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To celebrate our 40 years in business we caught up with Ben Dunevein, the current Managing Director..
Wednesday February 19, 2025
First, let’s get to know a little about Ben:
If the company’s journey were a film, what film would it be?
I think it would be Rocky. One of the quotes from the film applies so well to business: “You, me or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life, it isn’t about how you are hit, it’s about how hard you get hit and keep moving forward, how much you can take and keep moving forward – that’s how winning is done”.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received as a leader?
I’ve had two, one was from my dad when I took over the business and one was very recently from the MD of another Eurosafe member. I’ll share both with you.
My dad said to me “the impact of decisions you make today as MD won’t be felt today, they will be felt in 3-6 months. You need to be able to think long term”
The other one was from a chat I was having with one of the longest standing members of Eurosafe. I asked what advice he would give to his younger self he said to “focus on the people that help you grow the business, don’t waste time on time wasters”
If you weren’t in this industry, what do you think you’d be doing?
I was very keen to be Stockbroker in my younger days and continue to keep a keen eye on the markets.
What’s a hidden talent or hobby that people might not know about you?
I play a lot of poker. It is a real passion of mine. I recently played in tournament in Malta where the prize fund was over 2 million euros!
If you had to describe the company in three words, what would they be?
Resilient, caring and ambitious.
Now let’s look back on Concept Products:
What’s the most unexpected or funny thing that has happened in the business over the past 40 years?
We are blessed with a great team of people who work at Concept and share a great sense of humour. There have been a lot of practical jokes played on each other.
One that springs to mind is when with Ray, who worked in Telesales. I passed a message to him that a Mr C Lion wanted to discuss an order with him from Bristol Zoo. The whole office was trying not to laugh as he called the Zoo and asked to speak to Mr C Lion.
If you could go back to your first year, what advice would you give to yourself?
I started working for the business in 1995, 10 years after the business was founded by my parents. I think the advice I would give myself is just to be as honest as I can, even when it is uncomfortable. So much of my time was wasted telling people what they wanted to hear rather that the truth.
What’s a trend or technology that completely changed the way you do business?
In 1995 I was employed to be a sales rep covering local customers and we had to record all the customers activities with us on A4 card. It used to do my head in as I would have a car full of lever arch files. I instigated a change to a proper CRM IT system which was a game changer.
Has there been a moment when you thought, “Wow, we’ve really made it”?
I think running a business is a “no-win” game. You are constantly striving to be better in all areas. However, while I wouldn’t ever say “we made it”, in 2023 we joined Eurosafe. Eurosafe is a buying group of 19 independent companies that sell PPE. They combine their buying power to get better prices for their customers. When I sit in the room with the other owners, I feel proud that Concept has a place at the table.
What’s a decision you made that, in hindsight, turned out to be a game-changer?
When my dad started the business it originally sold cleaning products and paper wipes. I spotted an opportunity to sell PPE and branded workwear to customers. This was a real gamechanger for us and allowed us to grow much quicker than I think we would have.
Looking Ahead:
Where do you see the company in the next 10 years? I am excited for the next 10 years. I have invested heavily in new systems for the business and spent time trying to get the right people in the right seats. I think we will see the company grow considerably over the coming years with a big focus on sustainable products.
What’s one thing you hope future generations will carry forward from the past 40 years?
That we still make time to meet each other and be in the moment with other people. Technology has meant that we do so much communication that is not face to face anymore and I think this really takes away from building real long-term relationships in both personal and business life.
If you could implement one crazy, out-of-the-box idea for the company, what would it be?
Relocate the business to somewhere that is hot and less tax!!
What excites you the most about the future of the business?
The people in it, I love seeing people grow, learn and get better.
Any words of wisdom for the next generation of leaders?
The best investment you can ever make is in yourself. Back yourself and follow what makes you happy.
Any final words from you Ben?
A HUGE thank you to my family for their continuous support!!!
