CKV Interview

‘As a teenager I always knew I wanted to work in a store’

<!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]-->If you’re into beautiful stones, candles and Buddha’s, you will love the spiritual shop ‘De Intuïtie’, just like us! We interviewed Yvonne Dankers v.d. Ent, co-owner of the shop in Hoogvliet.

How did you start?

When I was 15 I had my first job in a store, a bakery. After the bakery I worked in a store with electronics, and there I learned to sell.

Why did you want to do this job?

Because when I worked for a boss, I didn't get challenges anymore. So I felt like I had already done everything, and I wanted to begin for myself.

What inspires you?

The things I sell, I like Eastern and Asian things. When we first started selling we only had spiritual things, that was 13 years ago.

What did you wanted to be when you were 15 years old?

I don't really know, a lot of things, but I always wanted to work in a store. I always had the dream to have a store of my own, and that became true.

How would you describe yourself?

I don't know actually, as a good entrepreneur I guess. We are very enterprising.

When people come with their own tattoo design, what do you do and how do you prepare?

We copy it. The costumer is King, only when it technically just doesn't work, then my husband improves it so we can do it, but normally we just copy it and then they get what they want.
We're not going to criticize their work.

How would you describe your tattoo style?

My husband makes the tattoo designs for the store, he likes to make really fine/refined tattoo's with a lot of depth and details. So not with thick lines, but thinner.

What are your goals for the next 10 years?

I think I'll work for another 10 years, and then I want to enjoy other things, so then I want to stop working. I think what we have accomplished with this store is sufficient, and I also have a lot of hobbies besides my job, I love animals and horse riding. I would love to have a farm, so I want to do a lot of fun things too.

Give examples of good ideas you’ve had.

We also do tattoos and piercings, that has been a good idea, it brings a lot of money and it's fun to do. So do other things in the store basically.

Did you ever have an assignment that was too difficult for you, and how did you handle it?

When an assignment is too difficult we decline it, so it's not going to happen. Sometimes people ask impossible things, like a tattoo in their face. My husband is against that so we don't do it.

If you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would you want to be and why?

Thailand, because it’s spiritual and I love that.

Can you describe a typical work day for us?

It's very different, it depends on what the costumers want and do. But normally I clean, order new items and other things, make shop boards and posters, help people who come for piercings, but also for tattoo's, and accept tattoo designs. It's all very busy and different.

What do you think when you get a task (with tattoos) that is uninteresting to you?

We don't have an opinion about that, people have their own interests. If I like something, you don't have to like it, If I think something is uninteresting, you don't have to think that too. You can always try to give some tips, but when a costumer wants something and likes it, you just have to accept it. And also don't think too much about it.

Give us an example of a time when you got really motivated at work.

When it's busy in the store. And when there are a lot of nice people around, then I always have a lot of fun in my job.

How do you clean your tools?

We have special equipment for that. We have special machines, and we have things to sterilize it, and my husband throws all used needles away. And all ink jars who have been used for a costumes also goes into the trash can. There are rules for that, and we have a certificate that we may do it without risks.

What do you like the most about your job?

That there are a lot of different things to do.

What do you like the least about your job?

That a store is always open, a disadvantage of having a store is that you also have to work on Saturdays.

How would you describe ''success''?

I'm not sure, that's hard to describe. I have fun, and I am healthy. I know it's different for everyone, but I think that's how I would describe it.

Do you have a favourite artist?

No, actually I don’t. My husband does, but I really don't. I just like what I like, but I don't have a favourite.

Yvonne and her husband

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Yvonne Dankers v.d. Ent is co-owner of ‘De Intuïtie’ on the Binneban. They have sell items like accesoires, home & living, presents and items for body & mind. They also do piercing, tattoo's and permanent make-up. They do piercing for 12 years now and they tattoo for 5 years now. Thanks for the interview!

Yvonne was interviewed by Samantha de Smit and Claudia van Lier.


The article we used as an example:

(We put in in rows but you can't see it on the blog)