QEP is a world class, worldwide provider of innovative, quality and value-driven flooring and industrial solutions for the professional tradie as well as the DIY market.
As a leading worldwide manufacturer and distributor, QEP delivers a comprehensive line of building products, engineered wood flooring, flooring installation tools, adhesives and flooring related products.
QEP is now a completely Australian owned and operated business. Flooring Magazine recently sat down with Bruce Maclaren, Managing Director to discuss all things business.
- In March this year QEP announced the formation of QEP Australasia. Talk us through this announcement and the change of ownership.
Although a public company in the US, QEP has been controlled by the Gould family for over 40 years and the Founder Lewis Gold is now 84. As recognition for my long involvement with the Australasian operations and realising it was time for him to step away, he approached me about 12 months ago to see if I would be interested in acquiring the local business here as part of a re-set of the global operations.
Obviously, I jumped at the opportunity, and it has been a completely friendly and amicable process since that time until we settled on the 29th of February. It was very important to ensure continuity for employees, suppliers and customers and as far as possible we have managed a seamless transition.
The QEP name, brands and trademarks will continue on, and we will remain closely connected with the global QEP organisation through cooperation on product development, marketing etc.
- QEP Australasia is a family owned and operated business. What does this mean for business moving forward?
From a personal perspective, ending the corporate reporting and managing requirements of a public company, allows me to focus much more on the day-to-day operations of our business in Australia and New Zealand.
This will enable us to make more immediate decisions and implement strategies more efficiently than previous, which will see us deliver initiatives to market quickly in support of our customer needs.
My son Fraser has re-joined QEP after time working elsewhere in the industry and he has some very progressive ideas for growing our business into the future.
- AFS is a well-known part of the QEP structure in Australia. Will this continue?
Absolutely!
Australian Flooring Supplies (AFS) is a highly regarded and long-established network supplying accessories and flooring to the trade. We have 22 trade centres up the Eastern Seaboard, and I have had the pleasure of visiting with all the team in the weeks since the acquisition and I am reminded how committed they are to continue our clear strategy to provide great service and products to the flooring industry.
- Discuss some of QEP’s milestone moments.
After 24 years in Australia and New Zealand there have been many, including the acquisition of six of our independent distributor customers to form the countrywide Australian Flooring Supplies business.
Perhaps the most memorable milestone was on 13th September 2013 when we suffered a catastrophic fire which completely destroyed our Dandenong headquarters.
In looking back, I am still incredibly grateful to the QEP team who helped us to rebuild in an amazing timeframe, but I am always reminded of what a great industry this is after I received so much support through a very challenging time from customer, suppliers and competitors alike.
- When it comes to flooring QEP continues to develop and introduce trailblazing ideas and products including high performing and competitively priced ranges for both domestic and commercial projects across laminate, LVT, carpet, carpet tiles and sheet vinyl. Discuss the latest QEP product offering.
All our current products remain as a part of the transition to the new ownership. They include high quality water resistant laminate from Germany, leading edge sheet vinyl from Europe’s major manufacturer as well as our Xpress ranges of LVT and Carpet Tiles where we hold excellent stocks in multiple locations to provide an immediate supply solution for our customers.
We also have several new product categories which QEP and AFS will be launching in the second half of this year which will see us further establish ourselves as a key provider to the flooring trade…..watch this space!
- Looking ahead, what plans have you got for the future of QEP Australasia?
We already have a great experienced team in place, many of whom have worked with me and my wife Sue (who is a 16 year veteran at QEP) for a long time.
The change in ownership to the Maclaren family will provide certainty on our direction and despite the current challenging market conditions, we intend to drive the continued growth of the QEP and AFS business units.
We have a number of new initiatives lined up for this year and the involvement of Fraser Maclaren alongside these, confirms the commitment we have to the future and the next generation of passionate flooring people.
