Storm van Woudenberg, Real Estate Advisor

“Every day is different at Layers”

“The enormous variety in my work, the contact with lots of happy people, and working on the most beautiful projects in the Netherlands!” Storm van Woudenberg can list in one breath what makes his job as a Real Estate Advisor at Layers so attractive.

This 24-year-old Amsterdammer (he is originally from Apeldoorn) joined the company as an intern. He wrote a thesis on a new concept for storing goods and saw it come to life in the form of Storage Club. After a period as a Business Developer, he now feels right at home selling Layers business units. ‘You don’t just do the sales, you’re involved in the entire commercial process. Marketing, talking to investors, estate agents, end users… and of course internal coordination. Every day is different!’

The sale of Layers units is going so fast – now more than 40 projects across the country – that the salespeople have divided the country into regions. Storm is responsible for South Holland, with projects in Delft, Zoetermeer, Pijnacker and Capelle aan den IJssel, among others.

He is particularly proud of Capelle: ‘It consists of 63 units and is a showcase for the commercial units we build. Large XL units ranging from 300 to over 400 m2. But also smaller units, from 60 m2, and units with roof terraces. All in one project and in a beautiful location on the A20 motorway.’

A lot of groundwork is done before something like this is built. It starts with acquiring suitable locations and figuring out how to realise something there that fits the market. ‘That means talking to investors, estate agents and end users. Then we move on to sales. That involves contacting graphic designers for the sales documentation.’

Does everything always go smoothly? ‘No, of course not. But my motto is “no pain, no gain”. If a project is difficult to get off the ground, you have to work extra hard. When it finally succeeds, it gives you extra satisfaction.’

The so-called viewing days, when investors, users and contractors come together before completion, are a personal highlight for Storm: ‘Happy users who see that they are getting a beautiful workplace. They also take a curious look at each other’s spaces. You immediately see a close-knit community forming. And what I also find special is that you get to see what you sold on paper in real life.’ Storm considers maintaining good customer relations to be of paramount importance. Anyone who calls him in the evening or at the weekend can be sure of a prompt response: ‘Our customers are not a dime a dozen.’

What makes Layers unique in his eyes is that it manages to take new steps in the development of commercial space in prime locations, i.e. the best spots in the Netherlands: ‘For each location, we look at which units are best suited to it. Or a mix of them. And in places where commercial space is scarce, we go vertical.’ With all these challenges ahead, Storm estimates that he will still be working at Layers in five years’ time. ‘There is still so much to do here. We are still growing and, in addition to the Netherlands, we are also active in Germany, so who knows…’