Freelancer profile translated to English.

Description

I'm Laura Barens. Passionate about marketing, customers, and commerce. For almost 25 years, I've been working at the intersection of strategy, growth, and leadership.

You feel there's more potential. You see opportunities, have ideas and ambition. But the overview is missing. Choices feel complex. Your team looks to you for direction.

And you lack the peace of mind to think truly strategically.

Many entrepreneurs and leaders are deeply involved in the day-to-day. Running, arranging, adjusting. Meanwhile, potential remains untapped. That's where I come in. I help entrepreneurs and leaders see the playing field clearly again. I bring focus to plans, clarity to choices, and translate opportunities into a course that provides energy and direction.

No thick reports or endless sessions. But sharp insights, concrete steps, and strategic sparring when it matters.

What you gain from me:

• A sharp external perspective

• Insight into commercial opportunities and growth potential

• Clear choices that fit your ambition

• Direction and structure for you and your team

• More focus, peace, and results

I work with one-off sparring sessions, strategic trajectories, and customized interventions. Efficient, goal-oriented, and involved.

My assignments are diverse: SMEs and freelancers, B2B and B2C, retail and wholesale, online and offline. I have experience in ICT & telecom, financial services, insurance, trade, logistics, brokerage, healthcare, education, and business services, among others.

My expertise is broad within marketing & communication: strategy, business development, positioning, brand and identity, campaigns (ATL & BTL), online marketing, PR, internal & change communication, team development, and coaching.

I am a people person. I quickly see what's going on, switch gears, and think in terms of opportunities. I love action and progress. Never a dull moment.

Additionally, I am the initiator of The Kindness Collective: a movement that shows how small gestures make a big difference. Kindness connects, strengthens, and spreads.

Languages

Dutch
Native or bilingual
English
Fluent

Workplace preferences

Can work on-site

Amsterdam (up to 50km), Utrecht (up to 50km), Den Haag (up to 50km), Rotterdam (up to 50km)

Laura Barens Marketing Strategie
Freelance marketing strategist and business coach
CONSULTING AND AUDITS
June 2013 - Today (13 years)
Hoofddorp, Netherlands
Marketing strategist focused on firmly establishing your organizations and brands in the market.

Experienced all-round Marketing Manager. At my best when responsible for positioning, branding, and activation & as a coach for entrepreneurs.

Themes: | marketing | strategy | leadership | entrepreneurship | brand development | market activation | concept development | project management | commerce | communication | coaching and development |

Clients I have worked for:
- Boska (wholesale and retail)
- De Mannen van Kaas (retail)
- Prospectt (wholesale)
- TICA, Trends & Trade (cash & carry)
- Loopbaan Na Politiek (career development)
- APC Handling (international logistics)
- Be More You (training agency)
- PUUR Geboortecentrum (midwifery practice)
- Meetables (online platform for meeting locations)
- Standplan (stand construction company)
marketing Strategic Planning Commercial Team Management Coaching Business Development Positioning Strategy 360° Communication Market Research Project Management concept development brand development branding scaling up
Houseyourbrands
Partner - Focus on concept development, brand and market activation
RETAIL (LARGE RETAILERS)
August 2015 - December 2021 (6 years and 4 months)
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Houseyourbands is a business partner for factories, wholesalers, brands, and retailers in the interior and lifestyle segment. We guide these companies in developing, building, and activating their proposition in the Dutch market. In addition to this service, Houseyourbrands has independently developed, sourced, and launched several of its own interior brands.

Since 2018, the focus has primarily been on providing services to third parties selling through the cash & carry marketplaces TICA and Trends & Trades. I joined as a partner in 2015. My contribution within Houseyourbrands is concept development and brand and market activation. Additionally, between 2018 and July 2020, I managed the commercial and operational control (7 FTE) as managing partner. Corona led to a restructuring of our company, so this is now handled differently.

Brands I worked for: Pomax, TICA, Mars & More, Miloo Home, At Home with Marieke, Duka, Prospectt, van der Leede, Mars & More, Ferdie & Friends, Maison Zeal, Lodsh.
Marketing Strategic Planning Project Management Commercial E-commerce Business Development Business Model
De Mannen van Kaas
Strategic Advisor
RETAIL (SMALL BUSINESS)
January 2018 - July 2020 (2 years and 6 months)
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Strategic guidance for owners and development of new retail concepts.
Strategic Planning Marketing concept development Coaching