An Interview with Richard Barker-Poole

[23/1/12]

Name: Richard Barker-Poole

Position: International Sales Manager for Flexseal & Fernco Environmental

In your role as International Sales Manager, what are your main responsibilities?

My role is really about delivering excellence to our customers and maintaining our position as global leader in our marketplace. I work with partners around the world with a specific focus on our strong partner base in Europe. Working closely with our partners ensures that all our customers in a large number of countries understand that we offer the widest range of products backed up by customer focused service.

In my role I also play a key part in Flexseal's large-scale projects, and this helps with new product ideas. I get to know first-hand what our customers want, and then work with my colleagues to fulfill those needs with new products and services.

One of the most rewarding parts of my role is launching new products. I like the fact that we have a great range of products which we are expanding every year. It is good to play a key role in a company which is a real solution provider. I am part of the Flexseal New Product Development team whose focus is the development of new products. We take a product from an initial idea to one which we can share with all our partners and deliver successfully into countries around the world.

What's your previous experience and how does this help your position now?

My background is in sales and marketing for international companies, I have also worked in sales and marketing in the concrete drainage industry and as a Freelance Sales and Marketing Consultant to multiple businesses.

My experience in these roles has helped me gain a well-rounded understanding of sales and marketing at an international level. This has enabled me to bring skills and knowledge to Flexseal that has added to an already strong team and improve our international presence.

What are the most important parts of being an International Sales Manager?

The most important parts of my role are maintaining relationships, delivering excellent customer service, providing support and managing the development of sales with our international distributors and customers.

How do you go about supporting your customers?

There are many ways we support our customers internationally. We do this through regular contact by phone, email, regular visits, sales and marketing support, product development support and helping partners at exhibitions to name but a few.

How do see your Flexseal's international growth developing?

There are still many developing markets for us to establish our Flexible couplings, saddle connections and drainage products into. I think that during the current financial situation, it is very important that we support our existing partners as much as possible to help them with growing their business in conjunction with the Flexseal brand. As well as this, further assessment of new markets and developing existing and new relationships in these markets are key to Flexseal's growth throughout 2012 and beyond.

Flexible couplings, Lateral Connections such as our Universal and PA Saddles, Channel Drainage such as Stormdrain Plus as well as products from our sister company Fernco Environmental are main product focusses for 2012 in new territories/markets.

What's the biggest thing you've learned since starting your job at Flexseal?

I've learnt many things in the past year with Flexseal. One of them being, never forget to bring chocolate back for the customer support team when returning from abroad.

Seriously I have learnt a lot about all of our products and have even worked with our production team to ensure I have a hands on understanding of our products.

What are you looking to achieve during 2012?

During 2012 I hope to identify and secure additional business in some emerging markets and further raise the Flexseal brand internationally through new marketing initiatives and secure further agreements to supply product to large international projects.

Equally as import for 2012 is our steadfast commitment to our customers, making sure that they continue to receive the highest level of support as we work in partnership to continually grow our business's and further market the excellent products and services that we at Flexseal are Internationally renowned for and are proud of.

And finally, what's your guilty pleasure?

McDonald's breakfasts and some songs by Rihanna.

Flexseal are manufacturers of flexible couplings, saddle connections, linear drainage channels and plumbing couplings. Please contact us with your requirements using the contact form, and a member of the Flexseal team will contact you.