KingsBox also strives to operate according to these principles and pay as much attention as possible to our employees by introducing various innovative practices. I am honored that we have been rewarded for some of these practices, or that I have been invited to lecture on them on various stages. And no, it’s not about trophies, but knowing that we are on the right track and doing something right makes us very happy!

From Idea to Solution

As Tone Pavček would say: first, there is the topic. Or in more HR jargon: first, there is the challenge. These arise due to changes, new needs, different circumstances. Of course, we cannot address all the problems that arise, but we must address the biggest and most repetitive ones! This is where we start reading articles, seeking advice and solutions, drafting one, two, and sometimes three solutions before one is approved. I must look for solutions that are in line with our values, annual goals, and, of course, those that are achievable in terms of time and resources. Then we need to implement the solution, check satisfaction, and measure progress. I enjoy the first part the most, when the brain needs to work especially hard, but I fear the last part the most because if employees are not satisfied with the solution, all the work was in vain. This year’s goal is to try to involve them more in the development process so that there are as few surprises as possible at the end of the project.

What are those practices we introduced?

Years ago, we drew attention to ourselves when we were among the first to introduce OKRs into our work process. What may be an incomprehensible acronym for many has become a way of life for us. Based on OKRs (Objectives and Key Results), we first set annual goals, and then each department adds its contribution to the mosaic in achieving our plans. OKRs and the philosophy behind them encourage us to stay focused and always know what is important.

We introduced OKRs at about the same time as our educational plans. One of our company’s values is growth – which I do not mean only the muscles of our clients and sales figures but also the personal growth of our employees. Luka and Dejan highly value knowledge; after all, they had to learn a lot themselves to go from a student garage company to entrepreneurs with thirty-five employees.

Every three months, our colleagues choose their own educational plan with the goal of improving specific skills. Perhaps they want to learn to create better 3D images, learn more about brand development, delve into sales techniques, or improve their communication skills. To improve their skills, individuals choose three activities to learn from. These can be books, (online) lectures, visits to other companies’ best practices, etc. With every page read, podcast listened to, or mentor’s advice taken, each individual grows and, of course, the company grows as well.

Of course, everything is not ideal, far from it! On our journey, we encounter many obstacles or challenges, but we strive to overcome them together. For example, during the pandemic, we faced a problem when we suddenly hired a lot of people. We didn’t know each other anymore, we were almost like “strangers” writing to each other through Teams channels… Colleagues started complaining about this new dynamic, and we quickly took action! We signed up for a hackathon, where students from various faculties’ HR programs prepared a comprehensive onboarding program for us. Of course, I adjusted it a bit, but the concept remained the same: before we hire someone, a mentoring program is already prepared for them, in the first week they go on a treasure hunt to learn about the work of all the teams, then they work according to the mentoring program for two months, and are then ready for (almost) independent work.

But there is still a lot of work ahead of us…

These are just a few of our practices that we have implemented. Of course, I am also proud of our recommendation program, which is still under construction, as well as our digitized personnel files, agile systematization, and good team building activities.

On the other hand, we still need to address many challenges. We all agree that we need to improve communication between employees, which needs to be more transparent, increase individuals’ responsibility for tasks and projects, do more to transmit culture to remote employees, and finally, move into shared spaces (we have partially succeeded in this, but we are still not all together!), so we can have our occasional pizza Fridays more often and with fewer logistical problems.

I recently read somewhere that most people who work in HR landed in this profession more or less by accident. This also applies to me. But I wouldn’t trade my choices for anything in the world! My personal goal in this company is to create an environment where no one finds it difficult to get up on Monday mornings. We all know that we work to live, but if we also feel good at work and spend those eight hours a day with pleasant people, all the better!

The post Investing in human capital is the key to success | Head of HR Živa Cotič Bizjak reveals the practices we introduce at KingsBox appeared first on Kingsbox.

It is crucial to present the product to the target audience in the right way and through the right communication channels. This is where our visual communication designer, Erik Emeršič, comes in. He is responsible for the company’s overall visual identity and related design elements. His work includes conceptual design, photography, videography and graphic design.

