How it started? Under her parents’ roof with a handful of employees. How it’s going? A rapidly growing company with more than 20 employees and brand-new, modern premises. Welcome to Climatrix, the result of an ambition that took root in the entrepreneurial heart of Kim Vaessen just over ten years ago.
In 2022, we are officially blowing out 10 candles. An anniversary that Climatrix in Dilsen-Stokkem already celebrated last year. However, the real festivities are scheduled for this year at the specialist in floor, wall, and ceiling heating. Join the club! 😉
At the helm of this young and highly ambitious company is Kim Vaessen. Born into a family of entrepreneurs—from her father, mother, and brother to her uncles and cousins. Her father founded Rofix, which manufactures radiator mounting materials. The family business beckoned for Kim after her marketing studies, but her father encouraged her to gain some outside experience first.
‘He wanted me to experience what it felt like to work for someone else, away from the family. I started working in the recruitment sector, a wonderful experience that I still look back on with great pleasure. But the moment a position opened up at Rofix, I took my chance.’
‘Admittedly, working under the same roof as my parents wasn’t always easy, but it helped shape me into the entrepreneur I am today. This coincided with the rise of low-temperature systems in 2009 and 2010. At that time, the radiator market had been declining for a while. Underfloor heating and similar systems were rapidly gaining popularity. This new technology sparked exciting visions and ideas in me, so I had to choose: jump on the bandwagon or miss it entirely.’
‘My father wanted to try and ride that wave. So, we first set up a separate department within his company that focused purely on this new technology. But we soon felt that it wouldn’t work that way. I had a specific vision, and I could only realize it if I started my own company. So, I rented office and warehouse space, and in 2011, Climatrix was officially born.’
Entrepreneurial blood: you either have it or you don’t. ‘I loved standing on my own two feet, making my own mark on the market.’
How has Kim Vaessen experienced her first decade as an entrepreneur? ‘I am someone who experiences things intensely. As a young entrepreneur, I could be incredibly euphoric when landing a major new client. At the same time, I hadn’t yet built up enough experience to be wary of the less pleasant things that can come your way.’
‘For instance, after a few years, we faced a major professional setback that could have jeopardized the future of Climatrix and our employees. From one day to the next, several employees, customers, and rock-solid ideas vanished into thin air. A bolt from the blue, as they say. Without going into further detail: it hit us hard and caused a significant dent in my self-confidence for a while.’
‘But we must have had a lot of good karma at that point. Because not much later, business suddenly went better than ever before. By continuing to believe in what we had built together and by keeping each other motivated. Growing as an entrepreneur means breaking through ceiling after ceiling, even if some of those ceilings are particularly tough.’
What are the most important ingredients for success for an entrepreneur, according to Kim? ‘Learning. Keeping your eyes and ears open, even across different sectors. And keep talking to your colleagues. Whether someone wants to share something professional or personal, my door is always open. And every morning, I do my rounds through the company to wish everyone a good morning.’
‘And also this: surround yourself with good advisors. A solid management team around you, an advisory board, fellow entrepreneurs who know the world. And that always starts with building a strong network.’
Does an experienced entrepreneur like Kim Vaessen still experience moments of stress? ‘Absolutely. But I think that’s necessary. Healthy stress indicates passion; it keeps you sharp. That was already the case during my high school years. I played badminton at a national level back then, and I remember getting very nervous before every match. But it also made me a better player.’
Finally, is there still time for hobbies in the Vaessen household? ‘During the pandemic, I started cycling with my husband and son. I also love reading, especially books about entrepreneurship and everything related to it. So, work never completely lets go of me, although I see that more as relaxation. I enjoy myself every day at work, even though it gets more intense every year: more and larger assignments, more customers. But once that good flow is there, I want to stay in it as long as possible and just enjoy it to the fullest.’
After 10 years of Climatrix, we felt it was time to give the company a fresh look. When customers arrive at our premises, the total picture must be right, both visually and in terms of content. That’s why we brought in Expliciet to develop a rebranding, including a new logo, new website, and brochures. Our customer journey will soon be perfectly aligned again.