PromZ Vak 4 · 2026 · English edition

From intern to permanent fixture at Florisgifts

19, Demi is the youngest, but that age difference doesn't feel like a big deal to her. In fact, she enjoys working among colleagues who already have a lot of knowledge and experience.

According to her colleagues, Demi fits into the team remarkably well. They describe her as cheerful, sociable, and wise. “An old soul,” says Lisa with a laugh. “But in a good way.” By that, she mainly means that Demi already has a lot of knowledge for her age and is wise in her way of thinking. Perhaps her taste in music plays a small part in that as well.

Demi herself views Antoin and Lisa’s experience primarily as something she can learn a lot from. “I can actually pick up something every day. How to approach things, how to talk to a client, how to handle busy periods.” At the same time, she brings a youthful perspective herself, for example at trade fairs, where she looks for what appeals to her generation.

Christmas in the summer

At Florisgifts, Christmas doesn't start in December, but much earlier. While the sun is shining outside, inside people are already busy thinking about Christmas packages, corporate gifts, and end-of-year trends. That is necessary, too, because Christmas is one of the busiest periods of the year for Florisgifts. Preparations therefore start early. “We are already working on Christmas packages now,” says Demi. “It actually starts in early summer or late spring.”

For Demi, that is exactly what makes the work fun. One client comes for Christmas packages, another for corporate gifts, and sometimes everything overlaps. The showroom also plays an important role in this and is redecorated every year. “Recently, I put up the Christmas trees in the showroom. That is quite different from Christmas in the winter, but that certainly doesn't make it any less fun.”

Full throttle, even outside working hours

Demi also likes to be active outside of work. On her day off, she regularly works out at the gym, usually with family. She does two days of strength training and two days of cardio. Additionally, she recently became an aunt and spends a lot of time with her little niece.

On Fridays, Demi can often be found at the cinema. When a new film comes out, nine out of ten times she is one of the first to see it. She likes to watch all kinds of things, as long as it isn't horror. But anyone who really wants to get to know Demi will soon find themselves drawn to Formula 1. She has been watching fanatically since 2020 and by now she doesn't miss a single race. She supports Max Verstappen, of course, but she also enjoys following young drivers like Kimi Antonelli and Isack Hadjar.

It is primarily the excitement that makes the sport appealing to her. “You never know what is going to happen. Will someone drop out? Will someone crash? Who will be in good form this weekend? It is never the same.”

Last year, Demi stood among the orange grandstands in Zandvoort for the first time herself. She wants to be there again this year, precisely because it will be the last edition in the Netherlands. After that, the lure of abroad beckons. A race at Spa or in Austria is high on her list. Not just to see the cars roar around the circuit, but especially to experience everything surrounding it: the atmosphere, the tension, the crowd, and that real race weekend feeling.

Her own car also fits her personality perfectly. She herself—with a wink—owns a sort of Formula 1 car: her pink Fiat 500 with a panoramic roof. “Nothing beats my beautiful little car,” she says with a laugh.

Just get started

An important lesson Demi learned at Florisgifts is that making mistakes is part of the process. “Everyone makes mistakes sometimes. It says more about how you eventually resolve them than about the mistake itself.” For now, Demi mainly wants to keep learning and developing herself. Not with a fixed end goal or a plan in mind, but by gaining experience, observing Antoin and Lisa, and taking on more and more tasks herself.

To young people in the industry, Demi would especially like to advise them not to give up too quickly. “If you run into a problem, speak up. Don’t immediately think: there is plenty of other work, I’ll just leave.” According to Demi, it is important to keep seeing the fun sides of the profession as well. It is precisely the variety and diversity that make the work special. Her advice is simple: just do it and don’t overthink it too much.

Demi joined as an intern, but soon found much more than just an apprenticeship at Florisgifts. She found a team, a profession, and a role in which she can continue to grow. And if it is up to her, she won’t be bored anytime soon.