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“How do I attract the clients I truly want to focus on?”
In the past, I used to buy old pieces of furniture at flea markets, spruce them up, and resell them. I really enjoyed doing that. That’s why I spent five years training in furniture upholstery in Antwerp.
Which I ultimately didn’t end up doing anything with, because I went on to run a small brewery and brasserie together with my brother. I frequently helped hospitality business owners set up their cafés, and I also designed and arranged trade fair stands.
After 16 years in the hospitality industry, I longed to return to furniture upholstery. I found it difficult to get back into that field, though I no longer had the necessary dexterity or speed. So, I began exploring various roles within the interior design sector. I handled property styling for real estate agents, furnished sports club canteens, and worked as an interior designer for large chains. Eventually, I broke away from all of that; I want to be free and independent, and to push my own boundaries.
Client on Bonaire
I am incredibly creative, which always tends to attract clients. However, they aren’t always the kind of clients I necessarily want to work with. I also clearly lack a certain degree of business acumen. I do know who my ideal clients are: people who own a business, a home, a hotel, or a B&B on Bonaire.
That’s what I love most: arranging everything, even far beyond our borders. Since not much is available on an island like that, I have to gather everything in the Netherlands, pack it, ship it, and then unpack it all over again on-site. I take care of every single detail there, from the colors on the walls to the soap in the bathroom, and from all the furniture right down to the pastry forks.
Coaching program without a fixed curriculum
I’ve worked with some ideal clients, but also with others who didn’t quite fit that mold. How can I attract the clients I’m truly passionate about working with, and how do I ensure I don’t waste time on projects I’m not interested in? That’s the area in which I wanted to receive coaching.
“Marie-Gon always says, ‘You can ask me anything,’ and that really is the case.”
That is how I ended up with Marie-Gon. I consider her the expert on the subject of color in the Netherlands. Her name opens doors. I am also very drawn to her personality- down-to-earth, sensible, realistic, to the point, warm… She is highly approachable and always available; I noticed this right away when I began my coaching program with her a few weeks ago. Marie-Gon always says, “You can ask me anything,” and that is truly the case.
I appreciate that she doesn’t offer a fixed program; there are no set steps to follow. It’s truly tailored coaching, provided exactly when I need it. ‘Well, Marie-Gon, I’m running into this issue right now… can you help me?’
Personal brand
Together with Marie-Gon, I am turning my business into a brand. She incorporates everything we discuss into a roadmap. I am encouraged to stay completely true to myself which is exactly the point. Travel, hospitality, interior design: all my passions are now coming together. After every session with Marie-Gon, I gain a clearer sense of how everything fits into place.
I also really look forward to collaborations. Even though you have plenty of contact with clients, it can be quite a solitary profession. In Marie-Gon’s ‘Inside’ community, I meet other people in the field. Everyone around Marie-Gon is so helpful; these women genuinely want to see each other succeed. It’s very empowering.