In the spotlight | Johan Das

Let me introduce you! Who is Johan?

My name is Johan Das. I grew up in beautiful Friesland and later moved to the other side of the Netherlands, Limburg. Since 1974, I have been co-owner of M&N Home Decoration, Sampaguita and Keradessa. In addition, I am a distributor of EDS Textile.

What do TICA members buy from these brands?

The different companies each have their own specialisations. M&N Home Decoration specialises in chairs, bar stools and tables. Sampaguita excels in glassware and decoration. Keradessa specialises in art made from plaster, while EDS Textile focuses on table and bedding.

To keep up with the latest trends, I regularly go on business trips to expand my collections and maintain my business contacts.

More about M&N Home decoration

You’ve been an exhibitor at TICA for 25 years; that’s a long time!

Three months after TICA opened in Venlo, I started with a small booth. TICA-Venlo was then located in an old vegetable auction consisting of one small hall. Not long after, I also got the opportunity to stand at TICA Aalsmeer. There, too, the situation was considerably different from today.

25 years ago, the companies in TICA each had a specialism. For instance, the pot exhibitor sold only pots, the furniture exhibitor only furniture, and we as M&N Home Decoration focused exclusively on chairs, bar stools and tables. Sampaguita specialised in glassware, while Keradessa focused on plaster art. For entrepreneurs, TICA was the place to sell their speciality and build brand awareness.

What’s changed since then?

A lot has changed over the years. Whereas we used to sell products in boxes and in large numbers, we now focus more on individual pieces that are unwrapped. Professionals like to see, feel and decorate the products in different styles and colours. In addition, the ranges have grown broadly. Moreover, the upper floor of TICA Aalsmeer has also changed. Here you can not only enjoy lunch, but also admire extensive showrooms and put together your entire project.

Branches

Which events have stayed with you the most?

When I look back over the past 25 years, I remember two major events: the big moves and the corona pandemic.

TICA was steadily growing and expanding, resulting in a move to much larger premises. This period was very exciting for us, as success could have been both positive and negative. Fortunately, everything went very well. TICA grew tremendously and this also had a positive impact on my own businesses. Eventually, my business continued to grow and we had a stand area of 600 square metres.

So how was the corona period for you?

The corona period was undoubtedly a challenging time in which we faced uncertainties. Despite this, it surprisingly turned out to be one of our most successful years business-wise.

Do you also sell through TICA x Orderchamp?

Where trends always change, purchasing behaviour changes too. This is how we jointly move with the market. The cooperation with Orderchamp, for instance, is an addition for us as a company. Products can easily be delivered to your home. We see this mainly with chairs and tables.

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