Golden German hands with a Czech name

This is something that Nemec s.r.o. excels at. Over twenty years ago, the owner, Josef Němec, decided to focus on surfaces in the form of coatings. And because he was not satisfied with the market offerings, he came up with his own patents – the Imitation Concrete® coating and Betonepox®. As a true visionary, he is also a practitioner – so he emphasizes that the unique stylish surfaces in the form of coatings they offer are not only beautiful but also functional. And it did not stop with these surfaces. The company has also become a pioneer of vertical gardens and green smart benches in the Czech Republic. From painting rooms, they have progressed to beautiful realizations all over Europe and beyond.

Josef Němec

Radovan Najman

Benjamin Raich

"We are a cheerful, hardworking, and young company,” says Benjamin Raich, Business Development Manager, who joined the company in 2009, adding in one sentence: “An approachable attitude towards the client is not a hollow phrase for us. Clients who return to us repeatedly, whether they are architects, designers, or investors, are a sign that we are doing it well.” His words are confirmed by colleague Radovan Najman, the manager of the coatings section.

How does a company that initially focuses on plastering and consists of only one person become a visionary company that becomes a concept in the market?
Through dedication, quality work, a willingness to listen to the demands of the client, architect, or designer, and by taking every project seriously. We want every client to leave us satisfied. We are a small country, and quality (and even poor-quality) work spreads very quickly. You can build a good name over many years, but you can destroy it much faster. In addition to all this, you must also be a visionary and see opportunities where others see problems.

Where do you draw your inspiration from, where do the mentioned ideas come from?
The basic building blocks of our company in the coatings segment are two of our own patents, namely the Imitation Concrete® coating and Betonepox®. The first was created in collaboration with Josef Němec and Aulík/Fišer architects many years ago, and Betonepox® was developed one day when we were tired of the lack of suitable minimalist surfaces for bathrooms or shower stalls. We experimented for so long until we came up with a coating that is very similar to Imitation Concrete®, but is specifically usable in areas exposed to water. Our problems serve as our inspiration. Where there is a problem, there is also a solution – we just have to figure it out.


What are the current trends in surfaces, and what do you plan for the future?
We regularly ask our clients what they miss in the market, and subsequently attempt to fill this gap. As a nation, we are rather conservative, and in design, we lean more toward minimalism. The wild nineties are long forgotten. The popular combination remains – black, white, gray, wood, and some colorful accents. Concrete surfaces, whether for walls or floors, are still in high demand, and it doesn't look like that will change anytime soon.

However, you do not only focus on surfaces but also on vertical gardens and smart benches intended for urban furniture. What is the connection?
It is a natural progression. From painting, we moved to coatings, then to flooring, and when Mr. Němec liked green walls on vacation, he began to devise a system suitable for Czech conditions. From green walls, it was just a step to moss walls, and with the introduction of the Smart City concept, to smart green benches, Smart Benches. We must be interested in trends and be ready to react flexibly. We enjoy it.

People often perceive the Imitation Concrete® and Betonepox® coatings as significantly more expensive than others. How do you deal with that?
Lately, that has indeed been the case, and we regret it; we need to work more on communication because that is not the case. It always depends on what you are comparing us to, and comparable things are not always compared. We prefer a simple price quote that includes the price with installation and all services. Just one price, and that's it – no hidden fees and additional costs that the customer only realizes when it's too late.
We offer above-standard service – technician visits to sites, technical consulting, sampling, resolving potential complaints, stable support, and adherence to deadlines. Of course, the time we save for the customer, thanks to perfect harmony, also has its price. There are no hidden "extra works" from us that you are unaware of in advance. When we promise something, we deliver. And at all costs. So overall, we do not believe that we are significantly more expensive than competitive surfaces. On the contrary.
No project is too small for us; we are happy to carry out smaller areas in bathrooms or kitchens. We appreciate these smaller projects because we then feel closer to the clients, and it always pleases us to help fulfill a dream of beautiful living. As people, we feel fulfilled; there is a kind of sense of human solidarity in it. Moreover, we have often confirmed that a small project can lead to a large contract.


Who is a typical client that chooses a concrete surface?
The client can be anyone. We have clients who order coatings worth hundreds of thousands of crowns, and we have clients who want one wall in the living room or kitchen. It's quite individual, and we strive to accommodate everyone. As for planning, there is not much difference whether you are dealing with a small or a large project. Sometimes it's even the other way around. If I were to think about the size of a "standard" project, it is about 30-40 m².

Let's say I like your surfaces and want them. What can I expect?
During the initial phone call, we try to find out what kind of coating or vertical garden the client is interested in. This is followed by an invitation to the showroom or a visit to the implementation site. Once we have the materials, we can price the project and, if necessary, sample everything. A consultation on the construction site regarding the necessary preparation always follows. If everything is clear, we will arrange a fixed date, prepare a contract and an advance invoice. A week before starting, we confirm everything by phone just in case. After completing the work, there will be a handover to the client, including a handover protocol, and the project will be invoiced according to the actual work done and closed. Nothing complicated, but we know from our own experience that it does not always work this way everywhere.

What do clients need to realize?
It is essential to realize that each wall is a piece of an original, and even two adjacent walls implemented by the same person will always be somewhat different. The rule is that the surface must look cohesive, but it is always an original – which, on the other hand, I consider to be a great advantage of coatings in general. Another point is that every coating is destructible if you try.

Do you enjoy your work? A phenomenon of today and an absolute necessity for millennials. But does it work in reality?
Yes, work is, of course, work, but we enjoy it. We have nice people around us, and there is almost always a good mood and humor in the company. It is pleasant to know nearly all clients by name and to solve matters on a friendly level.