They are eager to start their supermarket: the Huzen sisters from Smilde. The Coop in Hooghalen closed its doors in December and the young entrepreneurs saw an interesting gap to fill. With the help of their father, they now own the store.
“We think it is important to support the village,” says Sanne Huzen (19). The sisters themselves also grew up in a small village, a few kilometers away. “A supermarket in the village is handy for the little things. You no longer have to go all the way to Assen or Beilen. You already notice it, the supermarket is closed for a few weeks and you have to go a bit further away for your groceries.”
Sanne started an ice cream parlor in Smilde. Then a store was added with Eastern European products. “That was a small supermarket and this is a large supermarket. These have always been logical steps, but I notice that this is suddenly a big step,” she says.
Her younger sister Ilse (16) looked after the matter when Sanne went on a trip to America for a gap year. “I really enjoyed helping people and having conversations.” She became so enthusiastic about entrepreneurship that both sisters are now determined to keep the new store running. “I don’t know if I would have done this alone,” says Ilse. “I’m very happy that I’m doing it together with my sister.”
It doesn’t bother them that they are both still teenagers. But the difference with peers is there, Sanne notices. “I usually don’t have time to meet up because you’re always busy.” Ilse is also still required to attend school and will soon start training. Then she hopes that she can go to school for a day and gain practical experience in the store for the rest of the week.
The sisters couldn’t wait to start the challenge. “I don’t know if I’ll ever get this opportunity again, so I’m grabbing it with both hands.” Her sister adds: “It will be hard work, but I’m looking forward to it. My friends don’t know any better than that I have a shop.”
For Sanne, the plan is a dream come true. “I always wanted to dream it. But I didn’t dare, because it doesn’t happen to everyone. It’s still a bit unreal that you get the chance to do something like that.” For Ilse it is an unexpected opportunity. “I didn’t think about it before. I thought more about having sheep, a farm. We come from a farm too. I didn’t expect to run a supermarket.”
The store’s doors will open on January 30. Before then, a lot still needs to be done: a major cleaning, cleaning stickers from the wall and making all agreements with suppliers.
According to Sanne, the big difference with the previous supermarket is in the type of products. “We try to do it as locally as possible and involve as many companies from the area as possible.”