Blog " Be different! Discover your strength and have the courage to trust your intuition and innovations!
Hello, Mr. Haralampiev, thank you for participating in our #SCCTALKS series and for partnering through Almer with Sales Club Conference 2023You are a company offering a wide range of products and services in the FMCG sector. We hope that in this interview you will share more about the brand’s advantages and its positioning in the market.
Mr. Haralampiev, the FMCG sector is one of the “younger” drivers of the Bulgarian economy and is still rarely chosen by startup entrepreneurs. Could you tell us how the idea for your company was born and how you began its development?
Back in 2001, I was part of the team at a trading company as an IT specialist, responsible for the entire computer system. That is, my responsibilities were related to my field of study, namely Computer Engineering. The company I worked for had a broad scope of operations and represented several factories from different sectors of the Bulgarian market. One of these sectors was flexible printed films. At a certain point, the salesperson responsible for this sector left the company, and on my own initiative, I proposed to temporarily take over this task—that is, to represent the company in the area of packaging films. In a very short time, I managed to achieve significant results, acquiring new clients and increasing turnover and profits, which once again made me realize that I was well-suited to be a salesperson. Relying on my skills to earn trust, influence the other party, manage and control various situations, and a number of other personal traits, I discovered the path I needed to follow for my professional development!
A few months later, in 2002, since the company was licensed to organize international exhibitions, one such exhibition was held with the main goal of assisting foreign companies seeking representatives in the Bulgarian market. At that time, my role was to assist as a translator. I was particularly intrigued by one of the companies, which was a manufacturer of thermoformed packaging. Информацията, която научавах, превеждайки на всички клиенти, осъзнах колко е интензивен и интересен този бизнес и какъв огромен потенциал е сам по себе си! Изложението беше в рамките на 4 дни. Още първата вечер, прибирайки се в къщи, си зададох въпроса – 1 кисело мляко – 1 кофичка, 2 кисели млека – 2 кофички разход. Тъй-като продуктовата гама на завод производител най-вече беше в областта на млечната индустрия, това ме накара да се замисля много сериозно, колко бърз и постоянен е този сектор, а именно хранителната-вкусoва промишленост. Всички ние се храним ежедневно. Всяка храна е опакована, под една или друга форма! Именно от там дойде стимула ми да навляза в този сектор, още докато бях на едва на 22 години. Щастливата случайност беше че, фирмата, за която превеждах търсеше представител за България и аз, имайки цял „тридневен опит“, като преводач на техния щанд, директно предложих на Търговския директор на компанията, да ми бъдат предоставени правата и да бъде ексклузивен представител на тяхната компания на българския пазар. Изненадващо или не, шанс, късмет или щастлива звезда, получих тяхното съгласие и ми беше гласувано доверие. Благодарение на това, че те повярваха в мен и ми беше предоставена възможността да бъда ексклузивен представител на тази компания беше причината да се появи фирма Алмер. Това беше моя старт, шанс, който ми беше даден и за който ще бъда благодарен винаги!
The audience of Sales Club is composed mainly of entrepreneurs, both experienced and starting out. Would you be so kind as to share exactly what Almer does and what gives it a competitive edge over others in and beyond your sector?
Almer started with packaging solutions, primarily in the food industry, and later expanded to other sectors such as chemicals, medicine, and more, offering tailored packaging solutions.
Over time, as Almer developed its packaging business and closely monitored market needs and trends, the company expanded its focus to include all packaging, dosing, and processing machines, still concentrating on the food industry. By taking these steps, Almer has evolved into an engineering company, offering effective, innovative, and compelling solutions for businesses.
To be fully flexible and efficient, understanding the needs and demands of the market, Almer takes another step forward by starting to offer various raw materials, ingredients, and formulation solutions.Primarily in the dairy industry, providing all clients not only with the necessary raw materials and ingredients but also with our experienced technologists, who are always ready to offer support and assistance to each of our partners.
