The story of: Anja Wielaard – Gift shop Sint-Annaland

On April 1st (no joke) it was 15 years ago that Gift Shop Sint-Annaland started. Anja Wielaard was just 25 years old when she took on this exciting challenge. What an experience and experience came my way in the course of time. Golden moments and hard work. Especially when she moved to a much larger building in the Voorstraat 5 years ago. Nothing is better than seeing my customers leave satisfied and happy, says Anja. Let yourself be carried away by her story.

Upon leaving secondary school, Anja immediately entered the world of sales. Admittedly, after she had made the conscious choice at school. That choice was good and determined the course of her personality. Dealing with and meeting a diversity of people makes selling so incredibly valuable and beautiful, she wouldn't want to miss it for the world. Every day again, all those happy children's faces pass by. There is also nothing more beautiful and pure than a child, honest, spontaneous and sincere. If they can pick out a good and cool toy, then it makes me very happy. They are as young and small as they already know who I am. After all, Anja belongs to toys, and yes, that is really a product that goes out a lot. Toys represent so much fun. The assortment of Gift Shop Sint-Annaland is wide, from household items to toys and from small furniture to beautiful gift items. Good quality products that are also functional and/or beautiful. Anja Wielaard fully supports her range of articles and can tell you a lot about it.

Personal contact and service

Most customers of Gift Shop Sint-Annaland like to come here because of the personal contact. But also for that extra bit of service. Recently I was screwing together some ventilators for an elderly lady. They dare to ask me that question. Several times a year we offer an extensive service that is also known as the 'scissor-slap.' You can also visit her shop for printing photos. Very easy and very fast. It is a plus that this store fulfills a regional function, because in addition to customers from Sint-Annaland and the municipality of Tholen, they also come from Steenbergen, Nieuw-Vossemeer and Bergen op Zoom, for example. When it comes down to it, no resident has to cross the bridge to shop elsewhere and customers from across the bridge are more than welcome at Tholen.

Tourists as a boost

The tourist season is also an important addition to the summer months for her. The surrounding parks in particular provide good clientele and experience shows that in recent years it has been clearly noticeable that tourists are present all year round. She experiences this as a boost for Sint-Annaland and for the entrepreneurs present. That is why we always include some Zeeland products in our range. And we like to share the brochures of the Experience and Taste route with all the other information we have from other companies to our tourists.

Webshop provides surprises

Social media such as Facebook and Instagram are powerful and spontaneous sales channels for me. In addition, the webshop provides a different dynamic, although the physical store will continue to be given priority. The webshop is certainly there for a reason. Orders are placed and shipped nationwide. Delivery is made when the customer has no means and options for collection. Then you sometimes unexpectedly find yourself on the top floor of an apartment building in Bergen op Zoom, such things happen, while you do not expect such an action from the city, according to Anja.

From dream to wish

In her shop she hopes to be able to grow old healthy and that she can continue to do what she did. She hopes to remain satisfied with what she has. A dream might also be a big word, let's call it a wish, says Anja Wielaard. Customers are indispensable in this. The slogan, be loyal, buy local, was launched a while ago. An appropriate exclamation that she of course wholeheartedly supports. After all, there is so much to gain in your own village or within the municipality of Tholen. Of course we miss certain specialties in our core, such as shoes, affordable (children's) clothing and a well-maintained flower shop. It would be great if there were shops in the village. My wish is also that every resident of Tholen becomes familiar with the many beautiful shops that are there. This can be additionally stimulated by a kind of strip card with actions and, for example, a bicycle route linked to it. In addition, a competition with the 'nicest, best company in Tholen.

Open from Monday to Saturday and excluding Wednesday afternoon.