One on One with John Herbert
John W. Herbert has been in and out of home centers around the world. It’s his job.
The general secretary of the European DIY Retail Association/Global Home Improvement Network has made – by his count —458 journeys around the globe.
“There isn’t probably a significant home center company that I haven't visited or seen,” he said. “And it's not only the big companies. What I've really found is you must never overestimate anybody or underestimate anyone.”
And one increasingly common theme in his role: the growing importance of sustainability.
In a One-on-One interview with HBSDealer, Herbert referred to draught, floods and other natural disasters. “We all know that climate change is playing a part and we really must, all of us, do all we can to reduce carbon emissions,” he said. “It's the absolute top priority.”
Excerpts from the interview include:
• “There are some brilliant companies about, but it’s not only the big companies. What I've really found is you must never overestimate anyone or underestimate anyone.”
• “I think we as an industry realize that we can help people in their homes by energy-saving products, water-saving products, and selling products that are sustainable. It's amazing how many companies now have sustainable managers and committees discussing and looking at this. So I'm very optimistic that in our industry particularly, we're doing a lot towards sustainability. “
• “I think everybody can play the part . The first step I think is in ourselves. Then look at our companies, look at our businesses and really examine everything. There's so much knowledge and so much information of how you can sell sustainable products to make sure you're the one. To make sure you are selling wood from well managed forests, making people's homes more energy-saving. These are all the things that we are doing in our industry.”