutral cleaner for natural stone and porcelain tile. The main benefit of Aqua Seal STC™ Boost™ apart from cleaning and maintaining your surface, it also boosts the performance of the sealer that has been used therefore ensuring that the existing sealer is always at its best levels and therefore requiring resealing less often.  It can successfully be used on factory sealed porcelain tile to boost the factory applied sealer.

 

TT:          Finally, what can customers expect from Aqua Seal STC™?

 

AK:         Tony, we will continue to give our customers the service, product performance and technical knowledge that they expect and that we are known for. Our customers know and trust Pela, Justin and myself and acknowledge our standing in the industry as experts in our field.  Moving forward, one of the first things that we have implemented now without the constraints that where associated with being a distributor, is the improvement the product range and the product performance.  Secondly, we have a state of the art training facility in Sydney where we conduct courses  a) 2 day Tile & Grout Care, Maintenance and restoration and b) 2 Day Stone Care, Maintenance and Restoration. Third, we have commissioned a training facility in Melbourne to conduct the same courses. Fourth, we have opened a warehouse in Adelaide and Perth to service our customers in those states and we hope to open our Melbourne warehouse by end of 2011. Our Sales Agents in Perth (David Walker) and Adelaide (Shane Newcombe) have decades of experience in our industry therefore continuing the level of service and knowledge that our customers expect from Aqua Seal STC. Finally over the next few months our website www.aqua-seal.com.au will be revamped with exciting features like….. Well I have to keep a few things secret don’t I?

 

TT:          A’nge, sounds like some great and exiting times ahead.  Good luck with your venture and thank you for talking to Tile Today.

 

Copyright Ian Taylor and The Tile and Stone Blog.co.uk, 2013. See copyright notice above.