Let’s take a closer look at how the visual product presentation process works at KingsBox:

Step one: Conceptual Design

Members of the marketing department develop a conceptual design for how we will launch the product to the market. We consider 3 key questions:

1. What exactly do we want to present?
2. How will we communicate this?
3. Who is our target audience?

These elements help us outline the product launch process.

Throughout the year, the team records ideas and notes them in a moodboard. This is very useful when it comes to presenting the product, as the ideas are already gathered together and just need to be examined and defined more precisely. If there are not enough or relevant ideas, we search for more through brainstorming. At this stage, the ideas are recorded only in their raw form, without precisely defined parameters. These are determined in the next step.

Step Two: Finalizing Ideas and Setting Tasks and Deadlines

In this step, ideas are refined and finalized. This creates a clear picture and now it is the right time to assign tasks and agree on deadlines for completing them.

“Setting deadlines is a crucial step in projects. This allows us to monitor the progress of the project, ensure that all necessary steps are completed, and ultimately prevent any unwanted mistakes,” advised our visual communications designer Erik Emeršič.

Ideas on how to present the product can vary greatly and depend on the product, target audience, and marketing strategy. The most common approach is to carry out an advertising campaign on various media channels that the target customers use. If the product is complex and generates interest right from the start, we organize an event for the product launch and presentation. Other methods we use include: using social media to present the product through attractive videos or animations and photos with product descriptions; collaborating with influencers who have a large following (potential customers) and who can promote our product; and direct marketing (e.g., email marketing).

Visualization includes photography, video, and graphic material

1. Product photography:

• Product photography for the website: This process starts as soon as the assembly line prepares the product for photography. The product needs to be thoroughly cleaned to showcase its premium appearance.
• Product photography in use: This takes place in a real environment, such as in the gym or in our showroom. Before photography, we agree with a model who would fit the specific product. The key here is to prepare a script with exercises and ideas.

2. Video:

• Product presentation: The focus is on showcasing the product itself and its functionalities, with involvement of the product’s designer and engineer. This aims to present the background of the product and its story.
• Production video: The focus is solely on the product’s function, i.e. how it works and what its advantages are. Such a video is more dynamic, as it includes elements of transitions and thereby arouses subtlety.
• Social media video: Since social media algorithms dictate the visibility and success of videos, it is necessary to constantly adapt to the trends of video creation. In most cases, these are short clips of exercises, product use or other interesting content.
• Gym footage: A lot of emphasis and investment is also placed on filming gyms, studios, and other spaces equipped with our equipment. This aims to demonstrate our presence in different markets, our equipment and its quality, and last but not least, our relationship with our customers, whom we treat as part of our company. Thus, we also help our valued customers with promotion on our social media and in this way give back to the community that has supported us all these years.

3. Graphic materials: These are banners, flyers, catalogs, presentations, guidelines, packaging, products, ads, and we could go on. It is crucial that everything is arranged in a consistent style. However, we also need to include something new and fresh in this clearly defined image, so we experiment with images, but within the limits defined in the guidelines.

The final stage is the product launch and publication through various channels

Once all the necessary steps have been completed, promotional material is released through all possible channels. Initially, the product photos are uploaded to the website, making the product finally visible in the online store and available for purchase. All other materials are then published on social media. With the product launch, the majority of the process is completed, but there is still ongoing content creation and the addition of any necessary adaptations.

To sum up, it is important to present a new product to the target audience in an attractive and informative way that addresses their needs and wishes. Consider your target group, their habits, and communication methods to choose the most effective way to present the product. Follow trends dictated by social media – this way, algorithms will recognize popular content and push your videos to a wider audience.

Finally, we asked Erik what he likes most about his job:

»Dynamic and creative work is what fulfills me the most, as I influence the added value of the company.«

Follow us on our social media and stay up to date with the latest offerings and interesting content.

The post How we present our products to the target audience | The process of visual product presentation with Erik Emeršič appeared first on Kingsbox.

What are the key questions to ask yourself at the very beginning?

Before you start the development process, it is crucial to have a clear idea of the product, the market and the potential customers. It is a good idea to have a list of questions and answers at the start of the process:

1. What problem or need does my product resolve?
2. Who are my target customers?
3. Who are my competitors and what do they offer?
4. What is the market demand for the solution I am offering?
5. What are the production and development costs?
6. What are the potential threats and risks in developing and launching the product?
7. What budget and timeframe do I have for the whole process?

