Maarten Westerkamp: “Retailers should consider themselves fortunate to have a purchasing center like this.”

Maarten began his career in the footwear industry during his internship at Bata. What started as an internship grew into a long-term career in the shoe industry. Over the past thirty years, he has developed into an experienced entrepreneur and now represents three different shoe brands.

Over the years, Maarten has had his showroom on every floor of CAST. “It just happened that way. It depends on where you work and who you work with. Sometimes you need a larger showroom because the size of the collection varies from brand to brand or because a particular brand requires more space.”

In addition to the business opportunities, Maarten also appreciates the atmosphere and social events. Drinks after trade fair days, golf tournaments, anniversary celebrations and other events all contribute to a strong sense of community. CAST places a great deal of emphasis on bringing people together, which is particularly important in today's climate.

A positive view of CAST's role

Maarten is very positive about CAST's role. “There is genuinely a team here that works hard to make things happen.” He is particularly enthusiastic about the facilities and support CAST provides to showroom holders and retailers.

According to Maarten, the footwear industry is currently facing a challenging period. That is why it is important for CAST to continue supporting the industry in as many ways as possible. “Retailers should consider themselves fortunate to have a place like this, and they should make more use of it.”

Regarde le Ciel: craftsmanship with timeless elegance

For the past two years, Maarten has been a sales agent for Regarde le Ciel in the Dutch market. He was offered this position because he had built up a strong reputation and an extensive network within the footwear industry over the years.

According to Maarten, Regarde le Ciel stands out because of its combination of price range, profit margins and appearance. Customers are often convinced as soon as they try on the shoes. The shoes have a distinctive appearance, are comfortable and appeal to a broad target audience. As a result, very little explanation is often needed to convince customers.

Regarde le Ciel operates internationally, with approximately 2,500 points of sale across 32 countries. Its main target audience consists of modern women aged between 35 and 60.

The brand's name also has a special meaning. Regarde le Ciel is French for "look at the sky". According to Maarten, the name represents individuality, freedom and following your own path.

Bufflox: Portuguese quality at a competitive price

Bufflox takes a different approach. This casual men's footwear brand focuses primarily on the balance between price and quality. Although the brand does not specifically focus on comfort, Maarten considers wearing comfort one of its key qualities.

"Although these shoes are made in Portugal, we can offer them at a very competitive price." According to Maarten, many competitors and other brands charge considerably higher prices.

He believes the target audience for Bufflox is relatively easy to identify. "Men are generally less fashion-conscious. As long as the shoes are comfortable and they see other people wearing them, they are usually satisfied."

Bufflox is therefore not so much a trendsetter as a brand that follows trends. According to Maarten, this actually offers several advantages. "We can see quite easily what is happening in the market and respond quickly to what Dutch men want."

What makes a good shoe?

According to Maarten, a good shoe should be attractive, comfortable and reasonably priced. However, these are not the only criteria. "The most important thing about a good shoe is its commercial viability."

Although Maarten does not design the shoes himself, he does influence the development process. He shares his views and provides advice based on his experience. "At a certain point, you can picture your customers and you know what works and what appeals to them."

At the same time, Maarten warns against creating a collection that focuses exclusively on commercial success. "If you fill your entire store with shoes that are purely commercial, you won't last very long, because there is no innovation or excitement in the collection."

According to him, striking the right balance between commercial reliability and innovation is essential to keeping a collection interesting and distinctive.

Sustainability as part of doing business

Sustainability plays an important role in Maarten's businesses. According to him, it has been a key focus for many years, particularly at Regarde le Ciel. "It's something we've been working on for years."

For example, the brand tries to recycle packaging materials as much as possible. In addition, it must comply with regulations concerning product passports. Sustainability is also taken into account when selecting materials.

CAST as a valuable purchasing centre

At the end of the interview, Maarten shares an important message for retailers. "I think retailers should appreciate what a great thing we have here at CAST: a large purchasing centre where everything is under one roof."

According to him, it is important to value CAST and make the most of the opportunities it offers. "If we, as showroom holders and retailers, don't take good care of this centre, we risk losing it."

For Maarten, CAST is therefore much more than just a place where brands and retailers come together. It is also an important part of the footwear industry. His message is clear: make the most of the opportunities CAST offers and work together to ensure that this unique purchasing centre remains.

Curious about the collections of Regarde le Ciel and Bufflox?

Visit showroom 064 at CAST

BrandWorks | +31 6 54 28 07 80 | maarten@brand-works.nl