11 April 2023
BAS is a big name in the world of trucks and trailers. With 30+ years of experience in the used vehicle trade, we are now the largest in Europe. There is a winner's mentality throughout the company: together we are a little better every day. Sjoerd Arends, Business Unit Manager Trucks & Trailers, explains how BAS World is constantly on the move: “We don't stand still here. Together we put our shoulders to the wheel and celebrate our successes. And then quickly onwards to make new kilometres.”
Opportunities are there to be seized
Sjoerd started at BAS five years ago. As a trainee. He went through all the commercial departments of the organisation. Sjoerd: “The nice thing is, when I started here, I heard that you get opportunities at BAS and you can develop quickly. None of that was a lie. I got a taste of the work in sales, pricing and purchasing. This way, I learned everything about trade and vehicles in no time. As a tractor unit product manager, I ran my own shop, so to speak. For example, I determined our range and price strategy for tractor units. Now I fulfil the role of Business Unit Manager Trucks & Trailers. Where I am responsible for the purchase and pricing of these vehicles together with the product managers trucks, tractor units, and trailers.”
Playing at the top level
The BAS World truck team is not sitting still. Sjoerd: “We buy and sell about 400 trucks every week. A big undertaking. We purchase these trucks, transport them, prepare them for sale and then actually sell them. The Netherlands is still an important market, but we sell worldwide. Southern Europe, Eastern Europe, Middle East, Africa, and South America.” Trading is not done on a gut feeling. “In decades we have built up such a large amount of knowledge and experience. With the numbers we run, we know exactly what is going on and how to act. The scale on which we work and the service we offer are unique. We really play at Champions League level.”
Healthy competition
Every commercial department works with targets, you should get a kick out of that. Sjoerd: “As soon as we have a good week, we celebrate on Friday. With each other. But on Monday the counter is back at 0. That gives a healthy competition. We often compare trade here with a boxing match. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. You regularly deal blows, but also know that sooner or later you will get them back. You must be able to collect that as a team. Many people within BAS are bursting with ambition, they want to be the best at what they do. The desire to win is reflected throughout the company. Partly because of this, BAS has grown enormously in recent years.”
Eye for talent
Despite the growth, BAS still feels like a family business and is a flat organization. “In the good sense of the word, hey”, explains Sjoerd Arends. “No elaborate plans and endless discussions. It's easy to get in touch with each other and we make quick decisions. In addition, we recently introduced a new solution: selling on location. And that is still in its infancy. We see that it is catching on and is scalable. It also helps that we have such a professional organisation behind us. In that sense, we are a super professional start-up with years of experience. But we still have many steps to take. And we are looking for new people for that. For example, there are vacancies for junior product managers, buyers and account managers who focus on the truck product group.”
Ready to go
If you work at BAS, you must be able to handle change well. Sjoerd Arends: “The days here are unpredictable. It can suck in terms of trading on Monday, but then suddenly an interesting package of vehicles is offered on Tuesday. From anywhere in the world. Then it is fast switching. You literally don't know what your week is going to look like. That dynamism and energy is contagious. At BAS you will find a piece of seniority in combination with youthful enthusiasm. With that we are ready for everything that is to come.”
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