On this unique interview with us on the Sebo Store at Manchester Vacs, Justin Binks, Managing Director of Sebo (UK) Ltd, delves into the wealthy historical past and evolution of Sebo within the UK. Achieve insights into the corporate’s origins, the dynamic growth of its product vary, and the underlying ethos driving its success. Uncover extra about Sebo’s dedication to innovation, high quality, and buyer satisfaction as Justin shares invaluable views on the model’s journey and future endeavours.

Transcript under.

MV: I’m Stuart from Manchester Vacs and the Sebo store, and we’re very fortunate to have up right here in Manchester as we speak, Justin Binks, who’s one of many administrators of Sebo UK. Welcome to Manchester, Justin.

Justin: Thanks for inviting me, Stuart. It’s a pleasure to be right here.

MV: Very good to see you. So we thought we’d ask Justin just a few questions as we speak. Only for anyone who doesn’t know an excellent deal about Sebo, maybe you’ll get a bit of little bit of attention-grabbing background from it.

So what I wished to ask you first, we all know anyone who’s researched Sebo or regarded into the model is aware of it was began in 1978, in Germany by two gents referred to as Klaus [Stein] and Heinz [Kaulig].

However Sebo UK, I consider, is a second-generation enterprise that was began by your dad.

Justin: Right, sure.

MV: So may you inform us perhaps the journey of how he got here to satisfy the German guys, and the way Sebo UK got here to cross; the timeline maybe of the story?

Justin: Effectively, my Father used to work for an organization that bought industrial vacuum cleaners. He was the machine advertising supervisor, and he met Mr Stein in Germany when Mr Stein labored for Vorwerk and was one of many chief designers at Vorwerk, a German vacuum cleaner and carpet firm.

Vorwerk set Mr Stein on growing a correct industrial upright vacuum cleaner and Mr Stein had a number of actually good concepts for this machine, considered one of which was having a hose on an upright vacuum cleaner which nobody else had finished earlier than. There was one referred to as an Advance Carpet Twin that had a hose on the within, which I believe is the place he obtained the thought from.

And he thought, properly, if I put that hose on the skin, then you possibly can really use it as properly. Anyway, transferring by the story, Vorwerk determined to not press forward with a industrial vacuum cleaner, and Mr. Stein determined to go away and arrange on his personal.

And since he knew my father in his position within the UK, he instructed to my father that he may arrange Sebo UK, which my father was very happy to do. So, that was in 1981. It began on a really small scale working out of my dad’s storage. And I joined the corporate a few years later,

My dad had a brown Ford Cortina saloon, and I used to should go off and do gross sales and deliveries with it. And I may inform issues had been going fairly properly after I needed to take the again seats out to suit extra vacuum cleaners into it. And sure, we constructed up from there.

MV: This could have been the BS machines on the time, wouldn’t it?

Justin: It was, sure. That’s the one machine we had, and we bought it clearly to sellers. And so they had been going into accommodations and it was a revelation of a machine as a result of each different machine earlier than that was of the old school sort of Hoover type with a material bag on it. That was the primary trendy vacuum cleaner.

MV: And that machine stays the best-selling upright industrial on this planet as we speak, I consider.

Justin: I might say most likely it’s. Sebo are nonetheless the top-selling skilled industrial upright vacuum cleaners on this planet. And to the most effective of my information, the BS is the primary vendor of these.

MV: When did they department into the home sector then, that may have been the early 90s?

Justin: Effectively, me and my dad can type of declare credit score for that. As a result of within the American market, they wished a light-weight skilled machine and Sebo Germany, particularly, Mr Stein developed a brand new vacuum cleaner which had incredible new options like a computerised computerized top management. When me and my father noticed it, we thought, properly, you understand what? That will make a superb home vacuum cleaner.

We had been doing positive with the BS commercially. It’d be higher to open up a brand new market with that X1, because it was referred to as, and promote it as a retail machine. And it was the primary machine at £199.95 as a retail worth in outlets.

MV: And that’s the machine that’s developed into the X7 as we speak?

Justin: It has developed. Effectively, it was a extremely good design. And that’s a factor I believe with Sebo, that our designs don’t change massively a lot through the years. Sebo tries to get the design proper within the first place. And you understand, folks haven’t turn into ten ft tall. Carpets are sort of just like how they had been earlier than. So the fundamental methods of working stay the identical. You already know, our machines are at all times sturdy and ergonomic and do an excellent job on the ground.

MV: One of many issues we’ve at all times appreciated in regards to the model is that, as you simply touched on, the machines evolve by the years. Some producers attempt to reinvent the wheel each three years after which spend the following two years ironing out the errors beneath guarantee claims solely to reinvent one thing else. However Sebo doesn’t try this. They take an excellent machine and later they go alongside they usually say, “Effectively, we are able to enhance that” and “We are able to enhance this”.

Justin: No, completely. It’s an evolution. Effectively, clearly they attempt to get it 100% proper within the first place. However as time goes on, you assume, “Oh, we may do {that a} bit higher and {that a} bit higher”. And so they do evolve the machines. And I believe you’re proper. You do see many producers who carry out one thing. They declare it’s the most effective factor since sliced bread. After which just a few years later it’s disappeared, they are saying, “Oh yeah, that one did have a great deal of issues. However now there’s our new one which’s nearly as good as sliced bread”.

MV: Effectively, we present folks the X1 you’ve simply been speaking about in right here. We’ve got some over within the nook in order that we are able to present them the evolution. And we are able to say, “Right here’s the place it began, and right here’s the place it’s now. And as you possibly can see it’s not that a lot totally different”. And don’t repair it if it’s not damaged.

