Janneke Hendriks has been the proud owner of Hendriks & Co. Starting the artisan shop required hefty investments in equipment: an oven, counters, refrigeration units, warming furniture. Rabobank account manager Ferry Nelissen pointed her towards Rabo Lease: a way to spread the high purchase costs over several years. That way she retains maximum financial room to grow.
Text: Wesley Hegge
Entrepreneurship is in her blood. Her grandparents Pierre and Mia founded Hendriks Wild & Poultry in the 1950s. "It all started with the sale of soup chickens from the farm," says Janneke Hendriks. "Also, sold foodstuffs such as bread, soup and preserves. A butter-cheese-and-egg shop, with artisan products and those red-and-white chequered curtains in the windows."
Craft
The two eldest sons, Karel and Janneke's father Jan, took over. "They also supplied restaurants and supermarkets. We were allowed to call our family business wholesale from then on; we still are." In 1993, the brothers opened a second shop on Vinckenhofstraat.
However, the wholesale business became increasingly extensive so the shop closed a few years later. "Countless times we heard from customers that we were greatly missed. It really was a household name in Venlo-Oost. So heartwarming were the reactions when I decided to reopen the shop this summer."
At Hendriks & Co, it feels like old times, of course in an ambiance fit for 2019. "The wholesale trade with artisanal game and poultry remains the main business, through which we supply companies. In the shop, the top artisanal products are now also available to private individuals. Chicken, game and poultry, fresh from our own slaughterhouse and cutting plant. Just like in grandma and grandpa's farm shop, related products such as daily fresh free-range eggs, cheeses, preserves, soups and sauces are available."
Rabo Lease
With a shop like Hendriks & Co comes considerable investment. The oven, counters, cold stores and warming furniture required suitable financing. "I was not yet familiar with Rabo Lease. I knew it from cars, of course, but I didn't know you could also lease machines and appliances. My account manager Ferry Nelissen pointed out the advantages to me."
For the entrepreneur, the biggest advantage lies in spreading the risk. "The advantage of Rabo Lease is that you pay a fixed monthly amount. With that, you pay off the appliances. That prevents me from having to take out a large loan all at once. Meanwhile, the devices are on my company's balance sheet, so I can make use of tax deductions."
It also gives her a nice feeling that the equipment serves as collateral. "This reduces the risk you run as an entrepreneur. It gives me peace of mind. That's important, because a business expansion is always exciting anyway. Thanks to Rabo Lease, opening the shop feels good."
Home banker
She has no complaints about run-ups. "The customers from before still know us. The younger generation also knows the way to the shop. They appreciate the artisanal products and quality. I divide my time between the shop and the wholesale business. I love the trade I learned from my father. The meat is delivered to us directly from the abattoir, with no intermediaries."
Loek Rutten, who started at wholesale as a Saturday help in his student days, is the shop's manager. "He has since completed training and we have offered him the chance to run the shop. If the Hendriks & Co catches on, we want to roll out the concept to other cities. Even then, I will ask Rabobank for advice. It has been our house banker since it was founded over sixty years ago. My permanent account manager Ferry switches quickly and is always available for advice. Just as our customers expect us to help them that way, I expect the same from the bank."
Ferry Nelissen: 06 10 85 37 12
www.rabobank.nl/venlo
