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De Tijd | Simon Tavernier: 'Think big, that’s something
I can still improve on'

December 17, 2024

Find below a English translation of the Dutch interview with our CEO Simon Tavernier for De Tijd.

De Tijd covers news about start-ups and high growth businesses under the WAW! flag. In their “Jong Geweld” section, we give promising entrepreneurs a voice. Today: Simon Tavernier (40), a descendant of the Spector family, who developed a unique business model for photo prints with Stampix.

What does your company do?

“We’re in the photo printing business. I can see you thinking: is there still a market for that? You may assume not, but we have a unique business model aimed at loyalty programmes for companies in sectors like retail, telecom, energy, insurance, aviation, and tourism. Suppose a telecom company sends you an email with a link to upload free photos of your family, pets, or anything else because you’ve been a customer for five years, or it’s your birthday. Well, we host the platform behind that and print the photos, including a message from the brand on the back. Businesses see this as an emotional gift to strengthen your attachment to their brand. In this way, we’ve already sent 15 million photo prints that make customers happy.”

What does success mean to you?

“People immediately think of exits and financial wealth, but I find it amazing to employ twelve people. We’re active in a niche, so we don’t experience exponential growth. It’s inspiring to see how other entrepreneurs scale up, but I try not to compare myself too much to them. I prefer comparing the company to where it stood yesterday or last year. We are profitable and growing step by step. That progress gives me energy.”

Where do you want to be in five years?

“We want to accelerate and internationalise. We recently secured Qantas Airlines as a client in Australia, without ever setting foot there. That’s possible by attending conferences, but it’s far from ideal. That’s why we’ve hired a business developer for the UK. Germany and France are the next target markets. And the big hairy audacious goal is, of course, to successfully launch in the US. We want to establish a team there by 2027. Some telecom players there have over 100 million people. Breaking into that market would be a massive milestone.”

How do you clear your head?

“I regularly do sports with other entrepreneurs and friends. The quarter triathlon in Knokke left me wanting more, so next year I’ll attempt a half triathlon. I also relax by spending time with my children and going out to restaurants with my wife.”

How do you celebrate milestones?

“Every year, we organise a team-building weekend. That’s already taken place in Kortrijk, Barcelona, and Aix-en-Provence, including brainstorming sessions, quizzes, cocktail workshops, great food, and activities like kayaking.”

Who are your entrepreneurial role models?

“Showpad is an inspiring story. With their product, they created a completely new market. That’s also what we’re doing. Recently, I heard the story of Jason Fried, the founder of Basecamp, which develops project management software. It took him a long time, but he built the company into a global unicorn (a start-up valued at $1 billion) with only about 70 employees.”

What’s your worst trait as an entrepreneur?

“I trained as an engineer. There they teach you to calculate and avoid risks, whereas as an entrepreneur, you need to sit more at the other end of the spectrum. ‘Think big’ is something I might still lack a bit and need to improve on.”

Author: Jan De Schamphelaere

Original Dutch Version from De Tijd here.