CTO
Promostore GmbH
(Marketing, PR and Design, 50-250 employees)
Keywords
Skills
SEO, SEA, PHP, Web Design, Web, ERP, APIs, Magento, system configuration, caching, database, redis, GIT, Sharepoint, search engine, Shopware, Adwords, HTML, CMS, open source, Joomla, Typo3, Wordpress, backend, Photoshop, JS, MySQL, DSL, API, printers, IRQ, DMA, programming, Visual Basic, roaming, User Interface Design
Project history
01/2020
-
Present
Promostore is one of the largest supplier of promotional products (merchandise) in Germany.
I am responsible for marketing, the web site promostore.de and the in-house built ERP-system -- with a team of PHP programmers, internal and external. Examples of projects: we expanded the functionality of the ERP system to include automatic invoices, order intake optimization, separating invoices and delivery orders, and sending orders to suppliers through APIs. Also we are expanding the PIM functionality to have the best product data in the field; including multiple languages and printing options. For the Magento web site we increased the loading speed significantly by optimizing the code and make changes to the system configuration (PHP version, caching, 301 redirects, optimizing database queries, redis, http preloads etc.) I changed the internal development workflow through better GIT branching and deployment conventions. Also I initiated migration from in-house hosted E-Mail (Exchange) to Microsoft 365 and Sharepoint. Other projects included search engine optimizing (SEO) of the Magento web shop, improving various code changes such as including breadcrumbs on landing pages. Projects in progress include a web to print tool (logo costumizer).
I am responsible for marketing, the web site promostore.de and the in-house built ERP-system -- with a team of PHP programmers, internal and external. Examples of projects: we expanded the functionality of the ERP system to include automatic invoices, order intake optimization, separating invoices and delivery orders, and sending orders to suppliers through APIs. Also we are expanding the PIM functionality to have the best product data in the field; including multiple languages and printing options. For the Magento web site we increased the loading speed significantly by optimizing the code and make changes to the system configuration (PHP version, caching, 301 redirects, optimizing database queries, redis, http preloads etc.) I changed the internal development workflow through better GIT branching and deployment conventions. Also I initiated migration from in-house hosted E-Mail (Exchange) to Microsoft 365 and Sharepoint. Other projects included search engine optimizing (SEO) of the Magento web shop, improving various code changes such as including breadcrumbs on landing pages. Projects in progress include a web to print tool (logo costumizer).
07/2012
-
06/2019
Founder / CEO / CTO
Pinkcube GmbH
I started and founded Pinkcube GmbH mid-2012 in Berlin, after having cofounded
Pinkcube BV in 2009. Pinkcube GmbH grew out to be one of the
challenging players in the promotional products market. Started with no
employees, a small office space of 15m2 and growing to a team of 8, an
office on the Karl-Marx-Allee and € 1.5M revenue in 2018. We did this by
setting up the best web site in the industry (based on Shopware), and very
active innovative Adwords advertising. Selling promotional products to B2B
customers through dedicated web sites for product groups. These products are
printed with buyer's company logo, and then drop-shipped from manufacturers
directly to the customers. As founder and CEO I was responsible for hiring
a good team, Adwords campaigns, developing the vision for the web stores,
payroll, administration and financing, and have learned almost all there is
about starting and running a company in Germany. Pinkcube GmbH was sold
to Promostore in 2019.
Pinkcube BV in 2009. Pinkcube GmbH grew out to be one of the
challenging players in the promotional products market. Started with no
employees, a small office space of 15m2 and growing to a team of 8, an
office on the Karl-Marx-Allee and € 1.5M revenue in 2018. We did this by
setting up the best web site in the industry (based on Shopware), and very
active innovative Adwords advertising. Selling promotional products to B2B
customers through dedicated web sites for product groups. These products are
printed with buyer's company logo, and then drop-shipped from manufacturers
directly to the customers. As founder and CEO I was responsible for hiring
a good team, Adwords campaigns, developing the vision for the web stores,
payroll, administration and financing, and have learned almost all there is
about starting and running a company in Germany. Pinkcube GmbH was sold
to Promostore in 2019.
