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De Raat builds strength and
momentum in UK market
» » DE RAAT, AKA SAFES (UK) LTD,
has been active in the UK market
for many years, supplying a
number of different branded safes
to meet the needs of its customers
and priding itself on good
customer service. The company
has always strived to grow year
on year but over recent years
the business has found it difficult
to maintain the level of growth it
experienced earlier in its history.
Juggling stock requirements
against demand whilst remaining
competitive servicing an ever-
changing customer landscape has
been challenging. Safes (UK) has
met this challenge by launching
some initiatives to strengthen
its position and return it to
sustainable growth.
Back in 2017 Mark Hawkins,
previously of SentrySafe and
Master Lock, started working with
Safes (UK) on a consultative basis
to help grow the business through
increasing sales. “Having worked
in the industry for over 10 years I
was delighted to help a company I
knew had the support and backing
of its European owners”, explains
Mark.
‘moving the
office and
warehouse
enables the
business to
implement huge
improvements in
delivery services,
product storage
capacity and
sales growth’
But what became clear was
how the business wasn’t geared
for growth in its current state.
Mark continues “we started to
change small elements of the
business such as range changes,
a new catalogue and increased
stock holding but soon realised
that it wasn’t enough”. It was
decided further changes were
required in order to achieve the
company’s growth objectives.
The result has seen a double-
digit sales growth on the
previous year and more enquiries
for bespoke projects than ever
before.
Further improvements are
underway this year with the
company changing its name
from Safes (UK) Ltd to De Raat
Security Products Ltd, in order to
strengthen the brand in the UK
market. The range is divided into
two sub brands, DRS – Certified
Safes and Protector – Non-
certified Safes, but both linked
to De Raat. The other brands
available from De Raat Security
Products are Fire King (exclusive)
and Technomax. There are a
further three new additions to the
range planned for Q3 of 2018.
In July this year De Raat
Security Products will be
relocating its sales office to
Corby, Northamptonshire and
the warehouse to be managed
by a third party logistics/
distribution specialist. Mark
Hawkins commented: “It’s sad
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to be moving away from where
the company started, however
the moving the office and
warehouse enables the business
to implement huge improvements
in delivery services, product
storage capacity and sales
growth, to further improve the
experience of our customers and
stakeholders.”
Apart from a great, new central
location, the new premises
boasts the latest ICT equipment
to enhance communications and
work flow systems to improve
overall business efficiency. The
new premises also provide
space for a show room area so
De Raat Security Products can
now proudly show off the great
safe products they have in their
range.
Despite the changes De
Raat Security Products’ aim still
remains unchanged; to be the
first-choice brand for Locksmiths,
Safe Installers and Dealers.
Never trading directly with the
end-user customer is still critical
to the support they pledge to
provide its customers.
Mark Hawkins will continue to
lead the changes in a consultative
capacity and his ‘hands-on’
approach will keep pushing the
business forward in the right
direction to continue building
strength and momentum in the
UK market.
www.deraat.co.uk