Living network
Ahrweiler, 30-31 August 2023 - Over two decades, Jens Johanni, Area Sales Manager of Klaes GmbH & Co. KG, and Harald Heinzel, District Manager of GUTMANN Bausysteme GmbH, have created an impressive network based on shared customer benefits and technical expertise. But their story goes beyond this successful partnership: in a recent network meeting, this cooperation was taken to a new level.
Text: Thomas Reinert
For more than two decades, Jens Johanni, area sales manager of Klaes GmbH & Co. KG from Bad Neunahrn-Ahrweiler and Harald Heinzel, District Manager of GUTMANN Bausysteme GmbH from Weißenburg in Central Franconia, have now been cultivating their network.
It all started with a meeting during the Hessian Window Days of the Association of Joiners in Hesse. It quickly became clear that they were thinking along the same lines and that the focus was on customer benefits. Both players are characterised by a high level of technical knowledge and distinctive, social competence. To this day, the balls are played back and forth between the software house Klaes and the Bavarian aluminium system provider, without violating the compliance rules. The focus is on the customer's application. In numerous cases, it could be proven that the systems harmonise well with each other and individual solutions could be found.
In the summer of 2022, Jens Johanni gets to know the new sales manager of GUTMANN Bausysteme GmbH, Thomas Reinert. It quickly becomes clear here, too, that networks and customer-oriented consulting business are central tools for Reinert. Shortly afterwards, the idea is born to extend this approach to the other sales colleagues of both companies. After internal consultation with Lars Klaes, second-generation managing director, and Stefan Müller, southern sales manager at the established provider of software solutions for windows and façades, Johanni is able to extend the invitation to Thomas Reinert to visit the Ahrweiler location with his sales team.
The dates of 30 and 31 August 2023 were fixed. In addition to the Gutmann sales team from German-speaking countries, export manager Max Radt was also welcomed to the Klaes premises. The field of participants was rounded off by the sales staff of Klaes GmbH & Co. KG were rounded off. Bernhard Hambrügge, the export manager of the software specialist, also attended the two days of the meeting.
A diverse programme of information and innovations from both development departments was presented to the attendees. In addition, the organisers attached great importance to the personal exchange between the participants. The respective regional sales managers were able to quickly identify each other using an ingenious colour-coded system and thus coordinate and discuss experiences and planned joint projects. The superbly prepared evening programme offered a further stage for this and was accepted with pleasure by all persons and led to success through their own contributions.
At the end of the meeting, all participants summed up how important and successful the exchange had been, so that Thomas Reinert, on behalf of GUTMANN Bausysteme GmbH, after thanking the protagonists of the company Klaes GmbH & Co. KG, extended an invitation for a return visit to Weissenburg. Afterwards, it is fair to say that, according to the motto: "Together, not alone!", networking was and is lived here.