[quote style=”boxed”]One of the most important conditions to bring an idea to the market is, would I like to have it myself and am I willing to pay for it myself as well.[/quote]
Pim Vijftigschild is the founder and owner of YourSuperintendent. He is primarily responsible for the marketing, strategy, client treatment and executive management. He is the driving force behind the vision of Your Superintendent. Telling people that hospitality is giving people a smile on their face with small things.
During his study at the international institute for hotel management, he became highly involved with etiquette, cultural differences and protocol. During hotel school he worked for a company Protocolbureau, which was involved with organizing the royal funeral of queen Juliana of the Netherlands, and the royal funerals of prince Bernhard and prince Claus von Amsberg. Pim was also involved during the royal baptisms of princess Amalia, Alexia and Ariane of Orange. Throughout this period he understood that hospitality is one of the most important things in business and behavior is one of the few things where a company could make the difference.
Pim’s client take a membership of YourSuperintendent because the want to have good craftsman for a reasonable price and with an excellent service. Which is quit uncommon in the maintenance industry for houses. His vision has transformed the cultures of a lot of buildings and technical installations companies throughout the Netherlands.
With a deep understanding of what the customer want, Pim Vijftigschild is sought after as an inspirational speaker. He knows how to make practical plans to exceed the demands of they’re clients and knows how to inspire people to shift their behavior towards customers.
What are you working on right now?
We are working to implement several developments, that will allow our customers to have more control on the maintenance in their house. For example, we are developing a digital QR-system that allows us and our customers to have an insight when and how long a handyman was there to do the repair jobs.
In addition, we started the surveys to enter the market in Belgium and Germany.
Where did the idea for Your Superintendent come from?
This idea is based on the fact that it is very hard to find good craftsman for maintenance. But also the fact that a lot of craftsman aren’t hospitable or polite was one of the main reasons to start with this.
Our vision is to help people with their maintenance in a hospitable way. And to give people control over the maintenance of their house. But to have control, you need to have an insight. And that’s the reason why we came with the MOT for houses.
What does your typical day look like?
I have two kinds of days; working at the office and being on the road.
Working at the office, typically means dealing with mails, checking quotations before they go to the customer, meetings with subcontractors (which cost a lot of time to convince them that we only want to work with them if they are hospitable)
On the road means meetings a lot and a lot of meetings. With big partners like banks to convince them that it really is necessary to give every one with a mortgage a membership to Your Superintendent. And telling the same story to real estate developers that if the are selling a house a membership to our service is really necessary.
Enjoying drinks with partners and attendees to tell them the story of a hospitable organization in the maintenance industry. But also visit clients to check who the work of our subcontractors is done.
And while driving calling with a lot of people to advice them, encourage them and help them.
How do you bring ideas to life?
I’m always asking our customers what they want. And always checking what the irritation points are in our industry so we can develop services they need. Our ideas are always demand-oriented.
Ideas focused on the wishes and demand of our target audience.
One of the most important conditions to bring an idea to the market is, would I like to have it myself and am I willing to pay for it myself as well.
3 trends that excite you?
The influence of referral marketing.
The fact that more and more companies have an eye for customer service and client treatments.
The influence of social buzz.
What is the one thing you did/do as an entrepreneur that you would do over and over again and recommend everybody else do?
To persist and preserve.
And I should always ask what my target audiences wishes and give them that.
Not being a supply-driven company but a demand-driven company.
I also can recommend that if you are starting a new business use the hospitality model. It suits for every business and is the most simple way to organize your marketing
What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?
The Hospitality model we use. The model is like a scale.
On the left side you have the provider with three elements:
1. Product: The product you deliver.
2 . Behavior: how you and your personnel behave towards the receiver.
3. Environment: The environment you work in.
These three elements should be in balance.
On the right side you have the receiver with two elements:
1. Objectives: You always have to fulfil these objectives.
2. Needs: There three kinds of needs; psychological, sociological and physiological. If you can discover one of these needs you always can deliver an overdelivery.
What is the one book that you recommend our community should read, and why?
That’s The Thank You Economy by Gary Vaynerchuk.
It isn’t some abstract concept or wacky business strategy. It’s the way we buy and sell, the way we’re interacting as consumers, as employees, as entrepreneurs on all levels, right now. The way our marketplace functions has been evolving right before our eyes. Top-down, one-way exchanges are gone, replaced by relationships based on open, honest, and constant communication between customers and business. Today, individuals and brands that out-care and out-love their competition – those emphasising quality, value, responsiveness, and attention to detail, among other essentials – see the biggest returns. Gary Vaynerchuk contends that the people and companies harnessing the word-of-mouth power provided by multi platform media – those that can shift their outlook and operations to be more customer-aware and fan-friendly – will pull away from the pack and profit in today’s markets. In The Thank You Economy , he dissects the companies on the leading edge, showing how they are succeeding – and sometimes failing. Laying out the ideas and insight that support this enormous change, Vaynerchuk explores these emerging connections – from consumer to consumer and business to business and everything in between. Passionate and persuasive, he reminds us that, surviving and thriving today it takes more than just hard work-it takes a heartfelt thanks to those who make it possible.
Three people we should follow on Twitter, and why?
@EstherJacobs: She is one of the most inspirational speakers I met the last years.
@Protocolbureau: is the one and only agency in the Netherlands that encourage people to use etiquette and protocol and teach them how to handle with cultural differences.
@Jimhallo: Is the founder of heartbreak hotel. The first divorce hotel.
Who would you love to see interviewed on IdeaMensch?
Jim Halfens! The owner of heartbreak hotel. His idea is exactly what people want!
Connect
www.facebook.com/uwhuismeester
@uwhuismeester
Pim Vijftigschild on Linkedin:
Pim Vijftigschild e-mail: [email protected]
Mario Schulzke is the Founder of ideamensch, which he started a decade ago to learn from entrepreneurs and give them a platform for their ideas.