Who are we and how can we help you?
Over the past 20+ years, we have developed strategies and formulas that have made our companies mega successful. Our extensive knowledge and experience, critical view of conventional methods, and our BNO membership make SYSO the ultimate destination for Dutch and Belgian online entrepreneurs.
When I say "we", I mean Mark (who prefers to stay behind the scenes), me and our amazing team of assistants, creatives, partners, programmers, consultants and other smart masterminds. 🏄♀️ Our hometown is Scheveningen .
Crackling luxury and migraine
Crackling luxury and migraine
We take a very nice trip with our family every now and then, but sparkling luxury is not a must here. Those who do not honor the small…
It is important that our company is tightly planned and arranged and that it continues to operate if we are not (or cannot) be there. For me, that freedom is not only a nice to have, but also a must have.
Due to the chronic migraines I have had for the past 15 years, I have to make do with much less time. I have long seen that condition as something you don't talk about too much. A weakness that diminishes you as a person. That is why I have never 'used' migraine in my communication before.
Until a few years ago, because the way we approach things is SO characteristic of the effective way we work and the online tools we develop. Lack of time has become a super power!
The good stuff & the bullsh*t
The good stuff & the bullsh*t
I am now able to reach as many areas as possible with as little time as possible. I flawlessly distinguish the good stuff from the bullsh*t.
By working with strict planning and handy self-developed tools, we are still where we are today - both business and private. We can go wherever we want.
That feels like you have gold in your hands, as if the code has been cracked... and with SYSO we are happy to pass this knowledge on to you. So that you too can do business as smartly as possible and enjoy a free life. All our tools can be found collected under SYSO VIP . With most solutions you can get started right away to give your company a big boost quickly and easily.
Knowing more?
Long ago...
Ever since I can remember I have been coming up with solutions, drawing or making 'things'. Partly because of my parents and grandparents, entrepreneurship was an option at an early age. In my childhood I often stood behind a stall with my creations. The drive and confidence that everything is feasible has always stayed with me.
I think anyone can start a webshop or (online) business. The secret of success lies in the combination of excellent planning, distinguishing yourself and finding your own marketing mix - that is fun, not complicated and suits you!
Do you have any idea what is missing in the combination and what your biggest obstacle is to being more successful with your business? Find out what you need here.
1997 - Loaded ink BNO
Loaded ink BNO was founded in 1996 by Mark, I joined a year later and we have done everything together ever since. Marks' design style is abstract and typographic, while I like to create concepts. These disciplines complement each other very well. A small selection of our projects:
- various campaigns, branding and setup of Unicef KidsUnited children's club
- illustrations and bag line for girls' magazine Fancy
- Pop Aan Zee festival commissioned by the Province of Zeeland
- design of Creative City The Hague
- Clearskin game Dr. Van der Hoog cosmetics
- website Koninklijke de Ruiter
- documentary and book Bronovo Hospital
- marketing and design Mercedes-Benz NL
- various campaigns for HTM passenger transport
- various campaigns for Oxfam Novib
2007 - Apple Pie Pieces
Loaded ink was doing well around 2007, we worked for great clients and had great staff, but after ten years I felt it was time for a change. Away from the hustle and bustle and computers. I wanted to work with my hands, something I used to love doing. And so I grabbed a box full of old beads from the attic and started making jewelry.
At that time we also took care of the management of Marijke Helwegen. In the context of 'don't laugh at Marijke, but with Marijke', I designed a cartoon character and T-shirts. We appeared on TV with this on Life & Cooking and DWDD, among others, and the shirts flew like hot cakes from our then tiny web shop. To fill things up a bit, I also placed some of my jewelry and named the shop 'Applepiepussy', after the film From Dusk Till Dawn (1996). Later the name became 'Applepiepieces' - for obvious reasons... You can read more about this in my book .
2014 - Sell your stuff online
August 2013, Applepiepieces had been around for five years. Somewhere around two o'clock on a warm summer night, I was thinking about the many questions from other women who also wanted to set up an online store.
I had carefully recorded every step, every action and every figure about our Applepiepieces adventure until then and suddenly a light went on. It must be a book!
Fortunately, a publisher was soon found and six months later the first webshop workbook in the Netherlands was available in all bookstores in the Netherlands and Belgium. The fifth edition has already helped thousands of webshop owners.
SYSO is now a company with which I can help other online entrepreneurs on their way to success. Because that is exactly the reason SYSO exists. To create, have and above all: share success!
Growing like the fire brigade
After the launch of the book, things happened so quickly, within six years SYSO has grown into a solid platform for Dutch and Belgian ecommerce entrepreneurs. They know where to find us when they want to grow smartly and with pleasure.
In addition to our tools and webinars, I have also done a lot offline in recent years. For example, I was invited to London to speak at Shopify Pursuit, I presented several times at ShowUP , Facebook Boost, Google Bloei and other events. In addition, we organized the sold-out Make it happen event in Crowne Plaza The Hague twice with SYSO. Just check the events page.
Don't want to miss anything from now on? Sign up and you know everything.
2020 - Happlify
Happlify is a fast-growing, high-quality shopping guide for women (30+ years, Netherlands and Belgium) who are looking for a positive and trusted place where they can get acquainted with fun, special and safe web shops. The content platform attracts visitors every day through inspiring articles about lifestyle, shopping, fun outings and recipes.
A great place for Happlify proof web shops to become visible in a positive and personal way with a high-quality web shop or brand.
Your shop is Happlify proof if your service or product is positive, unique, surprising, high-quality and/or sustainable. These guidelines are there to keep the offering on Happlify as high-quality as possible. Register your webshop or brand here and quickly become visible to an ever-growing, positive audience. Happlify.nl
Professional Association of Dutch Designers
Shopify Expert and Partner
Branding is ingrained in our DNA and is a key element for the success of your company. We have now provided hundreds of entrepreneurs and organizations with a unique logo and matching branding.
The development of a converting Shopify webshop . Your own professional online place gives you peace of mind, success and turnover.
Are you stuck or do you just want to grow faster? Do what many have already done successfully: business coaching by Mariko. From now on, slogging and messing around is a thing of the past! We accept a maximum of 3 routes per month.
SYSO VIP , with this subscription you get direct access to all SYSO tools, private hangout and guidance. This is the short cut for ambitious (webshop) entrepreneurs from the Netherlands and Belgium. Let your webshop grow with pleasure.
Golden ticket , the complete package for the flying (re)start of your company. For you: branding, webshop/site development, coaching and marketing made easy .
