Henning (23) is product manager for the Direct to Customer business unit. That means he is optimizing our website, improving existing products and developing new products joining forces with all other departments (IT, Graphics, Content etc).
What is this thing called an ‘end customer’?
End customers are people who have problems designing their own shirt and do not understand our concept at all. Okay, just kidding…we, Direct To Customer, are focusing on the customers who buy directly from Spreadshirt, through the T-Shirt Designer, for example, as opposed to buying from one of our shop partners.
When did you start at Spreadshirt?
In September 2006, I started as a keyword marketing intern at Spreadshirt. Then, I took over Affiliate Marketing from Patrick until Lukasz and Kolja came by and said that they needed a product manager. Here I am.
What did you do before you came to Spreadshirt?
To start at the beginning, I grew up in Germany, in the little town of Steinfeld in Lower Saxony. There was nothing but cows, pigs, and chicken.
Are your parents farmers, then?
No, but we live on a farm and even got a tractor. My mother is a judge, my father is a lawyer. When I was 15, I started my own little Internet agency. (My parents had to co-sign the legal papers for me.) I left rural Germany to move to rural Iowa (is there a non-rural Iowa?) and spend some time there going to High School. I really liked living in the states! Although I could never get used to kids having car brand names, like Mercedes and Lexus…I then enrolled at Missouri State and completed my B.S. in marketing and economics in 2006. By the way, my marketing emphasis was sales. Good that I didn’t become a sales person. I probably would never have sold anything.
What do you like about your job, what don’t you like?
Spreadshirt totally rules! There are so many nice people to hang out with after work. Also, working at an Internet company has many advantages. You can see the results of your work pretty quickly online. That gives you a sense of satisfaction (if the sales go up too, that is). What I don’t like? Losing at Kicker against Gregor. Also, the food options at Spreadshirt could be better. Talking about asparagus pudding at Stelzenhaus…
What’s your favorite movies?
Facebook says I have the worst taste in movies ever. I like Boondock Saints and Van Wilder for example.
Thank you, Henning! Who shall be next up for an interview?
Matthias Spiess. He definitely should explain that thing with the dead cat in the box again. I still don’t get it.
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