11/1999
-
07/2014
Co-owner / CTO
Flits Internet Professionals
Started a web development agency during my bachelor studies, which grew to
around 15 people. We were a small team developing web sites for small and
medium sized companies. In 1999 / 2000, many business had not yet thought
about having a web presence, and we provided those. At first mostly HTML
business-card-type sites, and later on very sophisticated e-commerce and
CMS platforms, mostly using open source frameworks such as Joomla, Typo3,
Wordpress and Magento.
As CTO I was responsible for "everything backend". My partner did sales. I
also designed web sites using Photoshop, and helped my team convert those
into working HTML / JS / MySQL packages. Also I advised clients on how to
integrate the web into their business; worked as a web consultant helping our
clients improving their revenues using internet.
around 15 people. We were a small team developing web sites for small and
medium sized companies. In 1999 / 2000, many business had not yet thought
about having a web presence, and we provided those. At first mostly HTML
business-card-type sites, and later on very sophisticated e-commerce and
CMS platforms, mostly using open source frameworks such as Joomla, Typo3,
Wordpress and Magento.
As CTO I was responsible for "everything backend". My partner did sales. I
also designed web sites using Photoshop, and helped my team convert those
into working HTML / JS / MySQL packages. Also I advised clients on how to
integrate the web into their business; worked as a web consultant helping our
clients improving their revenues using internet.
04/2011
-
01/2013
Teamleader Webstudio (a.i.)
T-Mobile Netherlands BV
At Online.nl, a division of T-Mobile, I was responsible for the Online.nl web
site front-end, and Online.nl registration platform. That was the order street
for home DSL connections through online.nl. I managed and advised in
functionality, usability and all technical aspects of generating leads and signups..
Examples of this were working out solutions to make registration of
new connections completely automatic, together with the backend-team. We
made sure registrations of new customers was as smooth as possible. This
included using API's to our backend-systems and other vendors like TPG Post
to retrieve post code data. On the front-end site of things, I was responsible for
the customer facing of the web site online.nl, and all marketing outings done
there.
site front-end, and Online.nl registration platform. That was the order street
for home DSL connections through online.nl. I managed and advised in
functionality, usability and all technical aspects of generating leads and signups..
Examples of this were working out solutions to make registration of
new connections completely automatic, together with the backend-team. We
made sure registrations of new customers was as smooth as possible. This
included using API's to our backend-systems and other vendors like TPG Post
to retrieve post code data. On the front-end site of things, I was responsible for
the customer facing of the web site online.nl, and all marketing outings done
there.
01/2009
-
06/2012
Co-Founder
Pinkcube
We started a company selling promotional products (B2B) through dedicated
web sites for product groups. These products were printed with buyer's
company logo, and then drop-shipped from manufacturer directly to the
customers. We have rebuilt the process from the ground up. At first using 25+
web shops for each product category, later rebuilt to an advanced custom
made platform built on Magento.
Pinkcube originated from our own frustration. During the time we had an
internet agency (Flits Internet Professionals), we wanted to order promotional
products ourselves, we noticed how difficult that was. There were many
providers. The range was large and opaque and there was a lot of difference
in quality. Unfortunately often this was noticed only afterwards, along with an
invoice with all kinds of unforeseen costs (Setup costs? Packaging costs?
Shipping costs?). Ordering a promotional item was a time-consuming job.
Moreover, there was little certainty about the end result, when it was delivered
and the final costs. We thought that should be better, and improved the whole
process as one of the first in this market segment.
web sites for product groups. These products were printed with buyer's
company logo, and then drop-shipped from manufacturer directly to the
customers. We have rebuilt the process from the ground up. At first using 25+
web shops for each product category, later rebuilt to an advanced custom
made platform built on Magento.
Pinkcube originated from our own frustration. During the time we had an
internet agency (Flits Internet Professionals), we wanted to order promotional
products ourselves, we noticed how difficult that was. There were many
providers. The range was large and opaque and there was a lot of difference
in quality. Unfortunately often this was noticed only afterwards, along with an
invoice with all kinds of unforeseen costs (Setup costs? Packaging costs?
