CAS Influencer Days
The first Influencer Days took place at ROTHENBERGER on October 20 and 21, 2021. The theme of the two action-packed days, which were organized in cooperation with Metabo, was the cross-manufacturer Cordless Alliance System (CAS).
Prominent guests at ROTHENBERGER
More than fifty influencers accepted the invitation and traveled from all over Europe to the headquarters in Kelkheim. The first day was held in English for the international guests, while the second day was dedicated to influencers from all over Germany. After an exclusive factory tour, the participants were able to try out CAS battery tools and machines at various stations and take part in challenges. We found out for you how they experienced the day and what is important to them in personal conversations.
Nample - in close contact with the whole world
Every HVAC tradesman on Instagram knows Bruno Friedmann and his channel Nample. He is a real star in the scene, as he has over 125,000 followers and regularly receives thousands of messages from all over the world. Despite his fame, he is still a real craftsman who goes about his work every day. It's hard to believe how he manages his popular channel on the side. In our interview, he reveals how this came about and what drives him.
**How did your career as an influencer come about and when did it start?
I founded the Instagram account Nample in 2012. But I only started the account to save photos of heating systems as proof. That's why I didn't think much about the name. It was also all without a hashtag. In 2013 and 2014, the Americans became aware of me. That's why I started learning English properly a year later, because I only spoke French at school. In 2016, I went to England for the first time through Instagram, and then to the USA in 2019.
**But you already have the support of a team, or how do you manage to always be up to date?
No, I do it all myself. After almost ten years, I simply have a certain routine. It's quick, but I don't do any bling-bling, apart from the music. But that's not a problem either.
**Who are your followers?
The majority are plumbers and heating engineers, but also tool enthusiasts in general. There are also many garage and car dealership mechanics from all over the world.
**What's it like to be in contact with the whole world?
A month ago I had a reel with a Lanz Bulldog from the 50s and I uploaded it and then I got photos from Chile and Paraguay. That was brilliant. But the fact is that the Lanz Bulldog was exported there from Mannheim 70 years ago. Some of them are still running in Chile today. So it's not just us restoring old tractors, they do it in Chile too. I find that fascinating.
**What news do you think about for longer?
I experienced something very moving with a follower from India. She wrote to me that she was visiting her father and that her father used to work in Dubai as a plumber. He is very ill and she showed him my posts to cheer him up. That really cheered him up because it made him so happy. So these are the moments when I realize that what I'm doing isn't wrong.
**What do you value in your social media activities?
Wherever someone comes from, I've never forgotten to reply. So if someone writes to me, whether it's in Korean or English or German, everyone gets a reply. For me, it's not just about the tool, it's also about social media itself, about the exchange with the whole world.
Bauforum 24 - through the mud with construction machinery
Anyone who uses and loves construction machinery and tools has subscribed to his channel: Bauforum24. André Brockschmidt is the man who climbs into the cab of trucks and sits behind the wheel to race the huge machines through rough terrain to test them in all kinds of situations. But he is also the one who hosts the popular talk shows, test programs and live events on all topics relating to machines, construction sites and tools. We took the opportunity at Influencer Day to ask this jack-of-all-trades a few questions.
**How did your channel Bauforum24 come about?
Well, Bauforum24 already existed when YouTube didn't exist and the term "social media" didn't exist either. I started producing videos in 2005 and hosted these videos on YouTube around 2008. In 2015, we started making videos with me in front of the camera, which we hadn't done before. We then created new formats especially for YouTube, made regular videos every week and also expanded the tools section very well.
**Who is behind Bauforum24?
We are a company with employees and all the trimmings. There is a real business behind it, which means that it has developed over time. We started in 2004 with Bauforum24 as a community portal for construction and construction machinery. We are still identified with construction machinery. However, we not only operate this channel, but also offer consulting and productions for associations or companies that want to do more in the direction of social media.
**Which topics are particularly popular?
We did a lot on construction machinery, which went down really well, and then we were asked again and again; why don't you do something with tool testing? So that's how it started, with the tools section. But we still make videos with construction machinery. I drive trucks through the mud, I test SUVs and so on. And now many trade fairs have been canceled due to corona. That's why we're currently doing a live show every month, some of which go on for four hours and the viewers stay tuned in. That's pretty amazing.
**How did you like the CAS Influencer Day today?
The topic of ROTHENBERGER in particular hadn't been such a broad topic for me before, even though our viewers come from all sectors and we've already done something about it. I have to say, I'm very impressed when you see it here. I never expected to see the tools in action like this.
**Thank you very much for the interview.
Meister_shk: Professional exchange at eye level
HVAC tradespeople know this: Anyone who works on a construction site or in customer service every day needs quick answers to specific technical questions from time to time. Contact points on social media close this gap, show current best practices and provide quick and uncomplicated answers. Just like Kevin Unterberg with his Instagram channel meister_shk. His followers are growing year on year. We talked about his recipe for success and what interests him as an HVAC professional at the CAS Influencer Day.
**How and why did you start your channel?
To be honest, I started it for fun because I actually wanted to look for new products on Instagram. I was looking for new products, that's actually how it came about.
**What is your motivation for your channel?
Somehow also pride. If you've built a beautiful layout, you want to show it off. And of course tips on how best to build layouts. I also see how my colleagues have built something. Sometimes I say to myself, oh, you could do that in a completely different way, maybe simpler. That's more or less how it works. The professional exchange is simply important for us craftsmen: I can learn something, the others can learn something. And it's a good way to keep up to date, for example on new products.
And tools too, of course...?
Yes, right, tools always have to be there somehow (laughs).
**What does your normal working day look like?
I am a master plumber and work in my parents' family business. Heinz & Carmen Unterberg GmbH, Duisburg-Rumeln.
**Isn't it difficult to look after such a channel on the side?
No, it's not really a problem for me. I usually do it during my lunch break or sometimes I let the apprentices drive, then I do it while I'm driving. And of course after work.
**What do you often get asked, are there any requests from your fans as to what else you should do?
I often get the request that I should show myself. But I don't do that. I prefer to concentrate on the matter at hand, on the craftsmanship, that's what interests me the most.
**Why did you decide to take part in the ROTHENBERGER Influencer Day?
The greatest thing about something like this is actually always that you meet the others there too, that you meet some new people and meet others again. And: I love factory tours! That was definitely one of the decisive factors that made me want to be part of ROTHENBERGER. I love factory tours more than anything.
**What excited you the most that day?
The factory tour, of course - and the openness of Dr. Rothenberger. I thought it was great that she was there the whole day, right in the middle of the action, and was available to answer questions the whole time. That was a real highlight. I really enjoyed the day in general.
**What surprised you, what didn't you know before?
The size! For me, Rothenberger was really just Rothenberger Germany, maybe a bit abroad, but I didn't expect there to be so much behind it.
**What is your favorite tool from ROTHENBERGER and what do you particularly like about it?
Without a doubt: The ROMAX Compact TT! It's handy, so you can reach everywhere, in all niches, on the wall, which is very, very advantageous.
**Thank you very much for the interview.