King Filip visits Avelgem thrift store after a letter from the manager: “I think you and Mathilde frequent other clothing stores”

The thrift shop in Avelgem is part of the non-profit organization Deltagroep. As a tailor-made company, the organization gives a new chance to people who are excluded from the labor market. It does this through education, work experience and sustainable employment. In addition, the non-profit organization fights underprivileged by creating jobs and offering goods at a low price.

Letter to the King

It was through a letter from manager Rino Feys that the King finally decided to go to Avelgem. In his letter we can read the following: “Hopefully this writing reaches you, because I have to get something off my mind, something that has also recently been on my liver. […] I work in the thrift shop in Avelgem that I run with Nathalie, my assistant, with whom I try to steer the daily ins and outs together with a dozen employees, colleagues – if possible we avoid the word ’employees’ here. […] Above all, we strive to ensure that your eyes fail to see all those beautiful second-hand items… For the sake of convenience, I assume that you and Mathilde frequent other clothing stores, but I think you would be amazed at what we have here in terms of exclusive branded clothing from renowned fashion houses all have in our offer.”

Rino never thought he would become a leader himself. He was always used to working for someone and was often treated like a number. Now he wants to do the opposite with his employees. “I have found that a good conversation can do wonders. We call it solution-oriented thinking here.”

Stubborn Prejudice

The reason for the letter came from a conversation with a customer. Rino had told him that a visit from the King to the thrift store would honor him. The customer then burst out laughing. According to Rino, he said: “A lot will have to happen before the King comes here. That is below his station.” It was through that comment that Rino sensed that people still view the thrift store a certain way. “It remains a prejudice that our workplace is inferior, a place for people who have failed.”

To show that the thrift shop is something useful, Rino invited de Koning.