Innovate and stay ahead, says ND Metering Solutions founder, Kris Szajdzicki
“Rely on innovation rather than price” says ND Metering Solutions founder and director, Kris Szajdzicki, “that way you are a step ahead of your competition.”
Bradford-based ND Metering Solutions celebrates its half century in 2015 and newly-appointed Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership We are International export ambassador, Kris Szajdzicki, has huge overseas trade experience having never looked back since his first exports to Holland, Ireland and Spain 40 years ago.
ND Meters, which has 42 staff and a £3m turnover, designs and manufacturers a wide range of innovative, energy management commercial electricity meters mainly for systems integrators and panel builders.
Kris, whose wife Julia is ND Metering Solutions current managing director, says: “Our biggest export success in the last 50 years has probably being specified by the world’s largest supermarkets as the standard metering solution for their stores world wide. It is always a nice surprise to find just where our meters are being used – including the South Pole.”
The company is one of the UK’s long-standing export successes and tripled its European exports in 2014 as well as growing its US business by more than 50 per cent and recently being specified for major projects in Mexico and Malaysia.
Kris Szajdzicki, who speaks at conferences, writes articles and represents the industry internationally, says: “Our aim is to continue growing, largely through exports. We have been investing in the US market, appointing vendors and negotiating with original equipment manufacturer (OEM) partners which has involved very heavy investment in product certification.”
As a We are International export ambassador, Kris says that he aims to give general, rather than specific, help. “I have learnt through experience during many years and hope that I can pass on the benefit of this to others. Also, exporting is very hard work and new overseas traders can benefit from support. Our regional economy can certainly benefit from more exporters and I’m sure that they are out there.”
What are his tips for novice exporters? “Firstly, get to know your market and how your products fit into it. No matter how similar they may seem, each country’s markets are different and it is important to understand the differences.
“Also understand your competitors and get to know them, and how they operate so you can offer a real alternative. It is also vital to understand your foreign partners, how they operate and what they need from you. However, this knowledge needs to be constantly updated so you can stay on top of things. You need to stay ahead to succeed.”
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