Where shopping streets are struggling with vacant buildings and one collapsing store after another, ‘t Winkeltje in Diever has managed to keep its head above water for a hundred years. In a century, the textile business has had only two owners. After 45 years, Miranda Lubbers takes over from her mother.
As a former holiday worker, Lubbers’ mother took over from the original owner Geertje Vos in the late 1970s. “When they heard that it was for sale, my parents immediately said: ‘We have to buy that, we have to try that’.” And Lubbers didn’t have to think about it for long either. “There came a time when she knew she had to stop at some point. Then my husband said, ‘Why don’t you take over? It couldn’t be easier.”
After some conversations, Lubbers takes the plunge. “When push came to shove we thought: oh well, we can give it a try and see how it all goes.” She has never felt obliged to continue history, she says. “It was not an obligation. They just let us go.”
The textile shop has a loyal customer base and the range has not changed much in all these decades. From clothing to underwear, and from socks to wool and yarn. And the strength of the store lies in the sale of sewing and craft materials, among other things, says Lubbers. “All those shops are disappearing. They are gradually going away and you benefit from that. And people come for the washcloths, towels and the old-fashioned cloths that are still here. That’s just nice.”
According to Lubbers, the trust that ‘t Winkeltje has in its customers also ensures that the store has been able to beat increasing competition all these years. Anyone who has forgotten their wallet can pay afterwards. “‘Just take it with you, see if it fits’, that’s still possible here,” the new owner explains.
“We also do it this way for the retirement home: ‘Take it with you for your father or mother. If it doesn’t fit, bring it back, otherwise you come back to pay.’ That’s possible and it’s still going well.” And for those who really can’t leave the house, the store staff goes out with a bag full of clothes.
Even the interior dates from the 1960s. For the time being, Lubbers is keeping it as old as possible, so regular customers of ‘t Winkeltje do not have to fear a radical change of course. “It is appreciated that it is still that way. People find it beautiful, nostalgia. If it is good, why would you have to change it completely? That is also a shame. Then you also take away the appearance.”
How Lubbers sees the future? “I find that difficult to fill in. Of course, the elderly people you have now are gradually disappearing. But then you get the new aging people. You do have that trend and you go along with the fashion. find your way in. We’ll see.”