Justin: Precisely. Sure.

MV: So of all of the machines that they’ve made by the years, which has been fairly just a few now. I imply, there’s a spread of X machines, there’s Felix’s, there’s a number of cylinders. The vary developed considerably. Do you could have a private favorite?

Justin: Effectively I might say I’ve obtained two favourites. In all probability one is the X machine. It really works superbly. It’s obtained incredible options. However I additionally actually just like the Felix. And I might say that at residence I have a tendency to make use of the Felix. As a result of it will get beneath furnishings. It’s very sensible and versatile machine. And it cleans very well.

MV: I nonetheless use an X4 at residence as a result of again after we first began promoting Sebo six, seven or eight years in the past, it’s the primary one I took residence and stated to my spouse, “Can we do this?” And he or she had a Dyson DC14 on the time and he or she stated, “I’m not satisfied. Can I hold each?” And two weeks later she despatched the Dyson again and stored the Sebo. We’ve nonetheless obtained it. The identical one.

So I wished to ask you in regards to the best-selling machine. We promote a number of Sebos. I do know which is our best-seller, however clearly, you’ve entry to totally different markets than we’ve obtained. So are you able to speculate, or are you aware what’s the best-selling machine?

Justin: Effectively for us, it’s the X7 Pet. Individuals actually prefer it. It’s obtained a stunning luscious black color to it. The silver components spotlight actually properly on it. You get a extremely good vary of equipment and also you’ve obtained the enhance on it and in addition the LED gentle. So it’s obtained every little thing for everybody on that machine.

MV: Sure that’s our greatest vendor. The BS360 within the industrial vary. And sure, the black X7 Pet definitely is our best-selling home machine.

We talked about earlier on about different producers and developed designs. One of many issues that we’ve at all times like about Sebo is that there’s very, superb spare components availability, and even again to the very early X1 machines, you will get 99% of the spares. Is that sort of extra by luck than judgement, or is it by design that they need the machines to be repairable for 20-30 years, which most producers don’t? Are you able to touch upon the corporate ethos surrounding components availability, repairs and sustainability?

Justin: Effectively, it’s by design that machines final a very long time. And I do know with Sebo Germany that they at all times take a look at what the machine’s obtained to do. What life it’s anticipated to have, how lengthy it’s anticipated to final, how dependable they need it to be. And that they use that to create the machine, the components, and the standard of the components.

And since they need the machines to final they usually wish to take care of clients, it’s an obligation, accountability and a want to have components obtainable long run. The one time that we ever don’t have components is after we are utilizing a provider, say, of motors. And so they simply cease making these motors as a result of there’s no demand from anybody else anymore. However in any other case, we at all times have spare components for purchasers.

And with Sebo, they’ve at all times been in favour of sustainability. Each half is marked with what it’s made from, so it may be recycled. Machines are screwed collectively quite than clipped collectively. On the manufacturing unit [in Germany], they gather all of the water from the roof and filter it to allow them to use it within the bathrooms and issues. And lately they simply put in warmth pumps as properly. And so they generate their very own electrical energy.

MV: How do they try this, photo voltaic?

They’ve obtained two huge Mann diesel engines which are tremendous environment friendly. The coolant is used to warmth the constructing. The electrical energy runs the manufacturing unit. Extra electrical energy is bought into the German grid. However I believe they’re additionally bringing in photo voltaic in the meanwhile as properly.

MV: That’s innovation. You don’t see very a lot of that in factories on this nation.

Justin: No, it’s not finished by coal energy.

MV: Lastly, I wished to the touch on new merchandise and forthcoming merchandise. Lately we’ve had the Softcase BP60, which was launched not so way back. Which is, as lots of people will know, the primary cordless upright vacuum for Sebo. Have you learnt, or are you able to share, is there something within the pipeline that we must always find out about?

As a result of persons are questioning why perhaps Sebo hasn’t made a handheld, cordless or a very light-weight machine. Is there something you would possibly know, or one thing you’re in a position to share?

Justin: Effectively, we wouldn’t wish to have one thing that’s only a “me too” product. I can say for positive that Sebo has obtained a pipeline. What’s in it and when it’s going to seem, I couldn’t presumably say.

MV: Proper. So it’s honest to say that issues are in growth, however we don’t know what they’re?

Justin: Issues are positively in growth, sure. Issues are positively in growth.

MV: Wonderful. Effectively, it was it was very, very good to have you ever up right here in Manchester.

Justin: It’s been an excellent pleasure. Pretty to speak to you.

MV: And it’s good of you to spare the time to come back and take a look round our place and to come back and speak to us.

Justin: It’s been fascinating. Seeing your home.

MV: Sure. Sensible. So thanks very a lot for coming. And thanks for doing the interview for our followers and subscribers.

In order that was Justin from Sebo UK. And when you’re watching this on YouTube, you possibly can click on the hyperlink beneath and also you’ll be capable of undergo to our Sebo Store web site the place yow will discover Sebo vacuums, spares and equipment. And likewise you’ll discover one other hyperlink under that may go to a weblog the place there’ll be a transcript of this video, and there’ll be a number of different Sebo-related stuff there as properly. So please just like the video and subscribe and share the place attainable to any of your social media teams. Thanks for watching.

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The Sebo Store at Manchester Vacs are accredited Sebo sellers providing next-day UK supply on all home and industrial Sebo vacuum cleaners and spare components.

Sebo Vacuum Service & Repairs in Chester: as an official Sebo service centre and components stockist, we undertake repairs to all Sebo vacuums.