Michael Zhou: Retailer and Wholesaler of Sanitary Equipment Based in Hungary

We are a retailer and wholesaler of Sanitary equipment based in Hungary. Our firm was started in 1995, and has recently entered the ecommerce sector.

Tell us about yourself?

I am a business graduate of Villanova University. I have been working at Diplon for the past 5 years, mainly in the procurement and logistics department. So far, I have lived and worked in 4 different countries on 3 continents.

One of the biggest takeaways I have gotten from my international experience is the importance of ecommerce, and its potential to take over traditional retail channels.

With this experience, I chose to switch my focus to expanding and improving my companies online presence. Diplon Hungary’s webshop has been growing exponentially since its opening this year, however, I believe there is much more growth to come.

If you could go back in time a year or two, what piece of advice would you give yourself?

I would tell myself that to focus on a project with potential, as at this point in my career, I believe future growth is a priority.

What problem does your business solve?

We provide quality sanitary equipment with proven track records and warranties at fair prices.

What is the inspiration behind your business?

The construction and home furnishing industries are both massive growth industries, yet there are huge gaps between the expensive premium brands, and the unknown local producers. We aim to fill this void with products that are both economical to buy and yet conform to international quality standards.

What is your magic sauce?

We pride ourselves in our longevity. Longevity in a business is characterized by following trends in the industry, the best relationship between price and quality, constant introduction of new products, and a team of people ready to cooperate at all levels of business.

What is the plan for the next 5 years? What do you want to achieve?

We wish to expand our business in all sectors, but with a focus in the online market. Ecommerce has been the biggest shock to the traditional sales model in the past 20 years, and we believe its influence and potential will only increase with time.

What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced so far?

Entering such a new sector (ecommerce) without the benefit of previous experience.

How do people get involved/buy into your vision?

We are already an established presence (see www.diplon.net) in Serbia, with Hungary being the first of what we hope will be many branches to our online network. In Serbia, we are the premier online webstore for sanitary products, and anyone who has the desire to help us expand our reach in the Balkan region should contact us via our website.