Samenvatting

Hezemans Textile BV is a Dutch trading company that delivers all sort of textile products to horeca and health care institutions in the Netherlands as well as in foreign countries. 20% of today's gained profit consists of export to Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, the ABC-islands and St. Maarten. In 2007, they launched the S-cape_pod in the Netherlands. This cloth, which lies under the patient's mattress permantly, is a very practical aid to evacuate bedridden and/or disabled people in case of an emergency. Since that the S-cape_pod has been received successfully on the Dutch market, they have introduced the product in Switzerland, Austria and Germany. As part of further internationalization in Western Europe, the company first wants to know her possibilities on the French market. Extensive research shows perspective for Hezemans on the long term in France. The most important factors in this matter are the following;
• A relative high percentage ( 15-20%) of the population runs a higher risk in case of an emergency, of whom about 10,2% are physically disabled. The percentage of older dependant people is 6,7%, the ageing population keeps on growing annually. All France has about 500.000 beds in hospitals and nursing homes which could be equipped with an S-cape_pod.
• A very interesting fact is the increasing attention of the French government for renovation and modernization of hospitals and health care institutions. This also includes re-adjustment of the fire safety norms. Hezemans could respond to this by approaching semi-controlled French companies as the fire brigade , the coordinating network of hospitals and specialized organizations in first aid and fire safety education.
• Similar products which are sold on the French market as the Evac-Chair and the Rescue Sheet are more expensive, don't meet all the health and safety requirements and the price/quality ratio is less. On the basis of product differentiation, Hezemans could obtain a strong competitive position on the market. At this the focus should lie on quality, innovativity and product advantages.