It could be argued that this is fundamental for the development and launch of a successful and profitable product. It is also necessary to be aware of the challenges that most often arise in the process itself.

The most common challenges in the development process

– The need to coordinate different products and experts: the more complex the product, the more difficult it will be for one person to do all the work. The development process needs to involve different experts and departments within the company. R&D, design, production, marketing and sales are all involved in the process and there is a challenge of coordination as these groups may have different interests and objectives.

– Time and budget constraints: Complex products require much more time and money, which can quickly become a challenge in achieving product development goals. If we waste too much time on the whole process, competitors can quickly overtake us and the work we have done. We need to keep a close eye on the competition and how the market develops and changes.

– Technical demands and product complexity: Some products require a high level of technical knowledge to develop. Specialised tools and technologies need to be used, which can significantly increase the cost price of the product and therefore its future selling price.

– Compliance with regulations and standards: There are certain laws, regulations and standards that must be met and enforced by the country or the European Union. The complexity of the process is increased by ensuring compliance with different safety, environmental and quality standards.

– The need to adapt to changes: As the time from conceiving an idea to launching a product can be longer than expected, it is essential to adapt and evolve our solution according to changes in the market, internal development goals or customer feedback.

These challenges contribute to the complexity of the product development process, along with other factors. However, with the right project management, methodologies and collaboration between departments and experts, potential pitfalls and risks can be avoided.

What does our own engineer have to say about the development of fitness equipment?

When we asked our mechanical engineer how he would describe the process of developing a new piece of fitness equipment, he simplified it all: “We decide what the next piece of equipment we are going to develop is going to be, then we do all the necessary research, measurements, calculate all the forces and angles, think about the biomechanics and finally, we start designing”. Well, let’s keep in mind that Denis has already developed a whole range of products and we could say that he is an expert. But it’s not all as smooth and easy as that. So let’s take a closer look at how the processes work in practice.

How do we come up with ideas at KingsBox?

“They always let me make whatever I want, so when I watched the transformer’s movies, it seemed like a logical idea to use inspiration from there on our machines” Denis joked.

No, actually it’s like this: A good track record is key for us because ideas come from many different channels. The company collects and records all the ideas that are ever generated. Some are the result of our own experience, some are suggested by users, and some are the result of constant market research and the desire to innovate and improve existing products on the market.

Setting objectives is the basis for further development

At the beginning of each quarter, each department sets objectives for what it wants to achieve. For example, the development department draws up a list of products to be developed in the current quarter, based on the market situation, demand and expansion of the existing range. Projects are assigned to members of the development team, who are then responsible for the entire product development process – taking an idea from paper to product launch and sales.

Before we get started, we carry out a so-called “design brief”.

Before the development of a product begins, a meeting is held which results in what is known as a design brief. This is a set of criteria, ideas, requests, requirements and examples of good practice. They are used as a guide for the design or the development of a new product.

Design Thinking; the five-phase development process

Now we are ready to start developing a product. We use the ‘Stanford Method’ for the development process, better known as ‘Design Thinking’. This method uses a creative problem-solving approach and puts the user and their needs at the centre of the process. This method has five phases:

1. Empathy: Building empathy requires observing users in the environment in which the product will be used, asking users about their experiences of using similar products and their own experiences based on their own engagement with the products.
2. Defining the problem: This process is based on synthesising or combining the information gained from empathy.
3. Ideation: The aim is to generate as many possible solutions to the problem as possible. It’s important to think broadly and outside the box. We use a variety of tools in the ideation process. It starts simply with a pencil and a sketchbook, where the product is sketched by hand to generate as many concepts as possible. The next step is refining the most promising concept and creating a 3D model in SolidWorks.
4. Prototype: Testing is the most effective way to validate solutions. Building a prototype, whether fully functional or very simple, provides insight into the whole design process. It puts ideas to the test. The results of testing provide excellent feedback that can be used for modification. Most of the products developed by KingsBox are made from steel, either sheet metal or various tubes and profiles. The predominant machining processes are laser cutting on a surface or tube laser, sheet metal bending, welding (MIG, MAG; TIG), turning, drilling, threading, chrome plating, zinc plating, powder coating, etc.

