Gijs Hooft Graafland works as Sales Agent for the Benelux and the Middle East. Through his network, he found his way to Foeth, where he discovered a commercial role with technical depth and plenty of room to learn.

Sales with technical depth

In his work, Gijs guides customers from the first contact through to the sale. It often starts with a quotation, after which he follows up on the request and works with technical colleagues to see whether the machine fits the customer’s application.

That requires listening carefully, giving honest advice and thinking along from a technical perspective. “You need to understand exactly what the customer wants to use the machine for. A machine that looks good is not always suitable for their specific application.”

International customer contact

Gijs works with customers from the Benelux and the Middle East. That combination makes his work varied. In the Benelux, business is often fast and direct, while in the Middle East more time is taken to build a relationship.

One day he is working on a technical question about an extruder, the next he is on the customer’s site. “That mix of office work, customer visits and international contact is what makes this a really enjoyable job for me.”

Finding the right solution together

Gijs does not do his work alone. He works closely with purchasing, operations and the workshop to offer customers a solution that fits both technically and practically.

The sustainable character of pre-owned process equipment also makes his work valuable. “We don’t sell disposable items. We make sure good machines keep running, instead of something new having to be produced every time.”

His advice to someone considering applying at Foeth is clear: “Just do it. If you like technology, enjoy international contacts and are not afraid to take initiative, you will fit in here.”