ZAQELIJK: Visible service and a strong brand
Case • 3 min. read
For service organisations, it’s often a challenge: how do you showcase what you do without resorting to statistics or empty promises? That was precisely the question Marc Damen from ZAQELIJK came to us with. Several years have now passed, and our partnership has grown into a broad, strategic and ongoing collaboration. To our complete satisfaction!
Marc is the founder and one of the four finance directors who jointly run ZAQELIJK. ZAQELIJK is a service provider specialising in business finance. Whether it concerns property, business acquisitions, working capital or business assets, ZAQELIJK takes care of it. Marc: “We operate in various sectors, but we do have a clear focus on SMEs. In this context, being close to the client and maintaining personal contact is incredibly important. We want to be clear and keep lines of communication short. That is a conscious choice. It works particularly well within the SME sector.”
Strategic foundation
Marc: “At first, I handled all marketing activities myself, but I soon realised it was becoming too much and that professionalisation was needed. On the one hand to improve quality, and on the other because, as a service provider, it’s difficult to make your value tangible to potential clients. That’s why, with MM, we went back to our identity: who are we, what are we good at, and what do clients value about our approach? These strategic sessions yielded clear brand values. MM set to work with these.”
Translation
MM soon translated the identity into a corporate identity. With a logo, slogan, colours and shapes, ZAQELIJK really came to life. “The next step was to communicate this identity to the outside world,” Marc continues. “We started with a website where our brand story and services are clearly visible. Over the years, we have continually expanded and updated this foundation.”
Resources and brainstorming
As well as the website, we do much more for ZAQELIJK. Marc: “In fact, all our communications go through MM. Advertisements, brochures, sponsorship materials, flyers, business cards – you name it. For me, MM is a one-stop shop! Everything goes through you first, and that ensures peace of mind, consistency and brand identity management.
As well as the physical materials, which I actually always deal with Justin, Martijn is also a great sparring partner for me. He thinks along with me and is able to get inside my head. That might sound strange, but it works like a charm! He knows what I mean and, together with his team, can translate this into something that feels just right.”
Social media
MM and ZAQELIJK have an ongoing partnership in the field of social media. “I place great value on maintaining a visible presence on social media,” says Marc. “To this end, our funding managers are in weekly contact with Mirjam. The lines of communication are very direct here. That works really well, because, especially when it comes to social media, you sometimes need to adapt quickly.”
Flexible, enthusiastic and local
“And we notice this flexibility time and again. Being able to adapt quickly, contribute ideas and switch gears is never too much to ask. That’s a real plus, especially when things need to be sorted out quickly. The enthusiasm with which the MM team communicate and tackle their work is also worth mentioning. You’re greeted with a smile and there’s time for a personal chat. Just like us, MM is also locally focused. All these points mean that MM is a good fit for our business operations: local, close by and personal.”
Always a solution
Marc: “Another aspect I appreciate about our collaboration is that there’s also room for constructive criticism. Of course, the odd mistake creeps in now and then, or we might have a different idea in mind. But even then, everything is open to discussion and we work it out together.”
“In fact, MM has a solution for all our marketing and communication needs, and if there isn’t one, they’ll find it!”, concludes Marc.
