Speaking with | Carla Coeleveld

Let me introduce you! Who is Carla?

My name is Carla Coeleveld and I am the customer service manager at TICA in Venlo. I was born in Brabant and over the years I moved further and further south, eventually to Venlo. When I moved, I started working at the local supermarket to get to know the people and the area better. I eventually progressed to assistant branch manager.

How did you end up working at TICA?

After 15 years, I decided it was time for something new. I applied for three completely different vacancies and, to my surprise, I was hired at all three! In the end, Trends & Trade appealed to me the most, because it was still in its very early stages. I started at Trends & Trade in 1999 as a cashier, together with three colleagues. Soon my job grew into something of a jack-of-all-trades.

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Can you tell something about the early days?

At the time, Trends & Trade was located in an old vegetable auction, where it was extremely cold and leaked like a sieve. In the mornings I started as a receptionist and around noon I quickly put on another shirt to stand behind the cash register. In between, if there had been a rainstorm, we were mopping up. We also visited trade shows where we put flyers under the windscreen wipers of cars to get more brand awareness and to recruit new exhibitors. After a long working day, I jumped on my bike with bags full of envelopes that I took to the post office so that all new companies in the industry received a flyer from us.

Which milestone has stuck with you?

In 2004, Trends & Trade moved into new premises, and that was truly a milestone for us. We went from a cold and leaky building to a beautiful custom-built one. Together with a few colleagues, I was given the task of managing the move. After that, I became the right-hand man to the operations director.

Carla’s favourite brands

TrendsTrade-B2B-lifestyle-inkoopcentrum-exposant-Gourmet-Berner-4 — Gourmet Berner GmbH & CO. KG

And which change took some getting used to?

In 2021, TICA, Trends & Trade, fashion Extras and TICA Online merged under the name TICA. This was a big change for me, as the company continued to grow. A lot more work suddenly landed on my plate. Fortunately, I was quite used to it due to the experience of the past years. Since then, I have been a customer service manager. The work I do is incredibly diverse. I have a lot of contact with TICA members, exhibitors and especially external companies.

What do you like best about your job at TICA?

The diversity still makes me feel a strong commitment to the company. Sometimes it almost feels like it is our child that we have watched grow over the past few years. At the beginning, we had to make do with what we had, but now it is a growing company with a lot of staff. Because of the changes, it is sometimes difficult to hand over tasks.

For you, what is ‘Typical TICA’?

Besides business growth, my work at TICA has also impacted my personal life. For instance, I ran a half marathon in 2 hours and 1 minute! I am secretly quite proud of that.

Something that is really typical of TICA? The collegiality and commitment. Before we start our working day, we always look out for each other. We really are a team. In addition, we all feel responsibility and commitment to the company in a positive way. It is very much appreciated when staff think along. It is as if we are all building something beautiful together.

Speaking with | Carla Coeleveld

Let me introduce you! Who is Carla?

How did you end up working at TICA?

Can you tell something about the early days?

Which milestone has stuck with you?

Carla’s favourite brands

Gourmet Berner GmbH & CO. KG

Jelle Quint

Present Time

And which change took some getting used to?

What do you like best about your job at TICA?

For you, what is ‘Typical TICA’?

Shop Carla’s favourite brands online

Dekoflorale

Exclujess

Mrs. Bloom

Info & service

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Inspiration

Branches