“Biznes Klasa” is a money.pl program available on YouTube. Editorial chief Łukasz Kijek talks to current and former heads of the largest companies, as well as people from the business environment – about their lives, business, earnings and many other matters. The guest of the latest episode is Gabriele Kermiche, co-founder of the Ecowipes brand, currently the owner of Galileo Medical.
Handkerchiefs worth hundreds of millions of zlotys. Reveals the backstage of business – Gabriel Kermiche in Business Class
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He took over the business after his father’s sudden death
Gabriel Kermiche started his business in difficult circumstances, taking over the family business after the death of his father. He was 25 years old. The company he took over started with the production of ear buds and later expanded its operations to include wet wipes. – I found a company with 200 employees and a turnover of PLN 100 million. Initially, I wasn’t sure what exactly my dad did, and taking over the company came with many challenges – says Kermiche.
After the takeover, it struggled with financial crises that forced it to decide on further development. As a young manager, he had to face enormous responsibility. – After my father’s death, the company went through difficult times, but it was crucial to not only keep it afloat, but also put it on the path to development – he recalls.
Expansion into the European market
Under Gabriel Kermiche, the company developed significantly. From 200 employees it has grown to over 1,000 people, and annual revenues have increased to PLN 700 million. – We have started international expansion, including the purchase of a factory in France. It was a decision that made sense not only from a business point of view, but also in the context of changing transport costs – explains the “Business Class” guest.
Taking over a plant in a small French village that employed 50 people required a lot of commitment, but allowed us to successfully enter the French market thanks to the “Made in France” stamp. – At the beginning we had doubts, but over time we managed to rebuild the plant, and now we employ twice as many people there – says Kermiche.
Fight for space on the shelf
A breakthrough in the company’s activity was the introduction of wet and ecological wet wipes to the market. At the beginning, the product was not very popular in Poland, but the situation changed during the COVID-19 pandemic. – When toilet paper ran out, our tissues became popular. Sales increased tenfold – from 50,000 packages a month to 500,000 – Kermiche recalls.
One of the key aspects of the company’s development were negotiations with retail chains. -Poland is the most competitive market in Europe. If someone is a seller in France, it is best to send him to negotiations in Poland to really learn, learn various techniques, strategies, and above all, control his nerves. It’s here, welcome to Poland – says Kermiche.
He emphasizes that the Polish market requires exceptional flexibility and the ability to make quick decisions.
Retail chains such as Biedronka or Lidl are very dynamic, and negotiations with them often resemble an endless game. – Retail chains in Poland are extremely demanding. After signing the contract, there is no guarantee that everything will go according to plan, negotiations last almost all the time, and each new offer is a constant fight for a place on the shelf – explains Kermich.
There are plans to purchase a hospital
After selling Ecowipes, Kermiche decided to invest in a new industry, i.e. health. He invested in Galileo Medical, a chain of clinics combining physiotherapy with psychotherapy.
– After experiencing my own health problems, I wanted to create something that would help people in a comprehensive way. I believe that combining physiotherapy and psychotherapy can significantly improve the quality of life of patients – says the guest of “Business Class”. Now it plans to purchase a hospital that is to become part of this venture.
