Family businesses are the essence of Catalonia's textile industrial fabric. Albert Borrell's grandfather, born in Premià de Mar, created a small t-shirt workshop more than three decades ago. This business has withstood the test of time and is still running, and it served Albert to enter the textile world. But, for more than two decades, Albert has diversified his activity within the sector, to the point that he has now created his own brand.
In the last two decades, Albert has dedicated himself to representing different fabric manufacturers throughout Europe. He knows perfectly all the fabrics that move in the market and, for years, there is one that catches his attention. It is the Amicor fiber, which has had very limited use in the textile market, but which contains unique antibacterial properties. Albert had always thought that this fiber had special potential, and that it would be interesting to give it a concrete application, but he had never decided to undertake a project like NOD-BCN, a brand of towels with unique properties that prevent bad odors.
The project
It was in 2016 when he decided to start this adventure. The starting point was the need to create towels that would better withstand the passage of time and maintain their antibacterial properties throughout their useful life. "Towels are always in a very humid environment, bathrooms, and it is very difficult to prevent bacteria or fungi, which cause bad odors, from appearing," says Albert. That is why he believes that his towels have differential properties in the market.
"Our towels have excellent quality and their antibacterial characteristics are not lost over time. The company that manufactures the Amicor fiber has also assured us that it has anti-Covid-19 properties and, in the times we live in, we believe that this is a very important plus," says Albert. The product he offers is much cleaner and more hygienic, he assures, than what could be found until now on the market.
Between 2016 and 2018, the entrepreneur was testing fabrics to see what proportion of Amicor fiber and cotton was most suitable. By the end of 2018, he had decided what product he wanted to offer and, between 2019 and 2020, he finished launching the project, registering the brand, and creating the website, the epicenter of the business. NOD-Bcn (Not Only Dries or No Solo Toallas in Spanish) offers different products for different uses. From small cloths for everyday use, to shower towels or others designed for the sports world. Currently, the startup only sells from the website, but also has agreements with sports facilities, residences, and hotels to expand its market.
"Our towels have excellent quality and their antibacterial characteristics are not lost over time," says Albert BorrellThe fabric is spun in Girona, where the blend between the fiber is also madeAmicorand cotton. Once this process is finished, the material is sent to Barcelona, where the final product is manufactured. All in local workshops."I really like to bet on workshops in Catalonia. Here we have a very strong textile culture and the manufacturing quality is very good", says the founder of NOD-Bcn.
Funding and future projection
This project has had an initial self-investment of 60,000 euros and, this year, expects to sell close to 25,000 units and obtain a turnover of 200,000 euros, which would allow it to strengthen its position in the market and continue expanding the business. Albert is optimistic and believes he has found a market niche with great potential. "Everyone wants to have more hygienic and cleaner towels; we use them every day, and they are essential. We believe our product will be widely accepted and we will be able to carve out a niche in this market," he comments.
The project has had an initial self-investment of 60,000 euros and, this year, expects to sell close to 25,000 units and obtain a turnover of 200,000 eurosThe pandemic has not disrupted Albert's plans, since he only started commercializing his product in late 2020. His business model, based on salesonline, has allowed mobility limitations not to affect the business's launch. "With all the Covid issue, people are much more aware of hygiene, and this can help us a lot, since hygiene is one of the most important premises ofNOD
El presidente de la República, Gabriel Boric Font, junto a la ministra de Salud, Ximena Aguilera, y el subsecretario de Redes Asistenciales, Fernando Araos, encabezó el lanzamiento del Plan de Invierno 2023, que busca reforzar la red asistencial de salud para enfrentar de mejor manera el aumento de enfermedades respiratorias durante los meses más fríos del año.
En la actividad, realizada en el Hospital Metropolitano de La Florida, el Mandatario destacó que “este plan es el más robusto de los últimos años, con un aumento del 60% de los recursos en comparación al año pasado, lo que se traduce en un incremento de 120 mil millones de pesos para enfrentar de mejor manera el invierno”.
El Presidente Boric también hizo un llamado a la población a vacunarse contra la influenza y el COVID-19, y a tomar medidas de autocuidado, como el lavado frecuente de manos y el uso de mascarilla en lugares cerrados.
Por su parte, la ministra Aguilera detalló que el Plan de Invierno 2023 contempla la habilitación de más de 1.500 camas adicionales, la contratación de más de 2.000 profesionales de la salud, la compra de más de 100 ventiladores mecánicos y la adquisición de más de 2 millones de dosis de vacunas contra la influenza y el COVID-19.
“Estamos trabajando para que todos los chilenos y chilenas tengan acceso a una atención de salud oportuna y de calidad durante el invierno”, afirmó la ministra Aguilera.
El Plan de Invierno 2023 se suma a otras medidas impulsadas por el Gobierno para fortalecer la red asistencial de salud, como la Ley de Presupuesto 2023, que contempla un aumento del 10% en el presupuesto de salud, y la Ley de Urgencia, que busca reducir los tiempos de espera en los servicios de urgencia.
El Gobierno de Chile reitera su compromiso con la salud de todos los chilenos y chilenas, y hace un llamado a la población a informarse sobre las medidas de prevención y autocuidado para enfrentar de mejor manera el invierno.
Bcn", concludes Albert.Add The New Barcelona Post as your preferred Google source for free
Stay informed with the latest news.