5. The testing of ideas can take place at any stage in the design process, but it is most often carried out after the prototype has been built. It tests the performance and functionality of the product, its durability, stability and ergonomic suitability.

When all the components needed to build a prototype arrive at the company, they are inspected by a competent engineer and checked for build suitability. The prototype is then assembled and tested in 3 stages:

• Assembly and accuracy of fit
• Load capacity, stability and safety
• Functionality and usability

Sales staff and other employees need to know the functionalities of the products

The developed product is presented internally to employees to keep everyone up to date with the existing product range and its intended use. The main focus is on the sales department, as it is the salespeople who are in charge of the product’s presentation to potential customers. This also completes the development team’s main work on the product in question. In the future, the development team will remain available to solve any problems, answer questions and support the sales team or any other department in the company.

From here, marketing takes over, with product photography, video creation, product presentations to end customers, advertising and campaigns.

Finally, we would like to highlight a nice thought from Denis, who has left his mark on Mad Series fitness machines: “I want to change the fitness industry and with the Mad series, I am making a big statement.”

We invite you to take a look at the Mad Series on our website – we have recently launched the outstanding Savage Prince chest press which is getting a lot of excitement. If you want to find out more about the development of this one, check out the youtube video.

The post How is development done at KingsBox? | Let’s take a walk with Denis Štajdohar through the process of product development appeared first on Kingsbox.

Remember, there is no pretentious will to favor one “sex” over the other Simply women and men are deeply different, much more than you think.

This is a very important thing to understand, so you can use this information during sports programming of athletes.

Are you ready? Let’s start then!

1. Women should have a high fat diet

Does that sound strong? But let us explain it better.

Women burn more fat, less carbohydrates and less protein than men at the same intensity of exercise. Since they rely less on carbohydrates as fuel, they do not store as much glycogen during carbohydrate refills.

Both differences in the nervous system and hormonal system, including estrogen, are responsible for women’s reduced dependence on glycogen.

For example, adrenaline, the hormone of struggle or flight, burns more fat in women than men .

A more obvious explanation is that women normally have a considerably higher fat percentage than men of the same weight , not only on the body but also within the muscles, so it makes sense to use it as a primary energy source.

Basically, women have a glycogen and protein-sparing metabolism. This means that women don’t need as many carbohydrates or proteins in their diet as men to power their exercise sessions.

The lower carbohydrate requirement frees up calories to be consumed in the form of fat. Fats have very positive effects on the hormonal and cardiovascular health of women. In general, the more fat women eat, the more estrogen and testosterone they produce . Testosterone and estrogen are both anabolic hormones, despite the broscience that is often overheard about estrogen.

Low fat diets can also reduce breast size, in part probably due to low production of sex hormones, since estradiol and IGF-levels1 are significantly related to breast size in women who do not take the birth control pill.

A high fat diet can also be easier for women to follow than men. Dietary fats are 15% more satiating in women than men.

Women also have less to fear from the potential negative effects of a low-carb, high-fat diet.

Fats do not decrease insulin sensitivity in both women and men. Estrogen plays an important role. It helps to control inflammation, burn fat and preserve insulin sensitivity. Less inflammation means that polyunsaturated fats in particular are less susceptible to oxidation, so they can exert their anabolic effects.

Women generally have much better metabolic health than men and have a healthier body fat distribution.

By the way, if you are concerned about breast cancer, the relationship between fat intake and breast cancer risk lies in poor epidemiological studies of inactive and overweight women eating processed junk fat, such as processed red meat.

Back on the subject, several studies have found that women with polycystic ovary syndrome lose more fat and less muscle with a low-carbohydrate diet than a low-fat diet , even when protein and energy intake is strictly controlled.

Several studies have found similar results in overweight and healthy women, but these studies have been confused by more protein in low carbohydrate diets. In fact women with more fat in their diet burn more calories during exercise, have more strength and are leaner.

The benefits of fat compared to carbohydrates depend on the woman’s carbohydrate tolerance. However, we can safely say that the popular diets very rich in carbohydrates and almost zero fat are not optimal for most women.

