NEW KID ON THE BLOCK: ANTON TEEUW

You need to have a lot of courage if you decide to start your own business at a young age. This week, the 28-year-old Anton Teeuw.

They have a lot of courage, are young and have great ambitions. In the section new kids on the block MASTERS will talk to entrepreneurs who decided at a young age to start their own business. Did they have to take big risks and could the older generation of entrepreneurs learn something from them? This week the 28-year-old Anton Teeuw, founder of the company Planq. Text: Fleur de Jong
Image: Gijs SpieringsWith his passion for the environment and design, Anton Teeuw founded the company Planq together with his twin brother Dennis in 2015. Planq develops furnishings and furniture from natural materials, such as organic plastics and old jeans. In their own words, the duo entered interior design from architecture. There is interest in their designs from all over the world, and the entrepreneurs now work for companies such as ABN-AMRO, Tommy Hilfiger and Unilever. 

What is your personal USP?

“I don't think too much about everything, I just do.” 

What can the older generation of entrepreneurs learn from you?

“I think I can teach the older generation to think from the idea that anything is possible. You should not think in terms of boxes or working patterns within a particular industry, but rather think in terms of the industry as an overarching whole. And as an entrepreneur, focus on the impact and sustainable difference you make with your company. You should not initially focus on commerce, this will follow naturally when your product or service is unique enough. I believe that if that goes well, commerce will automatically come back to you.” 

Who is your mentor or source of inspiration in the field of entrepreneurship?

''I can sometimes get my inspiration from completely different angles, such as multi-disciplinary designers. I think Virgil Abloh is a good example. He is currently creative director of Louis Vuitton, but also an architect, artist and artist. From his position, he even knows how to make a classic fashion department store like Louis Vuitton more sustainable.” 

What is your motto or quote?

“Good design will save the world.”

What is the biggest entrepreneurial risk you have taken so far?

''The biggest risk we have ever taken was placing an order for the production of 800 chairs, without having any certainty whether the client would give us the order. We had to, otherwise we wouldn't meet the deadline on time. Fortunately, the order was confirmed shortly afterwards, but that was quite a financial risk. If the assignment had not gone through, we would have had a very big financial problem.”

Where will you be in three years?

''The best thing would be to have my own Willy-Wonka factory in three years' time, where I can also let people collect their residual flow on a small scale through my company Planq. From jeans to chair under one roof, where it is also possible to show people the entire process. And hopefully still with a nice and strong team. In our company, colleagues feel like family and I continue to think that is the most important thing!” Do you know or are you a successful, young entrepreneur who also deserves a place in the spotlight? Please email Fleur de Jong ([email protected]).Click here before and after,  new kid Lynndell Melles of the MELLES PEOPLE company.