Globl

In this student entrepreneur Bas Ploeg and Ties den Dekker talk about their own business: Globl. They describe how the company has started and what it is like to be a student entrepreneur. The interview is made in collaboration with Starterslift Tilburg, which is the center of Tilburg University for entrepreneurial students with great talent and ambition.

Could you briefly describe what the business involves and what it is trying to achieve?
Together with a collective of travelers and backpackers we are searching for the most unique products, coming from all parts of this world. We are searching for products that have a story to tell: a story that presents the buyer with some insights about that region of the world. Ultimately, our consumers know where the product they bought was found, and in some cases, will even know who has made the product. The products that we have in our shop differ throughout the year, depending on what our collective of travelers finds: ranging from hammocks from the Philippines to leather bags from Morocco.

When did you come up with the idea of starting your own business?
During our student time – having fairly little obligations – we took all opportunities to travel the world on a very tight budget. On these travels, regardless of the countries we have visited, we always came across beautiful products that were belonging to that particular region. The crucial moment in turning it into a business idea was when we returned from a trip to Nepal with a beautiful leather bag, bought in a small mountain village. That the bag was pretty was rather obvious, but what we realized when people started asking questions about it: it was a bag with a story to tell. This made us think; how great would it be to team up with all travelers around the world and bring these kind of amazing products to one platform? Not much later, Globl was born!

In what way has the company evolved since its inception?
We have just launched in the beginning of April, so we are still evolving and learning every day. One thing we have learned, is to start rather small and build it from there, keeping the risks and costs relatively low. First try to find answers to your assumptions; test and measure, before you spend thousands of euros on something that might not be useful at all. As the first pilot, we travelled to Morocco ourselves to figure out whether we can find products worth selling, whether customers value this story behind the products etc. This was a success, and now the second pilot will be Bas travelling to Central America from May-August, increasing the variety in products, and making the network of Globl grow. In general, we are now busy with adding more products from various countries, so our offer in products increases and customers can find a wider variety on products.

Can owning and running a business be combined easily with your studies?
We were both at the end of our studies when we started Globl, but we believe that it is definitely possible to combine it with your studies. Of course sometimes it is hard to combine, but you have many hours in a week, and if running a business is something that gives you energy – you’ll be surprised what you can do in one week.

What skills have you acquired during your studies that can be applied to your daily business activities?
We believe that a lot of aspects of our studies come together in this company. We have both finished the Bachelor International Business Administration, Bas finished the Master Intercultural Communication and Ties did the master Entrepreneurship at the UvA. If you throw these studies in a blender – you will get something like Globl!

Up to this point, what skills have you gained from the establishment of your business?
We have learned a lot, ranging from doing business with local merchants and other travelers, to learning a fair bit about, for example, photography. We are both the type of persons that like to learn; find out how something is done and than try to do it ourselves. Sometimes we fail miserably, but we do it with a big smile on our face and move on.

How do you see the future of the company?
Building a community of travelers that bring the most amazing products from all parts of the world to the webshop of Globl. This webshop is more than just a shop – it is a place where stories behind the products are shared and people can find great products that make them happy. Moreover, building strong relationships with the creators of these products, so we can make an impact locally as well.

Finally, what would you like to say to students who are also planning to start their own business?
It might sound as the biggest cliché, but just go ahead and do it. There is not a moment in your life where you have more time and less obligations than in your student time. We believe it is the perfect moment to find out what role entrepreneurship has in your life, and whether it is something that you would like to do. We recommend you to come and have a chat with Starterslift, which was very helpful for us. You could also always ask us questions or advice via info@globl.nl. Lastly, don’t go and spend money like a mad man; first try and see whether you are on the right track.