Young sales talent: Meet Sten Piet.

A new generation in the international flower trade.

The international flower trade is constantly evolving. New markets, changing customer needs and technological developments call for sales professionals who understand not only flowers, but also people, cultures and international business. At OZ-Hami, young sales talent plays an important role in this development. In the new Young Sales Talent series, we introduce the next generation of sales professionals, exploring their experiences, perspectives and ambitions. The first to feature in this series is Sten Piet.

What started as a holiday job at the flower auction eventually developed into a career in international sales. Today, he has been working in OZ-Hami's sales department for over five and a half years, maintaining customer relationships across different parts of the world.

From holiday worker to international sales professional.

Sten's career in the flower industry began when he was just fourteen years old. During school holidays, he worked at the flower auction. However, eager to work more hours, he decided to apply for a position at OZ Export. What started as a holiday job eventually became the foundation of his career. During his bachelor's degree programme, Sten was given the opportunity to complete his graduation project at OZ Export. He developed an export plan, gaining further insight into the international flower trade. After graduating, he joined an internal traineeship, where he explored different opportunities within the company. It soon became clear where his interests lay: sales. "During my traineeship, I quickly discovered that sales was the best fit for me."

Today, Sten is an experienced member of the sales team, but his ambition to continue developing professionally remains as strong as ever.

From Estonia to the Middle East.

Sten is part of Team Overig, a sales team responsible for international markets that do not fall under one of OZ-Hami's dedicated country teams. This means working with a particularly diverse customer base, ranging from the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait and Lebanon to European markets such as Estonia and Romania. This diversity requires flexibility, not only because of the different markets but also because of the cultural differences in how business is conducted.

According to Sten, one of the biggest differences lies in communication. "In the Netherlands, we're used to finding information ourselves. In the Middle East, I've noticed that customers are much more likely to ask questions directly. That could be about the availability of a particular flower, but just as easily about the weather in the Netherlands."

It is precisely this personal approach to communication that makes international sales so interesting to him. The job is not simply about products, prices and deliveries, but also about accessibility, trust and building long-term relationships. Most of his daily communication takes place in Dutch and English. In addition, Sten is currently learning Spanish, a language he hopes to use professionally in the future.

More than selling flowers: the importance of personal customer relationships.

Strong customer relationships are not built solely behind a computer screen or over the phone. For Sten, international customer visits are therefore an essential part of his work. One of his most memorable experiences took place in Estonia. "Last year, a customer from Estonia invited me to join them at a Swedish House Mafia concert in Tallinn. Without a doubt, it was one of the most memorable experiences I've ever had with a customer."

For Sten, this demonstrates that a business relationship can extend far beyond placing and processing orders. "Being able to share such a special experience really confirmed to me that this job is about much more than just doing business." Personal connections help build mutual trust and allow customer relationships to continue developing over time.

A business trip involves more than booking a flight.

Working in international sales also means travelling regularly. For Sten, this has become a familiar part of his role, although customer visits often require thorough preparation. His preparations go well beyond reviewing sales figures. "Before a visit, I mainly look at figures and data. What are we doing well, and where can we improve? Are there any logistical challenges? Or financial matters we need to discuss?"

By gathering information from different departments, Sten aims to discuss the complete picture with customers during his visits, from product quality and logistics to commercial opportunities. Sometimes, a business trip has a more practical purpose. For example, he might follow a large flower shipment to assess its quality upon arrival. This combination of commercial insight, product knowledge and operational involvement makes his work particularly varied.

Independence is developed outside your comfort zone.

Although Sten now regularly travels independently for work, this was not always something he took for granted. His first customer calls and international business trips were exciting but also nerve-racking experiences. Fortunately, during his early years, he had plenty of opportunities to travel alongside experienced colleagues and learn from them. Today, travelling independently feels natural, although meeting a new customer for the first time is still different from visiting someone he has known and spoken to for years. Sten has also invested in his international development outside work. He spent two separate two-week periods in Spain to improve his Spanish language skills. What have these experiences taught him most? Independence.

"When you're travelling, you always encounter situations that don't go exactly as planned. You have to adapt quickly and come up with solutions yourself." According to Sten, these experiences have helped him become more confident in making decisions, more flexible in unexpected situations and more comfortable taking on new challenges. And despite his many business trips, travelling has certainly not lost its appeal. "I still really enjoy it, and it gives me a lot of energy. You almost always return with new insights or ideas that you can start working on."

A fresh perspective on a traditional industry.

The flower trade is an industry where experience, knowledge and long-standing relationships play an important role. At the same time, Sten sees plenty of opportunities for a new generation of sales professionals. What does he bring to the team? A fresh perspective, energy and a willingness to question established ways of working. "In an industry where many things have been done the same way for years, I like looking at how processes can be made smarter or more efficient." His aim is not only to contribute to commercial results but also to support the continued development of the team and the organisation. The combination of experienced colleagues and younger sales professionals creates opportunities to learn from one another and put new ideas into practice.

Ambitions for the future.

Sten has a clear vision for his future. Ultimately, he would like to progress into a leadership position, but he is in no rush to take that step. First, he wants to gain as much experience as possible. "Over the coming years, I mainly want to sell a lot, travel, speak to different customers and gain as much experience as I can."

For Sten, practical experience forms the foundation of good leadership. "I believe you can only become a truly good leader if you know what you're talking about and understand what's happening with customers and in the market." Becoming fluent in Spanish also remains an important personal goal. Although he has already gained considerable experience, he still sees plenty of opportunities to develop further.

The future of the flower trade.

Sten's story shows how an initial introduction to the flower industry can develop into an international career. From his first holiday job to independently managing customer relationships across different parts of the world, his journey has been shaped by curiosity, independence and ambition. With his international experience, fresh perspective and enthusiasm, Sten represents a new generation of sales professionals contributing to the continued development of the flower trade.

And his own journey? It is far from over.