Belgian company Van Havere supplies an extensive and innovative range of ‘total concepts’ for the home and is at the forefront of the technology industry
By Jessica Summers
Van Havere NV came from humble beginnings; established in 1976 as a television shop, Mr and Mrs Van Havere soon developed the shop into an audio visual haven. Growth was constant throughout the years and, over 15 years ago, Mr. Havere and Gwen De Meyer (now MD of the company) started a small business in loud speaker production.
In the early 90’s, De Meyer entered the company as a sales person. “I actually prompted and developed the multi-room idea,” he says. “It started with multi-room audio and video systems, and we progressed to videophone entrance control and the more difficult multi-room systems.” In 1996 a PC telecom shop was opened in Kapellen, providing an extensive new technical service centre with 15 technicians.
Today, Van Havere NV is one of the biggest shops of its kind in Belgium, having gone from strength to strength. In this technology-forward society, Van Havere NV is truly at the forefront of providing total concepts for the home, including the very popular home cinema. Van Havere aims to help its clients in the world of multi-media, installing audio visual equipment, including everything from a professional home cinema to a fully-fledged hi-fi office, with the highest level of excellence and efficiency.
The Home Automation division, the newest division of the company having opened in 2001, has taken off, providing homes with the latest innovative technology; an integration of light, audio-visual equipment and security, allowing for everyday functions at the touch of a button for optimum comfort.
One stop shop
“We demonstrate the home cinema as it should be in the shop basement, to provide customers with the full experience,” says De Meyer.
On the second floor, there is something De Meyer calls ‘quite unique’ and that is a complete floor with around 30 different systems, 30 different projectors and beamers that enables the client to compare the variations in quality and price.
Van Havere NV is at a huge advantage: “If you compare us to other shops, they tend to be specialised in home automations or televisions and you have specialised Bang & Olufsen and Loewe Galleries,” says De Meyer. And what sets it apart from the competition is that it can serve them all — Amx, Crestron, Vantage, Bose, SystemLine – and it can connect them all to an impeccably high standard. The company offers everything, from low profile items such as iPod, to the high profile Bang & Olufsen shop. In 2005, Van Havere was proud to open two further Bang & Olufsen brand stores, one in Kapellen and the other in Antwerp.
Van Havere NV is also working with building companies and architects. In many cases, clients will run into difficulty, going to 100 suppliers for all the necessary items. As De Meyer puts it: “Here, they have one place to go to — we are actually a one-stop shop in every level.
“They get a projects manager and they talk over all the electronic systems which are available in the house, going from the telephone system across the board to lighting and so on,” he explains.
High-end residential market
Belgium, although a small country, has what De Meyer describes as an interesting market. But Van Havere also branches out, taking on projects in the Netherlands, Switzerland and the South of France. De Meyer talks of its loyal customer base who “take us with them, to their second and third homes, on their boats and recommend us to friends within that European region — that way we go further and further”.
But just what scale of project are we talking about? “The biggest projects are with fully-equipped houses. For example, a house 2000 to 3000 m2, with two or three floors — very large houses,” says De Meyer. “Sometimes up to 15 TVs in one house, several satellites receivers and audio/video streams.
“What’s very special is the video distribution, like Kaleidescape. You have a video server with all your DVDs, along with analogue and digital TV through the cable, and audio sources like an iPod — all this can be controlled through a touch screen or the Bang & Olufsen remote, with the on-screen menu we created.
“With the Bang & Olufsen remote you can switch through several sources, satellite, ipod, kaleidescape, while this is visualised with an on screen menu,” explains De Meyer. “So that’s quite special. I don’t think it’s on the market yet, we have to grade it ourselves."
Forefront of technology
Home electronics-Van Havere can only be at the forefront of technology and innovation because of its highly qualified in-house team, according to De Meyer, whose company, in comparison with other competitors, has more than double the amount of programmers, with a strong team of 42 specialists across all divisions, all of whom follow the latest courses and training.
“It’s quite an investment in staff but that’s something we can be proud of — that we have good technical guys,” he says. The company has received VEIEI, BCDIDI and ISF certifications for excellence and since 2001 has been a CEDIA member, something ‘very unique’ as Van Havere is one of the longest European CEDIA members.
It is Van Havere’s dynamic approach that lends it well to its high-class market: “Starting with sales, we don’t aim to sell a product, we offer a system and, importantly, what the client is looking for,” he explains.
This approach to sales means that when a customer wants a television, they’re not asked about video or plasma, but rather where they want it in their home. The salesperson actually configures the best solution by visiting the client’s home. “We do a very personal sale and also commit to after service,” says De Meyer.
In 2009 alone, the company will open two new brand stores of the high profile Loewe galleries. So what is the secret to Van Havere’s success? A very personal approach and good service: “In every division and aspect we are looking for top quality and high added value, where innovation goes together with a great support team,” says De Meyer.