“You have to create a pleasant atmosphere yourself every single day.”
Tineke has been the owner of Maribelle Mode, a women’s fashion store in Klundert, for 32 years. When she was 21, a retail space became available in the village, and she seized the opportunity. She opened her own clothing store and, many years later, now runs two stores with a team of seven female employees.
Tineke explains: “I already had the idea at a young age that I wanted to have my own store, and luckily I’ve never regretted it.”
The past COVID year was a very different experience for the North Brabant entrepreneur. She explains:
“I never imagined beforehand that you could end up in a situation like this. At first, it wasn’t just the shock, but also the need to switch gears quickly. During the first COVID period, we kept our doors open, which allowed us to sell part of our inventory. You did notice, though, that everyone was more anxious. For example, we also opened in the evenings by appointment, so customers could shop in a calm store.”
Try-on bags
With the second and stricter lockdown, Maribelle Mode had to close its doors, just like all non-essential stores in the Netherlands. That’s when you have to start offering alternative ways to sell your clothing. Tineke did this, among other things, by delivering try-on bags.
“We have a kind and loyal customer base. That’s very special, and we’re extremely grateful for it. We know our customers well, which gives you the confidence to leave a bag full of clothes with them. A good customer base is truly important. You know exactly which size, style, and brand a customer prefers. Of course, it was disappointing when a bag came back, but then you simply hang the clothes back in the store and move on,” says Tineke.
As of January 1, 2020, Tineke’s daughter joined the team as a new force and started focusing on social media. The owner explains:
“In times like these, you have to be visible — and stay visible. Customers also asked how they could follow us, and then you really need to offer something on a daily basis.”
With that positivity, you can go a long way. Tineke continues:
“You have to create a pleasant atmosphere yourself every single day. We just kept going and immediately brought in the new collection. We repainted the store and stayed active. How you personally deal with this situation is so important. I’m proud of the collaboration within our team, with our suppliers, and of the trust we have in each other.”
Door slightly open
Tineke is also looking forward to the moment when everything returns to ‘normal.’ Fortunately, the door is already slightly open again, and the past three months have gone by quite quickly, in her words.
“It’s time to enjoy a cup of coffee again at our cozy coffee table! Right now, we’re already making many appointments, and it’s great to welcome customers again. We really work with a schedule, and every hour or hour and a half, new customers come in. That feels good and is a step in the right direction.”
About Maribelle Mode
Maribelle Mode sells the latest women’s collections from various brands such as Maison Scotch, ICHI, Summum, Geisha, OPUS, Poools, YAYA, MAC, and Tramontana. All fashion styles can be found under one roof, combined with shoes, boots, bags, and jewelry. While enjoying a cup of coffee, you always receive fitting and personal fashion advice.
