© CEOCFO Magazine -
CEOCFO Magazine, PO Box 340
Palm Harbor, FL 34682-
Phone: 727-
Email: info@ceocfocontact.com
Search
Business Services | Solutions
Medical | Biotech
Cannabis | Hemp
Banking | FinTech | Capital
Government Services
Public Companies
Industrial | Resources
Clean Tech
Global | Canadian
Lynn Fosse, Senior Editor
Steve Alexander, Associate Editor
Bud Wayne, Marketing
& Production Manager
Christy Rivers -
Print -
Syfel Inc. – bringing Biodegradable, Sustainable, Antimicrobial, Fashionable, Reusable Bags to the World
Sylvia Feldzamen
Founder
Syfel Inc.
Contact:
Sylvia Feldzamen
1-
Interview conducted by:
Lynn Fosse, Senior Editor
CEOCFO Magazine
Published – December 7, 2020
CEOCFO: Ms. Feldzamen, would you tell us about the vision when you started Syfel and what your focus is right now?
Ms. Feldzamen: My vision was to do the right thing for our environment. I saw the accumulation of plastic bags everywhere including my own home and I thought it was important to do something about that.
My focus now: Because of the pandemic supermarkets were going back to using single use plastic bags which I cannot understand. So, I started looking for something that would put consumers and supermarket employees at ease in regards to their bags. It is not antivirus but it can be considered the next best thing.
CEOCFO: Syfel bags are reusable and fashionable. Why is the fashionable part important?
Ms. Feldzamen: Reusable shopping bags are a great inexpensive marketing tool for supermarkets and retailers but, there are many consumers today that are looking for trendy options and more sustainable choices. Reusable bags are not just for groceries. People don’t want to use the same bag that they used to carry their fish home.
CEOCFO: How prevalent is the use of reusable bags both in the US, Canada and Europe, and what do you see are the differences within these geographies?
Ms. Feldzamen: Europe leads the way in sustainability. Europeans are much more into sustainable materials like Jute, Juco and cotton, Ireland being the first country to go plastic free in 2006. Whereas in North America the trend started in 2006 making bags out of polypropylene. However, the tide may be turning, as I am having more conversations with my customers about Jute, Juco and Cotton and other bio-
CEOCFO: Would you tell us about the differences in materials you utilize?
Ms. Feldzamen: Prior to 2006, Cotton and heavy Canvas were the big trends for supermarket bags. To date there are so many different kinds of material than can be used to make reusable bags. From Polypropylene to Jute, Juco (blend of Cotton and Jute) to hemp. Being recycled, bio-
CEOCFO: Are people paying attention to the antimicrobial part?
Ms. Feldzamen: Anti-
CEOCFO: Other than no logo, what makes a reusable bag fashionable?
Ms. Feldzamen: My European design team has an eye for fashion, they help me create fashionable bags by using different fabric and designs to create reusable bags with flare.
CEOCFO: How are you able to clean the bags?
Ms. Feldzamen: Some bags can be washed in cold water others wiped down with a damp cloth. If your bag has anti-
CEOCFO: Who is using your bags?
Ms. Feldzamen: Anybody and everybody from retailers to tradeshows to schools and so on.
CEOCFO: Would you tell us about your office in China?
Ms. Feldzamen: I have two employees in China that work strictly for me. One is my manager. She takes care of all my paperwork, works with the factories, handles my correspondence and we communicate daily. The other employee handles the production and does all the quality control inspections. That way I know nothing is overlooked. She visits the factories prior to starting the work and again once the work is complete to make sure it meets my standards. In Vietnam, I have an employee who does the same.
CEOCFO: How have you reached out before COVID and what has changed?
Ms. Feldzamen: Before COVID we met buyers face to face by appointments and built relationships, now we meet people on Skype and Zoom. We have lost that personal touch, but we will get it back. Many buyers are working from home, which makes it a bit difficult to build new relationship with new buyers.
CEOCFO: Do you work with the general public??
Ms. Feldzamen: We are business to business.
CEOCFO: How is business?
Ms. Feldzamen: Business is ok. They say the strongest survive, and we are still here. We are not going anywhere. Business is not the same, it has been harder, which means we have to keep innovating.
CEOCFO: Do you see new materials coming about and is there much research in that area?
Ms. Feldzamen: We have done lots of research on materials. We have a new program in development now that is all brand-
CEOCFO: Do you see going into additional countries?
Ms. Feldzamen: We have worldwide distribution. We do sell a bit to Japan, also sell within China and we are selling all over Europe. I would love to sell to South America so I can go and meet clients – I have never been there. I love travelling.
CEOCFO: Why look at Syfel; what sets the company and your bags apart?
Ms. Feldzamen: I think offering personalized service is most important and having employees overseas to make sure our products are to my standards. Another thing that makes us different is I will do whatever is necessary to keep my customer happy even if that mean flying shipment in by Air on my dime. My customers mean a lot to me, as they have supported me for years and I greatly appreciate each one.
Syfel Inc., Sylvia Feldzamen, Reusable Shopping Bags, Antimicrobial Shopping Bags, Syfel Inc. – bringing Biodegradable, Sustainable, Antimicrobial, Fashionable, Reusable Bags to the World, CEO Interviews 2020, Business Services Companies, Clean-
“Anti-
Sylvia Feldzamen