Following these step-by-step actions, ensuring a closed-loop workflow, Almer becomes the only company in Bulgaria offering complete solutions in the food industry. We are a proven leader in serving the dairy industry. Our greatest strength lies in the comprehensive and innovative solutions we provide to our partners in both the Bulgarian and international markets!
In the production and delivery of a given product, various challenges often arise, both related to the product itself and the sector in which the company operates. What are the obstacles that Almer faces in order to get the product to your clients?
When we talk about production, the word “Problem” always exists and is an inseparable part of our daily work. For us, however, this word does not carry the usual negative connotation; rather, it challenges us to find quick, adequate, and precise solutions, which in turn fosters our professional growth. This makes us a company that thrives on “solving problems.” It is of utmost importance to us that when a client encounters difficulties in producing their products or does not achieve the desired outcome, it becomes our responsibility to provide the most appropriate support to achieve positive results. Last but not least, our mission is to ensure that through our business solutions, our partners achieve higher revenues and profits.
So, YES, we love the word “problem,” and solving it is our greatest challenge, our biggest joy, and the ultimate measure of success in our business! There is no greater satisfaction than achieving a positive outcome. A satisfied client is our greatest reward for the work and effort we put in.
Surely, the products you offer are quite interesting. Could you tell us what the process of their production is like and what technology is required?
The range that Almer offers has its own production process! What I can say is that all the products we provide are manufactured using the highest-level installations, which ensure optimal results, offering the best price and the highest quality for all the products in our portfolio!
Besides products, you also offer services. What are these services, how do they relate to your product offerings, and what trends in the respective sectors are you leveraging to boost your sales?
As I mentioned in my previous answers, beyond packaging, we offer engineering solutions for various production processes! This is not only about machines and equipment, but also includes different recipes for producing a variety of food products. Our mission is not just to sell packaging solutions, machines, or raw materials and ingredients. Our mission is to provide a complete solution to our clients and to create the most correct and efficient product on the market! All of this requires extensive knowledge, experience, and of course—a strong desire for growth and continuous improvement.
Another strong point for us is the after-sales service we provide to our clients for every installation! This clearly sets us apart from most of our competitors on the market. Last but not least, our clients receive honest and professional treatment from us, which makes us one of the more distinctive companies in the industry!
The trend for increasing sales is to closely monitor innovations on global markets and to timely offer and implement them across different sectors and markets. This very characteristic is what sets us apart from most of our competitors.
In marketing positioning theory, there is a premise that every company has a product or service through which it seeks to establish market superiority over its competitors. What is it that Almer produces that allows you to dominate your competitors?
As I mentioned in some of my previous answers, we always stand out, primarily due to the innovative and distinctive products we offer on the market! If we take the packaging sector as an example, the variety of packaging types that Almer offers certainly surpasses that of its competitors! The rich and diverse range of packaging makes Almer one of the leading companies in packaging solutions on the Bulgarian market!
What are the future plans for the development of your company? Can our audience expect the launch and expansion of new products and services?
For a company to be effective and successful, there must always be development, new products, and innovative solutions that capture the attention of its customers! That’s why we follow all global trends related to the sectors we operate in. For this reason, our team of specialists always attends various events, conferences, and exhibitions around the world!
In conclusion, I can say that we are a company that always delivers surprises, with the various innovative solutions and products we offer to our clients and partners!
For every participant in our blog, we ask this final key question: The Sales Club Conference was born as a place and time for mutual support among entrepreneurs. What would be your key message to the business community for 2023?
We have gone through three consecutive, challenging years, both due to COVID-19 and the war in Ukraine. Many companies, due to poor decision-making and a lack of resilience, unfortunately could not cope with this difficult reality and had to cease their operations.
Let us be bolder, more responsible, and more prudent. Let us not be afraid and have the courage to make bold decisions when necessary! To be successful, we must be willing to make mistakes! When we make mistakes, it should not demotivate or discourage us! To be strong and stand out in the market, we must be different, innovative, and groundbreaking! Let us seek the unique shades—everyone knows the basic colors! Sooner or later, these efforts lead to success and set you apart from everyone else in the market!
