Cheese & Helene
Hi Helene, introduce yourself!
I am Helene, 67 years young, living in Centrum Maastricht together with my husband. On 27 March 2023, I started working as a sales assistant for 4 days a week in the beautiful shop in Maastricht. My hobbies are: My 2 grandchildren aged 4 and 15, swimming, walking, cycling and enjoying Burgundy with a big G.
How has your career progressed?
After high school, I started training as a swimming instructor at 16. After which I pursued this profession until the age of 30. Then I started a catering business together with my husband, after taking various professional hospitality courses. Finally after 35 years, we sold our businesses in 2022.
How did you end up at Henri Willig?
After selling our hospitality business, I switched off for six months.
Then, literally with 10 application/motivation letters under my arm, I visited several nice shops in Maastricht where I could see myself working. When I joined the Cheese & More shop of Henri Willig, I had run out of letters! But inspired by the beautiful shop and the lovely pavement sign outside with the job advertisement for young, young-aged old etc, I went straight home to write another application/motivation letter. Then back to the shop and handed this letter to Judith, after a short chat with Judith I immediately felt a click. The same week I had an interview with store manager Frank and a trial day the day after. I started the following week! During the interview with Frank, I was immediately smitten and didn't have to think twice. My start at Henri Willig was a golden step.
And now? How do you see the future?
I could start mentioning lots of clichés now: " I came here in a warm bath, I really experience the family feeling here, it's a great company" but I can say, it's just all really true. Over the past few months, I have learned a lot from Frank and Judith, and the internal training you get. I enjoy walking to work every working day and am far from finished. The shop concept where you are more of a hostess than a salesperson suits my personality and my hospitality background. And of course, as a true Burgundian, I click with the (h)honest premium cheese products. Especially the cheese curler, mature goat's cheese and the wine pearls are my favourites.
According to the mystery shoppers, I form an "iconic duo" with colleague Judith, who tell the cheese story in a sincere and passionate way and recommend the products from the heart. A nicer compliment could not be imagined!
In addition, the compliments from Frank my store manager, that he is proud of me, is so heartwarming.
I hope to enjoy working here for many more years and have recently signed an indefinite contract as a 1st sales assistant. Who can say that at 67?
You can only do that at The Cheese Family by Henri Willig.