Finally, women do not need as much protein as men for various reasons.

1. 1. Women oxidize less protein during exercise than men.
   2. Women also burn less protein on a fast or after meals than men.
   3. Because of their increased essential fat mass, women generally have less lean body mass than men of the same weight.

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A meta-analysis found that women’s protein needs are almost exactly 10% lower than men’s. In fact, from an evolutionary point of view, women may have adapted better than men to a lower protein intake.

2. Women have more results with higher repetitions

Untrained men and women have the same distribution of fiber type.

In strength training women, muscle fibers are converted into type I fibers or do not convert at all, while in men they generally change to type IIa fibers.

Women also have type I fibers proportionally larger than men.

The result of this and other mechanisms is that women are more resistant to fatigue than men , even when comparing women and men with the same level of strength.

Women can generally do more repetitions at a certain intensity than men. So, to train to a certain target workout intensity, women should generally perform more repetitions per set than men.

3. Women can handle more volume

Having larger and type I fibers allows women to manage more volume than men.

Thanks to estrogen which is an anticatabolic hormone that helps in muscle repair, reduces protein degradation during exercise and protects against muscle damage.

This allows women to train with a higher training volume without going into overtraining. Women can therefore tolerate training stress better than men.

4. Women should do less explosive training

Women’s superior working ability disappears when they train with weights close to their maximum strength (1RM) . While women’s muscles have great endurance, the female nervous system is not as efficient as that of men.

Men are more explosive than women: they can generate strength faster. The area of the brain that controls movement (the motor cortex) is in fact literally larger in men, even after correcting the height.

During explosive exercise at very high training intensities, such as powerlifting, men can perform more repetitions than women.

A more efficient motor cortex is why men tend to do better in explosive sports. However, the difference becomes very small after intensive training.

Sports scientist Renato Manno and his team compared the strength and explosiveness of 900 elite male and female athletes in 30 sports in a research and found that compared to body weight, women were as strong as men and only a small percentage less explosive.

This makes sense since women have the same relative natural muscle potential as men. The sociocultural differences probably explain why we no longer see women in high-level athletics.

Men are most powerful only during explosive and dynamic contractions, not during heavy negative or isometric contractions, even at high intensity.

So it is not true that women should never train heavily. However, women should train their strengths.

Explosive exercise does not allow women to train with the same volume as men. Women also recover less well after explosive exercises such as sprints. In contrast to the generally greater resilience of women, high-volume sprint training can take over 72 hours to recover in women.

This results in worse training adaptations for explosive exercise in women. For example, women do not build as much muscle protein after high-intensity sprints as men.

This is actually amazing, because after regular strength training, women build the same amount of muscle protein as men.

5. Women respond better to stationary cardio than HIIT

Since women do not react equally well to high-intensity interval training, stationary cardio works best for them. And not only physically: mood improvements due to aerobic exercise tend to be greater in women than in men.

6. Women do better with a slower lifting rate

Because women are less explosive than men, women can perform more repetitions with a more controlled and less explosive lifting rhythm. Forcing women to use a fixed and fast pace does not take advantage of their increased resistance.

7. Women tolerate metabolic stress better

Another reason why women have better stamina than men is that women suffer less metabolic stress than men, even when comparing women and men of the same strength level.

Women have lower blood pressure during exercise, so they can get more blood and oxygen to the muscles than men. Less metabolic by-products accumulate in the blood, so the muscles are able to function longer under stress than men.

According to some research, the superior fatigue resistance of women disappears during training due to the occlusion of blood flow (KAATSU, as the Japanese inventors originally called it).

And unlike men, women’s muscle growth seems to be blocked by occlusion of post-exercise blood flow.

8. Women do not need so much rest between the series

The following graph of Dr. Hunter extrapolated from this splendid research summarizes the reasons why women don’t work as hard as men.  Women do not need as much rest as men to complete the same relative training volume.

women suffer less fatigue than men

9. Women can train with a higher training frequency

Women not only recover faster after a set. They also recover faster after a training session. This, too, should not be a surprise now, since women have a better supply of nutrients to their muscles, do not suffer so much muscle damage and repair their muscles faster.

