Since November 1st, the new company V-OKNA Ltd. has joined the Valbek portfolio. In the past, the company was closely associated with Brex, but management decided that it was time to start anew, build a new team and significantly improve processes. We talked about the founding of the new company with its director, Ing. Petra Náhlovská.

How did V-OKNA come under the wing of Valbek?

V-OKNA was officially established as a separate company on November 1st, but it has been under the wing of Valbek all along, as it is a former division of Brex. We wanted to simplify the whole management process and differentiate ourselves in terms of customer targeting. The idea of setting up a new company came about gradually, and I believe it was the right step forward. The name V-OKNA and the visual identity is currently associated with Valbek.

I would like to start by thanking the key people at Brex and Valbek for their great support, as well as my team at V-OKNA as their energy and character are moving the company and me forward.

How was your journey to V-OKNA?

I started to get acquainted with V-OKNA in February. In September I became the manager of the company. I came from a customer service manager position in the automotive segment and before that I worked in a management position in an advertising agency. Both of these position required working closely with people, but of course in a very different field. That’s why I first took some time to consider whether I was able to apply my experience in this field and be an asset.

In what ways do you complement Valbek’s traditional design domain and where does the synergy arise?

Cooperation with Valbek’s designers is minimal in the company, although I consider it to be crucial. In the coming period, we will work towards greater involvement with the Valbek Group. The first meeting with the designers has already taken place and I would like to continue this. We need to harness the strength of the whole Group and get to the projects that are of interest to us.

What do you see as V-OKNA’s greatest strengths?

I consider the strength of the entire Valbek Group, its background and especially the close cooperation with the construction company Brex to be a great advantage. I see huge potential in our production, both in its equipment and people. On the other hand, we have big challenges ahead of us in strengthening client relations and building a new brand, as well as in the design and training of existing staff – we will be working hard to improve our expertise next year.

V-okna, Liberec, Nákladní

For which projects do you recommend uPVC windows, and where is aluminum suitable?

Plastic windows are a classic nowadays. They are suitable for new buildings, houses, renovations, and halls. The great added value is their favorable price and easy maintenance. However, aluminum is currently considered to be a very lucrative option. Thanks to its system solutions we can satisfy even the most demanding clients. We can process any size of solution in it, which is especially appreciated by architects. It has a virtually unlimited service life and increases the value of the entire property.

What experience do you bring to the role of director from your previous professions and what do you have to learn?

I see a big advantage in the fact that I come from a different industry and am very impartial. I know very well what we need to work on and improve, especially on the business side. I’m gradually thinking about whether some of the processes from the automotive industry can be translated into V-OKNA However, I must be judgmental and learn from others as well because things other than business and setting up processes are very important for me to make the right decisions. I’m talking about the technical fundamentals and the structure of our portfolio, where I still have big gaps.

What do you consider to be your strongest point?

Communication. I can deal calmly and handle stressful situations well. I can calm the customer down and explain that everything has a solution and there is always a way out of trouble. I don’t like it when someone says something is not working. There’s always a way.

I think I am also strong in team leadership, and I only choose colleagues who have the desire to move the company forward.

What do you find most challenging about running a company?

I can’t fully assess it yet, after all we have been operating for a very short time. But in general, the most challenging thing for me is working with people and building a team that pulls together.

What are the challenges you have ahead of you for the rest of the year and what is coming up in the next one?

We are mainly focusing on building a new brand, launching marketing, hence the new website and social media. At the same time, we are opening the door to new market opportunities and expanding our portfolio. As I mentioned, next year I want to increase the skills of our employees, both designers and production staff. We are investing in our production in Raspenava to streamline the entire production process, and we are setting up new processes to maximize the quality of the services we offer. We have also established cooperation on new projects. However, these will not be implemented for a few months, so we will talk about them again next time. Now you can see our renewed showroom in Liberec and our advertising campaign in the region.

Ing. Petra Náhlovská je od 1. listopadu ředitelkou společnosti V-okna. Na své pozici uplatňuje zkušenosti z vedení zákaznického servisu v automotive či reklamní agentuře. Ve volném čase se věnuje svým čtyřnohým miláčkům a dětem Leontýnce a Matyáškovi. Můžete ji potkat v Českém ráji, kde žije.