Staying in touch with hardware retail professionals helps us better understand how our products are used, what questions arise at the point of sale and what customers need. Welcoming this group of Jóvenes Ferreteros was therefore a chance to give them an inside look at INDEX, as well as to listen to their experiences, understand their concerns and exchange ideas about how we can support them in their day-to-day work.
With this in mind, we began on Thursday 29 October with a winery visit, followed by a taste of Rioja’s local cuisine: first some pinchos in Logroño, then dinner together. It was a chance to talk and get to know each other in a relaxed setting.
A shared perspective on the industry
On Friday 30 October, we started the day at our facilities with a session focusing on the industry, our business and the processes behind our products.
Koldo Cámara, Marketing Director at Lontana Group, opened the session by reflecting on the importance of young hardware retailers to the industry, both today and in the future. His presentation explored the role of family businesses in Spain and the importance of taking a long-term view, bringing together accumulated experience and the ideas and energy of younger generations.
Young hardware retailers also bring first-hand market knowledge: they answer questions, recommend solutions and understand the challenges that arise in everyday work. Listening to their perspective is essential to understanding what works, where questions arise and how we can improve as manufacturers.
Next, Roberto Lambarri, National Sales Director at INDEX, gave an overview of the business, covering its key figures, our extensive product range and our international presence. This gave attendees a better understanding of the scale of INDEX and the solutions we offer professionals.
The session concluded with Sergio Cabezón, Operations Director, who took a closer look at INDEX’s production processes. Supported by videos, his presentation showed how our products are manufactured and helped explain the innovation behind each one.
Inside INDEX: getting closer to everyday life in hardware retail
After the presentations, we toured our facilities to see these processes in action. The Jóvenes Ferreteros group explored our warehouse, order picking and packing operations, screw coating area and showroom featuring retail display solutions, among other areas.
The tour revealed a side of our work that is not always visible from behind the counter and created an opportunity to discuss it. For us, the value of these visits lies in that exchange: explaining how we work and hearing first-hand about the needs of those who advise customers and help them choose the right fixing.
Thank you to all the Jóvenes Ferreteros who joined us for your time, your openness and the experiences you shared. At INDEX, we want to keep this conversation going, learn from your experience behind the counter and work to meet your everyday needs.