Conclusion

Most women are intuitively aware of their strengths in the gym, but they are often told to train exactly like men.

As a result, they may not realize their athletic potential.

Males often instinctively perform high-intensity workouts with long resting intervals, explosive repeat cadences, and HIIT-style cardio.

Women are naturally much more inclined to do cardio in steady state, lift with a more controlled rhythm, perform higher repetitions, take shorter rest periods and do a more total job.

Basically, women and men benefit from the same programming principles, but these gender differences can allow women to optimize their rate of progression.

Through millions of years of evolution, women have adapted better to workouts that are closer to the resistance spectrum than men.

Women’s gym

Finally, we are writing an article about the benefits of the women’s gym that we’ve been writing lately. A very useful and easy to read article. You can find it here</a

Sources

Sex Differences in Human Fatigability: Mechanisms and Insight to Physiological Responses

Post-exercise blood flow restriction attenuates muscle hypertrophy

Sex differences in muscle fatigability and activation patterns of the human quadriceps femoris

The post Women vs men: the differences in training styles | the guide appeared first on Kingsbox.

Qualified for Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games

Since then I’ve become the only Maltese weightlifter to go to the Olympic games. I’ve also competed at several other tournaments like IWF World Championships and EWF European Championships.

Lifting has become a huge part of my life, and being able to share my story with my followers is great! With the current situation, setting goals is frustrating as everything seems to keep getting postponed or canceled.

Apart from that, I had to undergo a small medical procedure on my wrist to deal with an injury. Regardless though, I’ve been pushing through and doing my best to stay in top shape for any competitions that might come our way.

Being able to lift during times like this is a luxury. My home gym has truly saved my athletic life and will forever be grateful for it.

Follow Yazmin on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yazmin.stevens/

Three items from Yazmin’s home gym:

Weightlifting platform:

Royal black bumper plates:

Steel micro loads:

The post KingsBox athlete: Yazmin Zammiz Stevens appeared first on Kingsbox.

Since childhood, I have always liked sports, from the most classic, such as tennis and football, to the most extreme such as diving and climbing. When I was 17, I decided to start going to fitness, but I quickly realized it wasn’t for me.

At 18 I hear about cross-training, and after trying it, I couldn’t stop. From that moment, I understood that with perseverance and passion you can do what you want!

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My recipe for success? No shortcuts, just hard work, and discipline

Follow Emanuele on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oividbivio/ 

Three pieces of equipment that Emanuele uses:

Mighty Dip Bar:

Ultimate sand bag:

Royal motion vest:

The post KingsBox athlete: Emanuele Biviano appeared first on Kingsbox.

I may not achieve my goals immediately, but if I am one step closer each day, it will pay off.

This is why I like Cross-training so much, as it includes many different exercises that help me on my mission. But sport is not the only thing I do –  I am a nurse, and I love this job because the feeling of helping others and connecting with them is something special. I really believe that my job and my sport help me be a better person.

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And because I am an athlete of habits, it is really not hard to combine work and training – nothing should keep you away from doing what you love.

Follow Louise on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/louise_czurka/

Three items from Louise’s home gym:

KingsBox flat bench:

The Cannon Wall Ball:

Royal Black bumper plates: 

The post KingsBox athlete: Louise Czurka appeared first on Kingsbox.

This sport has given me so much. I was an introverted and overweight boy who had trouble even talking with other people. Training MMA changed my life – I became more mentally mature and physically stronger.

What motivates you?

Over the years, I had different goals and motivations that kept me going. The biggest one is definitely my daughter. When she grows up, I want to show her, that, despite all the struggles, adversities I have never stopped overcoming them. I always faced challenges with my head high and will to overcome them. I also transformed this mentality from sport to other things in life.

I live my life step by step – this is what keeps me realistic. So right now, my goal is to prove that I am one of the best fighters in my category and to improve day by day, to improve my rankings and enter the arena with stronger athletes.

Follow Daniele on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dscatizzi/

Three items from Daniele’s home gym:

Mighty power CX 35 short:

Royal black bumper plates:

White knight barbell:

The post KingsBox athlete: Daniele Scatizzi appeared first on Kingsbox.