Virtually everyone around the globe has some connection to the textile, apparel and travel & luggage industry, as clothing and its accessories are a human necessity. Unfortunately, this industry is often known for unethical labour practices and environmental harm. Pactics was founded because they wanted to do right by people making their products. I was honoured to be invited to work at Pactics as an intern in Business Development. This blog will explain my internship journey, including insights, experiences, and highlights.
My initial impression of Pactics was positive, I was very impressed by the company’s scale, how well the factory is put together, and its professional organizational structure.
My initial impression of Pactics was positive, I was very impressed by the company’s scale, how well the factory is put together, and its professional organizational structure. I learned a lot about these topics, as well as Pactics background during my first days through the generous introduction from the management, the Business Development department and HR. My internship evolved around business development and marketing, with the end goal of obtaining new clients for Pactics. I approached potential customers and assisted with marketing and business development-related activities such as research, advertising, content creation, data analysis, newsletters, account-based marketing, and lead generation. I conducted meetings with various stakeholders, including potential clients, industry experts, NGOs and a Dutch government organization with which Pactics ended up collaborating.
The more I learned about business in this practical setting, the more I realized how much I still have left to learn. This sparked my curiosity and led me to investigate different topics which boosted my learning and helped me in the execution of my internship tasks. Throughout my internship journey, I progressed in the kind of work I was doing. After my introduction, my first task mainly consisted of researching applicable brands for Pactics to work with while effectively processing this data into our CRM system. Pactics is ‘the manufacturing partner for mission-driven lifestyle brands’. As there are certain criteria for collaborating with Pactics, I took aspects such as brand size, mission-drivenness, and a focus on sustainability and ethical manufacturing into consideration.
My knowledge of the industry, Pactics, and its Business Development department expanded significantly over the initial few weeks.
My knowledge of the industry, Pactics, and its Business Development department expanded significantly over the initial few weeks. After coming up with ideas for several ways to market Pactics to mission-driven lifestyle brands, we brainstormed about this topic with the team. To put our ideas into practice, I got the chance to collaborate with the Assistant Marketing Manager and more cross-departmental collaboration with Product Development, Graphic Design, Supply Chain, Order Fulfilment, and Operations.
Besides the work I undertook in the Business Development department, I was also asked to do several Finance and HR-related activities. A very remarkable and unforgettable experience was when I joined an HR trip to market Pactics and recruit new staff in Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s capital. At the career fair, we set up a stand and displayed some of the products manufactured in the factory, and we presented the vacancies. It was interesting to get in touch with different people at the career fair and I felt delighted to get the opportunity to join this business trip.
I experienced life as an intern for Pactics in Siem Reap as surprisingly pleasant, safe, easy-going, and fun, and the people as very welcoming and kind.
I experienced life as an intern for Pactics in Siem Reap as surprisingly pleasant, safe, easy-going, and fun, and the people as very welcoming and kind. At the start of my internship, I stayed in a hotel, while looking for accommodation. I was able to find an apartment very easily within two days as there were many good options in different areas of the city. Overall, the living prices are very low and in return for great quality; I was able to eat out three meals a day for a cheaper price than if I would cook one dinner myself back home. Transportation is also simple and affordable; I mostly used the scooter Pactics provided for me and sometimes took a tuk-tuk. During my free time, I found there to be enough to do in the city, and it was easy to make friends, both locally and with other internationals and expats. Whenever I had questions or needed help with anything, the team at Pactics was incredibly supportive and resourceful.
My internship at Pactics has been one of the most impactful experiences of my life so far. This memorable experience will always stay with me, and I will never forget the insights I gained and the development process I went through on a personal and professional level.
My internship at Pactics has been one of the most impactful experiences of my life so far. This memorable experience will always stay with me, and I will never forget the insights I gained and the development process I went through on a personal and professional level. My work at Pactics confirmed my interest in business and my aspiration for future career pursuits. The foundational understanding of how a manufacturing company operates and functions and the insights gained around this will benefit me in my future work. I was able to put and see the theory from my International Business studies into practice. The developed business understanding gave me guidance and an improved understanding of my business interests. The journey outside of my internship, including all the experiences I had in Cambodia during my free time, exploring the country, and delving into culturally rich environments, had a profound effect on my personal growth and world perspective.
I am very grateful to everyone who supported me throughout this journey. I thank everyone in the business development department for incorporating me into the work activities and helping me along with my work. Specifically, I would like to state my gratitude for my internship supervisor and manager Dorian van der Mullen, the Business Development Director at Pactics. I learned countless lessons from Dorian and was given a role model as a person and business professional. I am also very grateful for Arjen Laan and for his support and care throughout my journey. Lastly, I would like to thank everyone who has worked for, with or contributed to Pactics, because this company is an example of how we can productively work together in a way that supports people and the planet.
Exclusively written for Pactics.com by Martijn Bontje
September 16th, 2024