In previous episodes of “Business Class”, Łukasz Kijek talked to:
- Adam Ringer, former president of Green Caffe Nero;
- Maciej Panek, president of Panek;
- Władysław Grochowski from the Arche Group;
- prof. Andrzej Blikle, confectioner and entrepreneur;
- Daria Abramowicz, a business psychologist who cooperates with, among others, with Iga Świątek;
- Henryka Bochniarz, founder of Lewiatan;
- Dawid Zieliński, president of Columbus Energy;
- Jacek Santorski, business psychologist and entrepreneur;
- Tomasz Karolak, actor and founder of the IMKA theater;
- Piotr Voelkel, founder of VOX Meble and SWPS University;
- Jakub Tepper, restaurateur from Poznań;
- Wojciech Janicki, director of the Institute of Socio-Economic Geography and Spatial Management of the Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin;
- Marian Owerko, co-founder of Bakalland;
- Marcin Piątkowski, professor at the Kozminski University, author of the bestseller “The Golden Age”;
- Maciej Wilk, chief operating officer of Flair Airlines;
- Robert Michalski, founder of Stradale Classics;
- Maciej Oleksowicz, president of Inter Cars;
- Jakub Dwernicki, founder of cyber_Folks and Vercom;
- Robert Dobrzycki, founder and president of Panattoni Europe and India;
- prof. Grzegorz Mazurek, rector of the Kozminski University;
- Dawid Jakubowicz, president of Kulczyk Investments;
- Marcin Ochnik, president of Ochnik;
- Marcin Ziopaja, president of Zio-Max;
- Alina Sztoch, president of Kubota;
- Karol Okrasa, chef at Platter by Karol Okrasa;
- Krzysztof Domarecki, founder of the Selena Group;
- Jarosław Szanajca, president of Dom Development;
- Piotr Fus, co-founder of the Auto Fus Group;
- Cezary Kozanecki, president and founder of Synektik;
- Bartłomiej Walaszczyk, founder of Cars Collection;
- Paweł Jarski, president of the Elemental Group;
- Tomasz Salski, co-founder of the Klepsydra Group;
- Prof. Andrzej Koźmiński, founder of the Leon Koźmiński Academy;
- Marta Półtorak, co-founder and president of Marma Polskie Folie;
- Adam Sikorski, president of the Unimot Group;
- Kamil Makula, president of Superauto.pl;
- Marcin Kubrak, co-founder of Enter Air;
- Jarosław Królewski, founder of Synerise;
- Jarosław Bieniecki, founder of Runmageddon;
- Stefan Batory, founder and president of Booksy;
- Piotr Mikrut, president of the Śnieżka Group;
- Paweł Kisiel, president of the Atlas Group;
- Tomasz Jagiełło, president of Helios;
- Przemek Żebrowski, co-founder of K2 Internet;
- Ryszard Florek, president of Fakro;
- Michał Kozak, president of the Arłamów Hotel;
- Dominika Żak, co-founder of Dee Zee;
- Mateusz Matula, president and co-founder of Kodano;
- Agnieszka Czajka, general manager of OTOMOTO;
- Michał Sadowski, founder of Brand24;
- Wojciech Morawski, co-founder of Atlantica;
- Wojciech Buczkowski, president of Komputronik;
- Jakub Swadźba, president and co-founder of Diagnostyka;
- Dariusz Mioduski, president and owner of Legia Warszawa;
- Rafał Sonik, president of Gemini Holding;
- Paweł Wróbel, president of NTFY;
- Zenon Daniłowski, president of Makarony Polskie;
- Piotr Nowosielski, founder and president of RocketJobs.pl and Just Join IT;
- Krzysztof Pawiński, president of the Maspex Group;
- Mateusz Dróżdż, president of Cracovia;
- Igor Klaja, founder of OTCF, creator of the 4F brand;
- Ewald Raben, president of the Raben Group;
- Rafał Modrzewski, president of ICEYE;
- Przemek Ben Pączek, president of Nevomo;
- Krzysztof Oleksowicz, founder of Inter Cars;
- Zbigniew Jakubas, owner of GK Multico;
- Martin Lewandowski, co-founder of KSW;
- Wojciech Ćmikiewicz, managing director of Vorwerk Polska;
- Lech Kaniuk, co-founder of SunRoof;
- Dariusz Grzeszczak, president and co-founder of Erbud;
- Patrycja Strzelecka, co-founder of CashDirector;
- Konrad Howard, co-founder of Booksy;
- Grzegorz Brona, president of Creotech Instruments;
- Piotr Baupre, founder of Neo Energy Group;
- Jacek Rutkowski, co-founder of Amica and owner of Lech Poznań,
- Wiktor Schmidt, co-founder of Netguru,
- Maria Kwiatkiewicz, co-founder of YES,
- Robert Podles, founder of COBI,
- Dariusz Gałęzewski, co-founder of Oshee,
- Rafał Brzoska, founder of InPost,
- Rafał Bugyi, president of Trumpf Hüttinger,
- Sebastian Kondracki, co-creator of Bielik AI,
- Paweł Miszta, owner of Auto Handel Miszta,
- Robert Dobrzycki, president of Panattoni Europe and owner of Widzew Łódź,
- Bogusław Leśnodorski, lawyer and investor,
- Marek Tronina, creator of the Warsaw Marathon Foundation,
- Kacper Nowicki, president of Nomagic,
- Gregoir Nitot, president and founder of Sii Polska,
- Maciej Nykiel, co-creator of Nekera,
- Karol Myśliński, co-founder of Cylinders,
- Jakub Faryś, president of the Polish Automotive Industry Association,
- Dariusz Mazurkiewicz, president of BLIK,
- Karol Pawlak, founder of Vitroflora,
- Adam Bartkiewicz, co-founder of WB Electronics.
