SPEK & BONEN // THE NETHERLANDS
Joyce and Liesbeth ~ Spek & Bonen
Located in Venlo
WHAT’S THE STORY BEHIND THE NAME SPEK & BONEN?
Spek & bonen is translated as 'bacon & beans'. Liesbeth started years ago with a small store that sold cool stuff made by young designers. She called it 'spek' (bacon) because it held things that were so 'delicious' that you just had to have it. A few years later Joyce joined in and we added a kidsproof café to the store. The fact that we now also sold coffee, made us add 'bonen' (beans) to our name. In Dutch, 'bacon & beans' is also an expression often used by kids for pretend play, so it made a lot of sense for us :)
HOW DID YOU START YOUR COMPANY?
When we started, Joyce's kids were really young. She has two boys that are, you know: boys (read as: wild). She hated sitting in a coffee bar. One of her kids would start yelling, while the other would crawl under a neighbors table to play, ending in everybody in the bar wishing for them to leave. There was no cafe or restaurant in Venlo where parents with young children really were welcome. A place where you could go and your kid didn't have to stay in his seat, but could run around and play, so you could enjoy a good cup of coffee and eat something really delicious and just relax. The combination of such a place with a shop selling really nice stuff for kids sounded like heaven to us. So we thought: why not start it ourselves?
WHO ARE THE PEOPLE BEHIND SPEK & BONEN?
We work with a small and lovely team of young girls that help out in our store and cafe. Our tower of strength is Gita, who has been with us for a while now.
WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT KIDS FASHION?
Diversity and originality. Kids fashion is much happier than adult fashion. We always end up holding an item and asking ourselves: do they have this in my size as well?
WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT ODP?
Its beautiful prints!!! Pieces fit really well and are produced with comfortable fabrics that can handle a little kids roughness.
FUN FACT 1
We both fell in love with our present partner when we were 15 years old and are both still happy after ages of being together!!
FUN FACT 2
At spek & bonen, you can order a 'high ranja' (roughly translated as 'high lemonade'), where you can try and drink as many different lemonades as you like.
WHERE CAN WE FIND YOU?
www.spekbonen.nl
Instagram @spekbonen
Facebook @spekbonenvenlo