Customer Service

Golden pride

Lieve, Silvia, Saskia, Cindy, Elke

By her own admission, she leads a double life: on the one hand as a Customer Service employee at Het Anker, and on the other as a musician in her spare time. We spoke to Lieve Goossens about the great team, the challenges of the job and her favourite place in the brewery.

How did you end up at Het Anker?

I have now been working in the brewing industry for 20 years, half that time for Het Anker. Just after I moved to Mechelen 10 years ago, we were drinking a local beer on a terrace. At Het Anker, of course. I said laughingly to my companion: ‘Wouldn't it be perfect to live in this city AND work for this brewery?' As luck would have it, there was a vacancy in the Customer Service department - precisely my speciality - and so I joined this great team. Since then, I have been able to start every working day with a lovely walk through the city to my desk.

What role does the customer service team play in the brewery?

Everything to do with ordering and delivering beers close to home and far (or farther) away goes through Customer Service. We are responsible for liaising with our corporate clients and take care of entering and handling orders, reservations, sponsorships, etc. If marketing campaigns are organised, we arrange for them to be followed up properly so that every customer can make the most of them without any hassle. In addition, we deal with the financial side of all orders (invoicing, checking payments, etc.), handle any complaints, and much more.

“Our close-knit team and
great colleagues make it a pleasure
to come to work every day”

Lieve

Is there a situation that will always stay with you as a team?

Our jobs are very administrative, but challenging, too, because specific questions or problems occur every day and we have to come up with an optimal solution. A while back, our Mexican importers came to visit and we showed them around the brewery and our city. Clients and partners from all over the world come and visit us regularly, giving us a chance to have them experience Het Anker. It’s always nice to meet the people we email so much in real life! Our colleagues and the atmosphere among them are quite unique, as well. A few years ago, a competition was organised for the best decorated desk. We all took the challenge very seriously. It felt like we were working in the Efteling amusement park for a week. One office was completely decorated like a chalet. In our office, everything was wrapped like a present, we projected a fireplace on the wall and played Christmas music all day. I don't remember who won, but it was a marvellous week

What is your favorite place in the brewery?

The inner courtyard, because people are always passing through there. Some of them are on their way to work, others arrive for a tour, to stay at the hotel, to deliver something or for another, completely different reason. For me, it really is the beating heart of this place, where there is always something going on.