Interview to Maria Carme Valls, responsible of the Professional Division of Original Buff
Irene Relda
17/12/2013In 1992 the Catalan company
Buff Is today a very popular product but, how were the starts?
The starts of the product and of the mark were very difficult. The owner, Joan Rojas, developed this product from his experience in the world of the motorcycling. Joan had a group of friends with which went out all the weekends in motorbike. To end to protect of the cold used some ancient military knickers but this resulted him annoying and uncomfortable and decided to invent something new. It did proofs and proofs until it gave with the solution.
Which?
A tubular of microfibra without sewings, but was a new concept, and was difficult his introduction. At the beginning Joan only delivered it between his familiar and friends but the people began to interest and decided to commercialise it. After a lot of work, to the cape of 3 years, the mark already was distributing in countries like Germany, France and Switzerland.
In fact, is of these articles that finish adopting the name of the mark...
Yes, and are conscious that this is a risk. No all the articles that the people designates Buff are really of our mark. Buff Is not only a concept of product, is also a form to understand the excellence, useful products, of quality, innovative and vanguardistas. The mark Buff is registered and often have to struggle to protect it as some companies use it of illegal form. It is here where has importance so much our department of marketing like our legal department, that pursues this type of actions.
Recently, they have been present in the fair To+To. Which range of products presented?
In the fair To+To go with our line Professional. They are products thought to be used by professionals, during the working times, to protect of the cold, of the wind, of the sun, of the fire…When you are working the climatological conditions or the inherent risks in a task are a very serious thing, and the neck and the head are paramount parts to protect.
Which type of products can purchase in the channel ferretero?
From does more than two years, Original Buff comes entering his products in the channel ferretero, that is turning into a very important channel inside our division of products for professionals. The products with elder sues in this channel now in winter are the ones of protection to the cold and wind and also our tubular fireproof, ideals for works of welding.
Against the cold, against the fire, against the wind... It define the range of tubular of Buff.
Have five big groups of products: solar protection, protection to the cold, protection to the wind, fireproof protection and a range of uniformity, centred in this case in the market of the catering and the hospitality industry, our range for chefs. We want to offer useful and functional products, that adapt to the needs of each individual. That's why every year they include novelties in our payment.
Which is the Buff technically more complex?
The Fire Resistant Buff. It treats of a fireproof product and at the same time antistatic. It is an only concept in the market because it is manufactured with Nomex and his properties are inherent to the fabric, do not deteriorate with the washes. It is a product that launch to the market two years ago roughly and that in little time has positioned in our top of sales. It is an only product and extremely functional.
Stand Of Original Buff in the Fair To+To 2013.
And which is the most extraordinary?
A lot of people surprises with our products made with Windstopper. They carry time working in places of wind and cold and could not imagine that existed something like the Windproof Buff. It is a product that contributes a level of optimum comfort to all these people that has to work in extreme conditions, for example, realizar vertical works. To some metres of the floor the wind is incredible and the thermal sensors feeling drop until temperatures inimaginables.
You, in addition to functionality, conjugan the design. How they keep up to date regarding tendencies?
Have 8 designers working in the company, contributing ideas and reinventing every day. Buff Is a mark tied to the originality and our designs are part of this. Every year we develop more than 800 new designs, always original, frescos and 100% spirit Buff.
They work for a lot of professional sectors, in addition to the sportive and of daily use. Which is the industrial segment that more products Buff consumes?
The truth is that it would not know to say one. Have customers in all the sectors, as it commented, vertical works, construction, chemical industry, electrical industry, hygiene forces… Is difficult to choose one. When having so much variety of products all the world finds what is looking for. I would say that this is key in our success, listen the needs of each community and translate them in useful and functional products.
Buff, with the sport
From his starts Buff has dumped with in the sponsorship of athletes and sporty. Inside the world of the trail running Buff sponsors to Núria Hammer, Anton Krupicka, Emma Rock, Arnau Julià or Christoph Him Seux, for mentioning some. Also it is present in other disciplines like the climbing with Berta Martin and with Bernhard Witz, that realizar challenges in the slackline. Jordi Viladoms, in the world of the engine, or Ander Mirambell, in the Skeleton, also are ambassadors of the mark Buff.
“Besides, are presents in sportive events like the Ultratrail of Montblanc. One of the most fun events that organises Buff is the Buff Epic Run, celebrated in December in Barcelona. It is a career of apt obstacles for all the ages and physical conditions. It treats to disguise and go to happen a while fun”, aims. “Where more use our products are in the sports outdoor, highland: trekking, climbing, mountaineering, cycling or ski, but the advantages of our products can be useful for a lot of more sports”, affirms.