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Anton Antoniadis is the Commercial Manager at SP Shutters, a family-owned business based in Melbourne, which specialises in the manufacture and installation of window furnishings, including roller shutters, security doors, and fly screens. Antoniadis’s involvement in the industry dates back to his childhood, as his father had been in the business for 30 years.
“Some of my earliest memories are assembling flyscreens in the garage of our family home. I like to joke that while some kids had Lego, I had window grilles!” he tells WFA.
After completing his engineering and business degree, he began his career in the construction industry, where he worked as a draughtsman, structural engineer, project manager, and operations manager for both residential and commercial projects. He eventually found his way back to the family business, where he could apply the knowledge and skills he had acquired over the years.
“I got to a point in my career where I felt the knowledge, skills, and experience I had gained could be applied to my family business,” Antoniadis explains.
While Antoniadis enjoys working in the window furnishings industry, he also acknowledges that there are challenges associated with it.
“The low barriers to entry coupled with the lack of regulation make it difficult for customers to find consistency in terms of long term quality, service, and reliability.”.
“Without any regulation, customers cannot know for certain if they are purchasing a product that will perform as advertised, and furthermore if the electrical components (e.g. motors) of the products are certified with Australian Standards.”
Despite the challenges, Antoniadis’s family business has emerged as a player in the industry for almost 30 years, which he considers to be a milestone achievement.
“We still receive referrals from jobs my dad completed over 20 years ago!” he says.
Antoniadis’s personal contributions to the business include spear-heading the start of its indoor and outdoor roller blinds manufacturing division, which has helped the business reach a new level of organisation and professionalism.
“This has in turn helped provide a better service to all of our customers, both retail and wholesale.”
His passion for the industry is apparent in his commitment to expanding the family business and his dedication to providing high quality products and services to its customers. His diverse background in both engineering and business has undoubtedly played a significant role in the success of SP Shutters, and his contributions have helped cement the company’s position as a one-stop-shop manufacturer of door and window furnishings.
He says his father has had the greatest impact on his career.
“My dad has always been a great inspiration for me. He has overcome many obstacles in his life as a Greek migrant, and his ability to always think outside the box has helped the business reach the level it is today.”
This way of thinking has helped Antoniadis to become a leader in the industry, striving for constant improvement in both the service they provide and the products they put out in the market.
His thirst for learning and innovation is evident in the way he stays up to date with the latest trends and products in the industry. He enjoys talking to people from all backgrounds and industries and often hears about new products and ideas through these conversations. He also attends trade shows in overseas markets like Asia and Europe, where he can discover new products and bring them back to the Australian market.
As for his personal strengths, he believes that sales and service are his strongest suits, matching his outgoing personality.
“I try to use my knowledge and experience to assist all clients and customers to find the best solution, and I believe my major strength lies in my ability to use my practical knowledge to find solutions that would otherwise not be apparent.”
Looking ahead, he has big plans for himself and his family business.
“I see myself together with my brothers having grown the family business to a multi-national level, creating something that can provide opportunities for our future children and help our parents enjoy their retirement.”
He also hopes to be at the forefront of bringing a new product into the Australian market for the first time, starting a new trend in the industry. With his passion for the industry and his drive for success, it seems clear that Anton will continue to make a significant impact in the window furnishings industry for years to come.
