"BIZNES meble.pl" international 1/2018

interview X industry international edition 1/2018 [ BIZNES meble.pl 43 exact cost, concerns the period when we sold it. Imagine that we have not even bought it from the supplier yet and we already sold about 80,000 pieces. We talked with two or three suppliers. In the first round we heard: impossible . How- ever, we had to do something about it, we could not discredit ourselves. We had joint discussions with the producer of chipboard. Due to our long-term coop- eration we got 2 thousand m 3 of board at special price. We also got a special price for transport and eventually the dressers were produced and we broke even. It was a clear signal for our client: Bega is able to do what others cannot do. If we could not do it, we would have to sink money in that transaction. Was there such a situation when you rode together for business negotiations and you had different opinions – one of you wanted to cooperate with this sup- plier, and the other said: no ? Thorsten Hilpert: Naturally. Not only it was like that, it still happen sometimes. Of course, such a constructive dispute... Dieter Hilpert: Not only a constructive dispute, sometimes we even argue sharp- ly. And I am not always right. (laughs) Thorsten Hilpert: The last argument was two days ago, when my father asked me why I am going to be on Friday, not on Thursday on ‘Szynaka Day’. Of course, you also need to know how to argue. Dieter Hilpert: Sometimes the client expects special treatment from us without any reason. I am more determined, more radical and Thor- sten, on the other hand, is willing to compromise. There were also disputes after ending of our c o op e r at i on with Wójcik. After some time there were pro- posals to return and there was disa- greement between us, because I wanted to make an order, and my son said: no . And then he put it firmly: if it hap- pens, then I leave the company . Thorsten Hilpert: But as you can see I am still in the company, which means we did not buy from them. So father can give to his son, does not always have to have things his way? Dieter Hilpert: It is called wisdom of old age, of course I am giving way. And when, in that case, succession is to be expected? Taking over the entire ma- nagement of the company by Thorsten? Have you already thought about it? Dieter Hilpert: Naturally. My most im- portant task now is to organize a genera- tional change. Of course, I will not leave the whole company, but I will definitely withdraw from operational management within 2 years. I will support my son and company, maybe through on the super- visory board, which should be estab- lished, but I will not be managing Bega Gruppe on a daily basis. Thorsten Hilpert: I would like to add something. Since the beginning of the company in 1999 up to the present day, we have always been successful. This success was the work of one head, there was always one head that decided about it. I have been asked on several occa- sions about generational change in Bega Gruppe. And I always have one answer: for the company the most im- portant thing is that this head would be as efficient and able to decide as long as possible. The experiences that lie in it and the great sense of market determine the success of the Bega com- pany. There is, if I re- member cor- rectly a German, saying: the father bu- ilds, the son develops, and the grandson destroys. Is it true? Dieter Hilpert: (laughs) In our case it would have to be on the side line, be- cause Thorsten has two daughters. Thorsten Hilpert: The company has al- ways been run by men. In fact, I do have two daughters – 4 and 6 years old and they are very curious about what dad does. Sometimes they come to the com- pany and have great fun when they can see their father and grandfather. I will try to get them interested in the com- pany, but in exactly the same way my fa- ther did with me. I do not want to force anything. Considering that daughters are 4 and 6 years old, the next succession is still a very distant matter, and therefore – if this saying mentioned by me is to be true – there is at least a dozen years of development for Bega. Dieter Hilpert: Not everything can be predicted, which is why I remain calm. And – as another German proverb says – I take the best every day. In any case, wishing you successes and the mentioned development – thank you for the interesting conversation. Dieter Hilpert: Thank you too, for us it is a great distinction, because I val- ue the importance of your magazine. I regularly look through your journal, I know Polish a little, but not enough to read in Polish, so I have the most inter- esting articles translated. Of course, the cover speaks to me the most when I see people who I know well and respect: the Wójcik family, Mr. Formanowicz, and the Szynaka family. d THE BASIC CONCEPT, WHICH IN PRINCIPLE WE ARE LOYAL TO TILL TODAY IS: TO PROVIDE THE CUSTOMER WITH THE MOST ATTRACTIVE OFFER AT THE LOWEST POSSIBLE COST. AbVERY IMPORTANT ISSUE IS THE DEVELOPMENT OF OFFER. THE NEXT STEP IS TO SEARCH FOR AbFEW BUT GOOD SUPPLIERS. AT THE BEGINNING, IbMADE SURE THAT OUR RANGE INCLUDES DISMANTLED FURNITURE, PACKED ON PALLETS. IT WAS AbBRILLIANT IDEA TO CONVINCE THE CUSTOMER TO BUY AbCOMPLETE PALLET. Dieter Hilpert.