YPIE Blog – week one, day four – Blum UK

Young Professional Industry Experience participant Billie Watts reveals what the group learned on their trip to Blum UK.

This morning (7 June) we visited Blum UK where we met the Blum experience centre manager, Amanda Hughes, and Blum managing director, Mark Richardson. When we arrived we were taken on a tour covering the history of the business, its origin in Austria, product innovation over the years, research and development and the manufacturing of Blum.

Research and development at Blum  is vital to achieve longevity and success of its products. All of the company’s products hold a lifetime guarantee, as Blum will ensure a product is perfect before launching it, even if that means delaying release for several years.

Increasing competition in the kitchen hardware industry has led Blum to think differently and create more products focused on improving functionality. These include lifting mechanisms, electrical assisted opening, soft close and the switch from ‘Doors to Drawers’.

Blum is a very forward thinking business, prioritising customer experience and securing their status as the market leaders through extensive investment.

We were very impressed by the amount of automation in Blum’s warehouse; space utilisation was second to none. We also tested the age explorer suit, which simulated the feeling of being 30 years older.

In conclusion, we found Blum to be progressive, modern and innovative company with strong business values.