Kurt - Concept Designer Boys
Kurt has been a member of the JBCfamily since 2013. He has grown from Fashion Designer to Concept Designer within the organization. He helps to ensure that the boys' clothes from JBC are displayed on the shelves of our shop on time.
What is the biggest challenge in your job?
The biggest challenge of course is to try and bring a new surprising collection every time that our customers will like so much that they keep coming back to JBC.
How does your department contribute to the functioning of JBC?
We work in the purchasing department of JBC, more specifically in the design department for the boys. We ensure that new collections are drawn and transferred to the buying department in time for the goods to be ordered and produced.
How do you contribute to the operation of JBC?
I am responsible for the total boys collection at JBC. I work together with the category manager, 2 designers and 1 technical designer to look into this package of tasks. Design is responsible for the creative interpretation, the category manager for the purchase plan.
What does a typical workday look like for you?
That varies from day to day, from overarching meetings across the various departments to specific design meetings about the collection. I still try to make design my main priority. Making style sheets for the suppliers is also part of this on a regular basis and needs to be followed up on a weekly basis in order to meet the tight deadlines.
What achievement are you most proud of?
I once designed a t-shirt with the fastest sales ratio, i.e. an item that sold the fastest. Then you know you are designing in the right environment.
What is your favorite event at JBC?
That was the outdoor play day with the children. We had a great day with the family and the colleagues. Great initiative by JBC, the whole car park was transformed into one big playground.
How do you work with your colleagues in your department and at JBC?
Within my own team I work with 3 Dutch people and recently 1 Belgian. So the communication is quite open and direct. We try to be as transparent as possible towards each other, even though this is not always easy. In the end, we always have to keep a critical eye on the collection we draw.
If JBC was an animal, which animal would it be and why?
Then I would say a chameleon, one that adapts to its environment very quickly.
If you could make one wish for JBC, which would it be?
That it is allowed to remain in the retail world for a long time, while retaining its own identity.
How has your job evolved over the years?
I started out as a designer in the K boys' department, i.e. the big boys' sizes 134-170. Then I became a concept designer for the entire boys' department (small boys 92-128 + licenses). The package used to be a lot smaller, but now the collections are better coordinated across the board. We now look more at the overall picture and the total shop image.
To conclude, complete with 1 word: working at JBC is ... and remains a challenge!