It's Monday again and that means another brand new successful startup takes the stage on The Only Way Is Up. This week MASTERS speaks with the founders of startup The Lokalist, founded in 2020, which sells products from over 100 local farmers and artisans in a socially responsible way.Text: Patrick Stoffer
Image: De LokalistIt's no secret that local entrepreneurs have had a tough time recently. Cautiously they are recovering from a difficult period and there is light at the end of the tunnel. But great new initiatives are also emerging and successful startups are being launched. The Lokalist is one of them. Richard Nederlof and Paul van Straaten founded this online supermarket in 2020, which delivers your groceries from local farmers and artisans to your home in one go. MASTERS spoke to the founders.
"The Lokalist is on the eve of the next phase, in which several distribution locations will be opened throughout the Netherlands. From there, for example, the entrecôte from the best regional butcher, the oysters from the local fish specialist and the baguette from that old-fashioned baker will be delivered home in one go. In other words, we already deliver all the products of our affiliated farmers and artisans throughout the Netherlands, but have the goal of having as many relevant entrepreneurs throughout the Netherlands join us.''
"Do something that is (partially) different from what others are doing with the right people in the right chair and with the right gauges in front of you. Definitely take a chair once a month and literally and figuratively sit in front of your own business and see what happens. Above all, talk to your customers a lot and do this especially when you don't really have time for it. And listen carefully to tips from other experienced entrepreneurs, take from them what you think is applicable and above all make your own plan; that is what makes doing business so much fun!''Photo: De Lokalist
''Because with us, as a demanding consumer, you can really choose for yourself what you really like. With us there is no category manager who decides which croissant or which filet americain will be in the assortment. Through corona there are quite a few local initiatives, but we are the only one where you can choose the products of your own taste and quality from complete assortments of over 100 local shopkeepers and farmers, and deliver them yourself throughout the Netherlands in one delivery. In other words, with us you do your weekly shopping socially responsible from authentic local entrepreneurs and directly from the farmer in one order. Upon delivery, our driver will also take the empty glass jars and beverage bottles along with the deposit bottles so you don't have to pass by the bottle bank. You can also put empty batteries in our recycle bag.''
''Investing in our growth; people, marketing and resources.''
''By that time, thousands of local retailers and farmers will have joined us, so that consumers and organizations nationwide can order sustainably online and we can counterbalance the big (online) supermarkets with all the small entrepreneurs together.''
Also support local farmers and artisans? Then do your shopping at The Localist!
The Only Way Is Up is a column of MASTERS in which startup pioneers get a stage each week. In this column, they introduce the world to their great idea, success and future. Be inspired! Also curious to see how startups Felyx, Somnox, BridgeFund, Neurolytics, FIGO Mobility, Finnik, Parfumado, Shypple, BASH and BOTS take the stage? Check it out!
Also want to secure a spot on this exclusive stage? Please email then email Patrick Stoffer (patrick@mastershq.nl) for the possibilities.
Photo: The Localist
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