Exciting, rich, varied.<\/p>\n\n
I started here with a summer job, then as an intern, before completing a year-long apprenticeship (Bachelor’s degree in Timber Construction at ENSTIB). After that, I worked in sales for a year and a half, initially focused on supply and now on export. This career path has allowed me to find a balance between manual labor and sales, while also seizing internal opportunities. Each experience has been valuable, and my past experiences are useful to me every day in my current role as a sales representative. <\/p>\n\n
It’s a combination of several elements: a desire to discover, the diversity of projects and clients, and travel. Working at SIMONIN WOOD SOLUTIONS offers a comprehensive experience where I can follow a project from start to finish. <\/p>\n\n
I’ve only just begun my travels, but I’ve already had the chance to explore Northern Europe and a bit of the Middle East. Saudi Arabia, in particular, really impressed me: everything moves at breakneck speed there! People are incredibly responsive and their energy is insane. It’s an environment where you always have to be quick-witted and adaptable\u2014it’s stimulating! <\/p>\n\n
For now, my travel experience is still limited, and I haven’t yet encountered a situation or destination unusual enough to produce a memorable anecdote. But I hope to accumulate some very soon! <\/p>\n\n
Jet lag is never easy\u2026 My trick is to try and maintain a healthy routine despite everything: getting enough sleep, eating well, even if it’s not always simple. And most importantly, when I get back, I make up for lost sleep. <\/p>\n\n
Before each trip, a good family meal to enjoy time with loved ones and recharge the batteries. It’s motivating and gives energy for what’s to come! <\/p>\n\n
My headphones, without hesitation! Essential for blocking out the noise of airports, public transport, or just for unwinding between appointments. <\/p>\n\n
The most complicated part is adapting my approach to different cultures and clients. For example, in countries like the Benelux region, clients are technical and precise, whereas in others, you have to broaden your message, be more persuasive to capture their attention and convince them. I’ve learned to juggle these approaches. <\/p>\n\n
The pitch must constantly adapt depending on the location, the type of client, and their expectations. The balance is delicate, but that’s what makes the job so exciting! <\/p>\n\n
I’m currently finalizing a footbridge project in the UK. Negotiations are underway, so fingers crossed! Otherwise, what I’m most proud of is rebuilding relationships with clients and restoring their confidence in our brand; it’s very rewarding. <\/p>\n\n
It all depends on the culture surrounding wood in each country. In some markets, wood is already deeply ingrained in people’s minds, while in others, you almost have to act as an ambassador to explain its importance and future in construction. I constantly have to adapt my message to make people understand the challenges and opportunities associated with wood and show how it fits into the projects of tomorrow. <\/p>\n\n
The Scandinavian countries greatly appeal to me: it’s a market of connoisseurs, with enormous potential, and there’s a whole network to build. In the longer term, North America remains a goal, even though it’s a difficult market to penetrate. <\/p>\n\n
And then there’s Asia, South America, and the Middle East\u2014regions with enormous, yet still underestimated, potential. They will need solutions like those offered by SIMONIN WOOD SOLUTIONS, but they don’t know it yet. It’s a real challenge! <\/p>\n\n
For me, meeting clients and prospects in person remains essential. It’s the foundation of the business. There are still many territories to explore, networks to build, and projects to anticipate in order to be responsive and stay ahead of the competition. The more I travel, the more effective I become. <\/p>\n\n
Wood already has a good image, but we must continue to promote and defend it. Wood has a real future, and I believe in it! <\/p>\n\n
Be quick-witted, flexible, and always well-prepared in your speech. Sometimes you have to leave at a moment’s notice. Perseverance is key: nothing is ever guaranteed, especially when you’re a foreigner. And above all, get a good night’s sleep before you leave to be 100% effective. <\/p>\n\n
In the Middle East, I love tasting and discovering the local cuisine. It’s a way to fully immerse myself in the culture and create memories with our clients. <\/p>\n\n
I never leave without a motivating playlist or movies to get me in the mood before a meeting or to unwind at the end of the day. It helps me refocus and prepare for the rest of the trip. <\/p>\n\n
Nothing beats the comfort of family and a family outing to recharge your batteries. Sport also helps me clear my head. <\/p>\n\n
For now, I often travel alone, but I think that in the future, sharing these trips with a partner and relying on the team at the office will be crucial. You can’t do everything alone! Furthermore, I would be delighted to train other adventurers to develop international mobility together in new areas. <\/p>\n\n
In his early twenties, Justin already sums up his journey at SIMONIN WOOD SOLUTIONS in three words: exciting, rich and varied.<\/p>\n\n
It all started with a summer job, followed by an internship, then a year-long apprenticeship as part of his Bachelor’s degree in Timber Construction at ENSTIB. Today, after a year and a half in sales focused on supply, he is dedicated to exporting, a field he is passionate about. This career path has allowed him to find a balance between fieldwork and customer relations, while also seizing internal opportunities. Each experience has been formative, and his daily experiences now inform his role as a sales representative. <\/p>\n\n
What attracts Justin to international trade? The desire to discover new things, the diversity of projects and clients, and of course, travel. At SIMONIN WOOD SOLUTIONS, he has a 360\u00b0 experience, where he can follow a project from start to finish. His first trips took him to Northern Europe and the Middle East, with a particular fondness for Saudi Arabia, where the fast pace and energy of the people he met made a lasting impression. “Everything moves at 200 miles an hour there!” he says. “You have to be responsive and constantly adapt; it’s incredibly stimulating.” <\/p>\n\n
The biggest challenge in this profession? Adapting to different cultures and client expectations. “In the Benelux countries, clients are very technically minded, whereas elsewhere, you have to broaden your approach to convince them.” This daily balancing act is what makes his job so fascinating. Among his successes, he proudly mentions rebuilding client relationships and a gateway project in the United Kingdom that is currently being negotiated. <\/p>\n\n
Justin dreams of exploring new markets, such as the Scandinavian countries, renowned for their expertise, or South America and Asia, where the potential of wood remains untapped. “These regions need solutions like those offered by SIMONIN WOOD SOLUTIONS, but they don’t know it yet. It’s an exciting challenge!” <\/p>\n\n
His motto? Flexibility, preparation, and perseverance. “You have to be ready to leave at a moment’s notice, and never give up. And above all, get a good night’s sleep before you leave!” To unwind after an intense trip, nothing beats the comfort of family and exercise. <\/p>\n\n
For Justin, international mobility remains essential. “Meeting clients, maintaining your network, anticipating projects\u2026 That’s how you stand out.” Wood has a bright future, but it needs to continue being promoted. “The road is long, but full of promise!” <\/p>\n\n
With his energy and determination, Justin embodies a new generation of salespeople, ready to conquer the world.<\/p>\n\n
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