Every so often, we sit down with a Navacqs colleague and turn the conversation into a story. Wherever fraud, damage or theft is a concern, there is a need for seals, locks, lashing straps, container lashing equipment, sampling products and dunnage bags. And so there is a need for Navacqs. Our conversations cover knowledge, work and ambition, and sometimes other things too. The common thread is love. Love for the trade. Love for the products. Love for growth. And the boundless ambition to get a little better every day. Today, it’s Ramona’s turn. She is our sales representative and has been a valued member of the team for four and a half years. Raised in Spijkenisse, sporty, full of energy and by now a familiar face to many customers. She started her career in the car trade, found her way into sales and now feels right at home at Navacqs. Meet Ramona!
You originally wanted to do something completely different, right?
Yes, I wanted to go to sports college, but the nearest one was all the way in Goes. My parents thought that was too far for a fifteen year old. So while I was still at secondary school, I took courses to become a street dance and aerobics instructor.
We gave lots of performances and took part in championships. I taught for years and even went to a world championship in Miami as a coach. My student won first place. It was an amazing experience and a sporty time in which I also learned to stand in front of a group and get people excited. Looking back, that helped me later in sales too: you have to be able to persuade people and pass on energy.
You also moved into the car trade. What was that like?
I started at the Renault dealer in Spijkenisse, where I handled sales administration for four years. Everything was new to me, but I learned an incredible amount. After that, I moved to the Volkswagen and Audi dealer. At first I did sales administration there too, but later I applied internally and ended up in fleet sales. That felt like a great step: you work with business customers, big customers, and you have to think on your feet. The car trade is mostly a man’s world, and to be honest, I really liked that. It was clear, direct and straight to the point, exactly my way of working.
“It clicked straight away.”
After more than 15 years in the car trade, it was time for something new.
That’s right. I wanted to work closer to home, especially with two young children. I found a job at Majestic in Spijkenisse. That suited my home situation and I did a lot of administrative work there. That’s where I met Monique, who later also joined Navacqs. After a while, I wanted a new challenge after all. I had an interview at Navacqs with Dennis and Alex. It clicked straight away. Flexible working hours were also important to me. Anyone who lives in Spijkenisse knows how busy rush hour gets towards the motorways, so the fact that they were willing to work with me gave me confidence right from the start.
You started in customer service, but your role has changed since then.
At first, I was really the first point of contact for customers: handling enquiries, preparing quotes, arranging transport, administration. I enjoyed it, but I noticed I wanted more. I got the chance to move into field sales, and that suits me perfectly. I love visiting customers, having a cup of tea and looking together at how I can help. Customers often only discover during such a visit how wide our range actually is. It’s satisfying to show them they can arrange everything with one supplier, with the service they’re used to from us.
What does a typical working day look like for you?
My days vary a lot. Sometimes I’m in the car, driving from customer to prospect. Sometimes I’m at the office catching up on admin or spending a lot of time on the phone. What makes my day is often simply a good conversation. It doesn’t always have to lead straight to an order, although of course I get a huge kick out of new orders. It gives you a kind of adrenaline rush, almost addictive. But conversations without an immediate order matter too. It feels like planting seeds. Sometimes you only see the result months later, for example because a customer first has to use up their stock. Then they suddenly call back in September, when you visited in March. That’s a great feeling.
Do you have an example of a conversation that stuck with you?
Definitely. I once visited a hospital where they labelled test tubes. They used labels that first had to be cut loose with a knife. Really awkward and time consuming. Because they showed me how they did it, I could think along with them. I contacted our manufacturer and we developed a label with a perforated edge especially for them. It made their work so much easier, and they were really happy with the solution. Those are great moments, when you really add something.
Another example was at the blood bank. They stuck labels on cool boxes, but the labels didn’t stay put. We sent several kinds of samples, which they tested, and in the end we found a label that works perfectly. That also came from a conversation in which they simply showed me what they were struggling with. Coming up with solutions like that and delivering them is what makes my work truly worthwhile.
What drives you in your work?
For me, it’s about trust and keeping your promises. Open communication is really important to me, whether with colleagues or with customers. In our industry, I sometimes see price fighters who promise a lot and deliver little. I struggle with that. If you promise something, you have to deliver. That’s what we do at Navacqs. I’d go as far as to say we provide service at the highest level. I’m proud of that.
What lessons have you learned yourself?
Over the years, you become more and more confident. I still prepare my conversations well, but I’m no longer easily thrown when a conversation takes a different turn. That gives me peace of mind. What I’d like to pass on to young professionals is simple: you keep learning. You’re never done. The real learning only starts once you leave school.
Looking ahead: where do you hope to be in ten years?
I hope we’ll still be working together with just as much enjoyment. That the atmosphere is good, that we keep supporting each other, and that we have lots of new customers who are happy with us. That’s ultimately what I do it for: being able to help people and celebrating successes together.
And Navacqs in one sentence?
A fun, hardworking bunch that does everything it can to deliver the best.
