Retirement does not keep Sales Jan Niehof away from Hacon Containers
From experienced manager in a transport company to passionate Sales Representative at Hacon Containers: this is the story of Jan Niehof!
Although he has not been part of the Hacon Containers sales team for very long, Jan Niehof is a familiar face in the container world. His years of knowledge and experience make him a true expert whom we can only take our hats off to. Jan is due to retire on August 18, 2023, but he is not yet ready to hand over the reins at Hacon. For the time being, he will remain a familiar face at Hacon Containers, which we are delighted about! In this interview, Jan takes us on a journey through his career and shares his enthusiasm for containers, containers, and... containers!
A background in containers
Jan is a familiar face in the container industry, as becomes clear when he is asked where his passion for containers comes from. “I have been working in the container industry since 1990. After eight years as the manager of a transport company, I was challenged to switch to the sales team in 1998. It was an exciting challenge that allowed me to convey my enthusiasm for containers.” .
Where does that enthusiasm come from? It lies in the versatility of containers. You can do much more with them than just use them for freight transport. From horse stables to custom-made generator housings. The versatility of containers is something that still amazes Jan to this day. He also really likes the international aspect of working in the container industry. “I've done a lot of business in Germany over the past 30 years. The rules there are slightly different from those in the Netherlands. The mentality is also different at German companies, and I've learned a lot from my German business contacts as a result. I've always really enjoyed that!”
Developments in the container industry
At 66 years of age, Jan can be considered a veteran in the container industry. He has seen many changes over the past few decades. One important development is the increasing role of China in the production of containers. Jan: "What once started with a few factories in Europe has moved to Eastern Europe and eventually to China. Although the quality lagged behind somewhat in the beginning, China has worked its way up over the years to become a major player in the container industry."
Another change is the increased interest in new containers. Jan used to sell only used containers. Nowadays, new containers are becoming increasingly common. In addition, over the past five to six years, many new types of containers have been introduced to the market that you would not have expected to exist before. Think, for example, of a container with doors on all sides. This did not exist in the 1990s. “It's great to see so many new types of containers coming onto the market,” says Jan.
A lot remained the same
In an industry that is constantly evolving, Jan has noticed that a lot has remained the same. For example, the importance of used containers for export companies is one aspect that has always remained unchanged. Although there have been minor adjustments, the demand for used containers remains strong. In addition, there are a number of container types that are still the same as they were decades ago.
Jan explains that many things have remained the same due to the intervention of the shipping industry. The shipping industry has a vested interest in standardizing cargoes. This promotes the speed with which deliveries can be made. “Container ships have become much larger in recent years. To keep loading and unloading as efficient as possible, not too many ‘special’ containers should be shipped.”
A career full of highlights
Continuing to work after retirement shows real enthusiasm. When we ask Jan to look back on the highlights of his career, he can't name just one. Many of the highlights have to do with the relationships Jan has built with customers throughout his career. “Selling containers to a customer you've been working with for a long time always makes me happy,” says Jan. Making a one-off sale is nice, of course, but Jan likes to see his customers return more often.
The unexpected twists and turns also keep the work interesting. For example, Jan once experienced how something as simple as a sticker on a container earned him a good customer. The customer contacted him via that sticker and ultimately purchased hundreds of containers.
Jan's future at Hacon Containers
Jan has been working at Hacon Containers since January. Yet he already feels at home in our team. He was already familiar with the company before joining Hacon Containers and has been following us closely over the past few years. Jan particularly likes the wide range of container types the company offers. “There are few dealers who can do that. I particularly like the fact that anything is possible at Hacon Containers, whether you want to rent, buy, or convert a container,” says Jan.
Jan has no plans to leave his sales job at Hacon Containers for the time being. Jan: “If you enjoy what you do, why stop? As long as I remain healthy and motivated, I enjoy continuing to contribute. With my experience, I can advise colleagues and win customers for Hacon. It's a win-win situation for everyone.” In the coming period, Jan will therefore focus on transferring knowledge and learning from the new generation. He doesn't like to be deterred and is never too old to try new things. We are delighted that Jan will be keeping his seat warm in our team for a while longer and look forward to a great collaboration!