Woman in Business
Noëlle Viguurs – van Gelder
At Woman in Business, you see the successful woman behind a brand, shop, or business, because she deserves a stage of one hundred square meters. This time we catch up with Noëlle, who runs the high-end jewelry brand Van Gelder Indian Jewellery .
Name: Noëlle Viguurs-van Gelder
Age: 42
Place of birth: Den Bosch
In a relationship/single/kids: Lives with her husband Rob, daughter Madelief, and sons Marius and Bastiaan.
Study: Art history
Job: Owner of the jewelry house Van Gelder Indian Jewellery
Income: Let me put it this way: I am grateful that I can earn enough with this work to lead a nice life.
How many hours per week: In practice, actually always more than full-time, but with flexible hours and certainly not from 9 to 5.
What time do you wake up and what do you do at the beginning of your day?
“Usually between 6 and half past 6. First, I do some yoga or exercise, and then the morning mainly revolves around my family. Sometimes I’m in my sports clothes whipping up balanced breakfasts for three kids. Then it’s another hour of ‘keeping active’ to get everyone to school on time and safely. Mornings here are quite dynamic, haha.’
Do you check your email while still in bed?
“Absolutely not. I don’t want a phone next to my bed at all. My phone is often downstairs. I find it more important to have a good start to the day with my family. But once they are at school around half past 8, all shutters to the world open again.”
Your very first job?
“After my studies, I traveled a lot. Then I started at my father's company. At first, I secretly found it very boring, but I learned an incredible amount from him about sales. For example, how you always have to put the customer first.”. Daarna begon ik bij het bedrijf van mijn vader. In het begin vond ik het stiekem heel saai, maar ik heb ontzettend veel van hem geleerd over het salesvak. Hoe je altijd de klant voorop moet stellen bijvoorbeeld.”
What is your vacation policy? Keep working or take complete rest?
“It’s not that when I go on vacation everything suddenly ‘stops’. If a very dear client calls me, it can happen that I fly back and forth from my vacation destination to show a piece of jewelry. If you really want to make a difference and be among the top in service, that comes with the territory. It should be a celebration to buy something from us. Because it involves serious amounts, the entire experience must be right. Fortunately, my husband fully supports me, and if I leave for a job, I just come back two days later.”
What do you do to clear your head?
“Going out to dinner with friends. I really get a lot of relaxation from that. But also traveling, having quality time with the family, and exercising. Even though I actually do the last one a bit too little.”
Have you ever fired someone?
“Fortunately, never on the spot. It has happened that we, together with an employee, concluded that it was better to part ways. In these kinds of conversations, it’s very important to keep communication open and always maintain harmony.”
Do you prefer to work with men or women?
“I find it very important to have a good vibe with someone. The personal aspect. And it doesn’t matter to me at all whether this is a man or a woman. Someone can have fantastic skills, but if the person is distant and cold, then I have nothing to do with it.”
What kind of people do you prefer to have around you?
“People who are positive, flexible, and strive to deliver quality. Someone with no 9 to 5 mentality but who can also say at three o'clock in the afternoon: ’It’s a wrap today‘ if everything works out. Ultimately, it’s all about having fun.’
And if you have an important meeting, what do you wear?
“I really love to dress femininely. But in my closet, a suit from Valentino proudly hangs next to an item from Zara. For a meeting, I would probably choose a dress with high heels. In that, I always feel confident. And of course, with my own jewelry. I wear that every day.”
Speaking of which, what do you really consider a no-go in jewelry?
“Bare ears are definitely a no-go for me. Even if it’s just a small pearl or a stud; if you have holes in your ears, I think you should just wear earrings. You also wear them shoes on your feet?”
What is the piece of jewelry that holds the most special memory for you?
“I can tell something about every piece of jewelry. They are all sourced from private families, and it feels almost like choosing between my children. But there is one 20-carat gold pendant, set with diamonds and dark blue sapphire feet, that is so beautifully crafted from such high-quality material that it humbles me. This type of pendant was worn during pilgrimages in North India in the 1940s. When I wear that necklace, I think: wow. I hope to tell the history behind this beautiful piece of jewelry to a future wearer one day.’
