Meet Matthijs Meinen from BÜFA-Care!
BÜFA-Care is part of Vivochem, which specialises in selling professional detergents, installing dosing systems and writing software for washing machines. At Vivochem and BÜFA-Care, we highly value the quality of our products and services as well as the dedicated people who work tirelessly behind the scenes, contributing to our success. Today, through an interview, we would like to introduce you to Matthijs Meinen, one of BÜFA-Care's enthusiastic salespeople. Please keep reading to discover what a typical working day looks like for Matthijs at BÜFA-Care, what inspires him and how he became a part of the team!
What is your role at BÜFA-Care?
I work as a salesperson for professional detergents and dosing systems. Our customer base is diverse, as we supply to any place where professional washing is needed. While you might typically think of dry cleaners or laundries, we also serve customers such as football clubs. Our services include supplying various detergents, installing dosing systems and creating washing programs.
What does a typical working day look like at BÜFA-Care?
When I start my workday, the first thing I do is open my laptop to check and respond to emails. Then, I usually head out to my first client. The nature of my customer appointments can vary, including consultations or installations, which keeps my work diverse and exciting.
A typical day for me involves a mix of different types of appointments. For example, I might begin the day by installing dosing systems and programming washing machines and then meet with another client to offer advice on what would best suit their needs.
I make it a point to stay in regular contact with my customers. A few days after an appointment, I follow up with a phone call to see if they have any further questions about a quote or if there's anything else I can assist them with.
Sounds good! What do you enjoy most about your job?
The best part of my job is interacting with customers! It's fascinating to gain insight into how different companies operate. I visit a wide range of businesses, from dry cleaners and laundries to football clubs and fire stations. There are professional washing machines in many different types of companies. I get to interact with a variety of companies and individuals in my role, which makes it even more enjoyable!
How did you end up at BÜFA-Care?
That's a funny story! I worked at my father's dry-cleaning/laundry business in Meppel for over ten years. It started as a part-time job on Saturdays, but I gradually increased my hours as I continued my studies in Commercial Economics. During that time, BÜFA-Care became our new detergent supplier, and Alex visited our business to sell dosing systems to my dad. That was my first contact with BÜFA-Care!
When it was time for me to choose a topic for my graduation project, Alex recommended that I reach out to Gerwin. As a result, I ended up doing my graduation project at BÜFA-Care, and we stayed in touch afterwards. A few years later, Gerwin approached me about an alternative to working in dry cleaning and offered me a job. That's how I found myself at BÜFA, not through the typical application process!
Can you tell us something about working with your colleagues?
I work closely with my colleagues, each of whom specializes in different areas. If I need information about laundry powders or dry cleaning products, I can reach out to Jan, our dry cleaning expert. For technical questions on, for example, dosing technology, I can always contact Alex. When it comes to basic chemistry, I turn to Gerwin because of his experience at Vivochem. It's great to have someone to approach for any question or subject!
My extensive experience in the dry-cleaning industry complements my colleagues' product knowledge, enabling me to understand customer needs better. With years of experience, I can accurately identify the necessary process or product and effectively connect with customers.
What do you like to do after work?
I enjoy participating in sports such as running and mountain biking outside of work. I live near Havelte, where there is a military training area with a mountain bike route that I frequent with friends who also enjoy mountain biking.
Additionally, barbecuing is a big hobby of mine. Since it's difficult to barbecue at home because I live in a flat with a balcony, I often barbecue with friends in their gardens.
Are you interested in learning how BÜFA-Care can improve your laundry process? Please get in touch with Matthijs at m.meinen@bufacare.nl; he would be happy to assist you!
Matthijs, thanks for the precise and exciting explanation of your work at BÜFA-Care!
