Established in 1977, Team Hoynck has been active as an independent Design and Project Management agency for more than four decades. With a tight-knit team based in the Netherlands and a significant network of high-skilled partners worldwide, Team Hoynck is dedicated to supporting its clients and their projects – all the way from Shanghai to Las Vegas. Witnessing every moment since the early ‘90s, long-standing team members Ed Kooymans and Frans de la Haye have seen the company develop, change, and flourish. They share their thoughts on developments in the industry, the impact of technological advancements, the importance of building trust and maintaining relations with clients, how to remain passionate about your job, and more.
‘’Part of the furniture’’
Appointed as a salesman in his early years, Frans de la Haye now takes on the role of the Customer Relations Manager in the team. Being flexible has been his common thread from the very beginning. ‘’When I first joined the team, I was asked to prepare a suitcase with clothes. Then I was instantly sent over to Hannover to work on nine projects. It was quite an experience’’. From that moment on, Frans started his journey: He joined events, enlarged the company’s network, and connected with suitable experts on every project. ‘’I value my relationships with our clients. Getting to know a client personally lays a good foundation for a better business relationship’’, says Frans. ‘’Honesty and the willingness to go that extra mile is what sets Team Hoynck apart’’.
Ed Kooymans shares the same view. Passionate about traveling, discovering different countries and cultures, connecting with people, and working in various sectors, Ed joined Team Hoynck as a Project Manager – a role right up his alley. Over the years Ed took on various roles and responsibilities. In addition to leading the team for eleven years, Ed enjoyed taking part in ongoing projects before he returned ‘’back to the roots’’ as a Senior Project Manager. ‘’It has been 32 years since I joined. I am practically part of the furniture’’, Ed jokes.
How things have changed: Then vs. Now
‘’Back in the day, we did not have laptops or cellphones. When you think about it, I wonder how we actually managed to operate. We did have a fax machine though!’’, laughs Ed. Despite changes in the environment, both team members agree that the nature of their work remained the same. ‘’We are still coordinating projects and have the same objective: Creating stands to shine a light on our clients. We just have different tools nowadays to support us in doing so’’, says Ed. The emergence of technology has helped the world to communicate better and faster. Ed mentions how he was working on a project in Damascus, Syria. ‘’We were awaiting the shipment with the stand materials, so I was drinking tea with the security guards - a welcoming gesture in their culture. In the end, one of the boxes was still missing. When I had to explain the situation at the airport, no one spoke English. I had to use sign language to explain what I was looking for. That is not needed anymore today with all the Apps we have’’.
‘’The world changed so much over the years: People and countries have changed, and new technologies have come in. We often used to experience culture shock before – especially when visiting countries in the Middle East or Asia - but that is no longer the case. It is merely a cultural difference now. The world is becoming smaller, people are more connected than ever before, and technology is recognizable wherever you go – or even better!’’, says Ed. Frans remembered how they often traveled to the Middle East in the 90’s. ‘’We frequently went to Dubai. Back then, it was only a desert. It is amazing to see what they have built over the years’’.
Building and maintaining a good relationship with their clients and professional network is one thing that has always remained the same for Team Hoynck. ‘’It is our Unique Selling Point. It has been the case ever since I joined the company in 1992. When you have established a solid relationship with your client, it facilitates working on projects together. They put their faith in you, know what to expect, and worry less. Some of our clients have even become friends for life’’, says Ed. Frans mentions how personal contact has become even more important after COVID-19 hit. ‘’The pandemic made us realize even more about the power of personal contact and encouraged us to continue doing business with our clients this way. On the other hand, we noticed that our clients also favor personal contact over anything else – with us and also with their own target group’’. Furthermore, by always thinking ahead and providing solutions, Team Hoynck aims to add value for their clients. ‘’We once had clients from Abu Dhabi who were present at a tradeshow in Geneva, Switzerland. They mentioned they did not like the chairs in their meeting rooms. As a solution, we transported our own office chairs overnight from Venlo, the Netherlands, and installed them instead’’, Frans recalls.
Work hard, play hard(er)
Frans reminiscences the first moment he came in contact with Team Hoynck. ‘’When I had my interview, owner Paul Hoynck asked me: ‘’What makes you think you are suitable for this job’’? But it is even more important for a job to fit you!’’, says Frans. He continues, ‘’This job can be a lot of fun, but it is all up to you. It involves more than merely a job: It is a lot of personal contact, building relationships, and being the intermediary between the client and the supplier’’. Ed adds how their roles are ‘’part of your nature or not. Sometimes you are conversing with a CEO and at other times you are drinking coffee with stand builders while using a screwdriver as a spoon. Situations change and you will need the right characteristics, such as people skills, flexibility, willingness to travel
abroad, and more to be able to do the job’’.
Ever since the 90s, an intimate team worked diligently to get the organization to its current state. Ed says, ‘’I am excited to continue this work that we have always done so passionately with the next generation of team members. Together, our entire team holds more than a hundred years of Project Management experience, and we are determined to continue supporting our clients and their projects. Our team spirit has always remained strong. Each person in the team has his/her respective role, however, we need to keep on supporting each other to keep the flow going. I have always enjoyed my job and am glad to have contributed to Team Hoynck’s developments’’, concludes Ed.