You have a wonderful family business. How did your passion for the profession begin?
My parents always worked together in the business from our home. So I was involved in it from a young age. Before I started working at Wout Monseurs, I first worked for a large software company for a few years. However, I soon realized that the freedom of running my own business appealed to me much more.
How would you describe Wout Monseurs as a company?
If I had to describe Wout Monseurs in a nutshell, I would say it is a true family business. I worked there with my father for many years, and now my son Mick has also recently joined the company. Johan Suijkerbuijk is my right-hand man; he has also been working with us for more than 30 years. Because it is a family business, the lines of communication are short and the atmosphere is informal.
Can you give us an idea of what a typical workday looks like?
Certainly, as director, I am primarily involved in administrative tasks. This includes managing accounts payable and accounts receivable. In addition, I deal with general matters such as contact with the bank, the tax authorities, the accountants, and the insurance companies. Of course, I am also responsible for many of the company's facilities, such as building maintenance.
What goals do you want to achieve with Wout Monseurs?
Our main goal is to relieve other professional organizations of as many office supply concerns as possible. This includes everything they need to set up an office, such as office furniture, printers, office supplies, and facility products.
We therefore provide complete turnkey projects, in which organizations place their trust in us to create the perfect working environment. I hope to grow even further in the coming years and consolidate our leading position as a project designer.
What is your motivation for these goals?
Every week, we receive requests from new companies we are unfamiliar with to furnish their offices. I am extremely proud that we have built up a good reputation in the field of project design over the years. It is therefore great to see that people are increasingly finding their way to us. Thanks to our own creative interior designers, we can really make a difference.
You have a very close-knit team with passionate employees. What is your secret?
Good question, it's not really a secret. It's very important to us that everyone has enough space to develop and take initiative. Our interactions with each other are therefore very informal. When we select new employees, it's extremely important to us that they also fit within the team.
What is the biggest change in office design from the past to the present?
The cubicle office, which was once widely used, is increasingly being transformed into an open, flexible, ergonomic office environment. More and more people are working from home. As a result, the modern office is increasingly becoming a 'clubhouse' where you meet colleagues, hold meetings, work in concentration, but also enjoy successes together.
Do you have any other hobbies/passions besides your entrepreneurship with Wout Monseurs?
In addition to work, relaxation is of course very important. I really enjoy traveling, golfing, and photography. I also love going out to dinner with my wife.
After 30 years of experience, you could certainly write a novel or perhaps even a thriller about your adventure as an entrepreneur, but could you try to summarize it in a short description?
Entrepreneurship is indeed a great adventure. As an entrepreneur, you have to constantly adapt to the market while also working on your team during both good times and bad. You are never 'done,' so you can never sit back and relax.