Shipping costs?). Ordering a promotional item was a time-consuming job.
Moreover, there was little certainty about the end result, when it was delivered
and the final costs. We thought that should be better, and improved the whole
process as one of the first in this market segment.
07/2003
-
12/2004
Personal Financial Advisor
Aegon Nederland
At Viavisie, a division of Aegon, I was a financial planner and mortgage broker,
visiting employees of larger companies at home. I made reviews of all clients'
possessions, assets and debts and available pension funds, and summarized
all of it in a comprehensive report. That way I was able to advise my clients on
investment strategies.
visiting employees of larger companies at home. I made reviews of all clients'
possessions, assets and debts and available pension funds, and summarized
all of it in a comprehensive report. That way I was able to advise my clients on
investment strategies.
01/2001
-
12/2003
Co-owner
Shoptower
We started an early e-commerce startup to provide local "brick & mortar" office
supply-shops with webshops complete with article database from national
distributors like Ingram Micro, Intercambio, TechData, Landis, Datelcom,
McDos, and Holland Pharma. Focus areas were office supplies, office furniture
and office hardware (pc's, printers etc.). These products would be delivered to
the customer directly from the distributor -- through drop-shipments. We built
the whole e-commerce system from ground up, using PHP and MySQL. This
included database connections with up to ten distributors; creating a product
base of more than 100.000 products, of which our customers could choose
product lines to resell. These resellers could enter their profit margins in their
backend system; Shoptower made a margin on every product sold through
the channel. As it turned out, we were way too early developing this way of
business channel, and ran into many challenges we were unable to overcome
all -- which later drop-shipment office suppliers did not run into and became
more successful than we were.
supply-shops with webshops complete with article database from national
distributors like Ingram Micro, Intercambio, TechData, Landis, Datelcom,
McDos, and Holland Pharma. Focus areas were office supplies, office furniture
and office hardware (pc's, printers etc.). These products would be delivered to
the customer directly from the distributor -- through drop-shipments. We built
the whole e-commerce system from ground up, using PHP and MySQL. This
included database connections with up to ten distributors; creating a product
base of more than 100.000 products, of which our customers could choose
product lines to resell. These resellers could enter their profit margins in their
backend system; Shoptower made a margin on every product sold through
the channel. As it turned out, we were way too early developing this way of
business channel, and ran into many challenges we were unable to overcome
all -- which later drop-shipment office suppliers did not run into and became
more successful than we were.
07/1993
-
02/1999
Sales
Byte / Megaworld / Dynabyte
Dynabyte was a well-known family-owned chain of computer shops, with
stores in more than 50 dutch cities. I have worked there since I can remember,
but actively, mostly part time during my studies - since I was 17. I helped
customers buy and install hardware (Soundblaster cards, graphics cards, etc.)
in their 386'es and 486's. IRQ, DMA, Vesa local bus, A long time ago...
As the stores were owned by my family, you can imagine I grew up using
every imaginable (pc) system, starting with Commodore 64's, Amigas and
Atari ST's, and every 286 / 386 / 486 there was, and started programming in
BASIC, Amos, Stos, Visual Basic etc. I worked in almost every of our Dynabyte
computer stores in almost every dutch city as a "roaming" sales representative;
mostly in Enschede, Assen, Groningen and Zwolle.
stores in more than 50 dutch cities. I have worked there since I can remember,
but actively, mostly part time during my studies - since I was 17. I helped
customers buy and install hardware (Soundblaster cards, graphics cards, etc.)
in their 386'es and 486's. IRQ, DMA, Vesa local bus, A long time ago...
As the stores were owned by my family, you can imagine I grew up using
every imaginable (pc) system, starting with Commodore 64's, Amigas and
Atari ST's, and every 286 / 386 / 486 there was, and started programming in
BASIC, Amos, Stos, Visual Basic etc. I worked in almost every of our Dynabyte
computer stores in almost every dutch city as a "roaming" sales representative;
mostly in Enschede, Assen, Groningen and Zwolle.
Local Availability
Only available in these countries:
Netherlands
