Interview: Evelyne Klepic – General Manager QN Europe
With over 25 years of experience in a wide variety of leadership positions, including at leading companies such as Cartier, Jafra / Vorwerk Group and The Pampered Chef, Evelyne Klepic takes the helm at QN Europe. In this interview, she shares her thoughts on the future of QN Europe and gives an insight into her strategy and vision for the company.
What made you decide to take on the role of General Manager at QN Europe?
During my career, I have always felt the desire to build a brand in different countries. Engaging and adapting to the different markets, cultures and customer requirements and expectations is a challenge I would like to take on. I also believe that my career path has shaped me into the person I need to be to successfully accomplish this task. QN Europe is a young company that has just been established and is now in the process of entering various European markets. This seemed like the perfect time and the perfect opportunity for me.
How would you describe your management style?
One of the reasons I joined QN Europe was the slogan “Create Value – Empower People”. I have always found this concept to be particularly important, not only in terms of the products and direct sales opportunities, but also when it comes to creating a working environment that offers valuable career opportunities and gives people the chance to develop themselves. Derived from this idea, my leadership style focuses on creating a work environment and culture that our employees experience as a valuable enhancement to their lives, while empowering them to push their boundaries, believe in themselves and strive to be the best version of themselves.
Mindset education and soft skill training have proven to be important factors for individual and entrepreneurial success in the direct sales industry: How do you plan to integrate these topics?
Experience – especially in recent years – has shown that mindset really is a key element in the success of a direct sales company. People from all walks of life come to us every day, all bringing their individual skills and expertise to the table. Getting everyone on the same page is crucial to success and the team building process. It is also what drives people to be disciplined and persistent in building their business.
How do you think the direct sales industry will develop over the next 5 years?
Perhaps I should emphasize the aspect that the industry is facing drastic changes in the post-Covid era. Customers have become more health-conscious and have higher expectations of the products they buy. This is partly due to increased health awareness, but also because the majority of people have less money to spend on themselves due to the global recession. Products must therefore offer real, tangible and sustainable improvements in quality of life.
What are the biggest challenges facing the direct sales industry today – especially in light of the growth of digital products?
Digital products and the development of artificial intelligence are changing the world as we know it. No one can really predict what impact the ongoing digitalization of our society will have. Adapting to this development is crucial.
How does QN Europe stand out in a highly competitive market?
Apart from offering our customers a range of what we believe are fantastic products, our focus is on “humanizing” the business. In other words: We strive to fulfill the meaning of our slogan Create Value – Empower People. In the era of direct selling in the 2000s, it may have worked to just sell products and offer real opportunities, but today the focus is more on real value for the consumer, the IR and then the company. In addition, QN Europe is part of a large international company. This is particularly important because it allows us to benefit from the research and development that goes into constantly improving our existing products and developing new ones.
What are your main priorities for the growth of QN Europe?
In addition to improving product quality, user experience and benefits, as well as training employees and independent representatives, we will focus on working more closely with the company’s headquarters in Bensheim, Germany.
What qualities do you look for in your team members?
We welcome people who have the will to develop, who are willing to learn and work as part of a team. In addition to their expertise and skills in their specific field, we value colleagues who are honest, caring, social and helpful.
We are a small company that is growing. In order to handle the tasks and responsibilities that come our way, we need to work together as a team – as one unit. In addition, team members who see the big picture, understand the entire process and think for the whole are a great addition to our team.
How does QN Europe ensure a high level of customer satisfaction?
First and foremost, we strive to create products and services that improve the lives of our customers. Not just on paper and through marketing, but with a tangible and sustainable impact in real life. This is our vision and mission for the next era of QN Europe. To create products that offer tangible benefits and are defined by the highest quality standards.
In addition, as a company we are of course constantly striving to make the user’s entire experience and journey with us as pleasant as possible. We achieve this through excellent customer service, fair and clear return and warranty policies, a high level of personal development of our IR’s and a truly customer-first philosophy.
How is QN Europe involved in the communities in which it operates?
The owner’s philosophy is clearly focused on caring for others, especially those who are disadvantaged. We express this through the various programs we participate in to support our community.
What are the biggest challenges you will face as General Manager?
Probably one of the more challenging aspects of this position is building a business with multiple brands in different market sectors and in different countries. Finding the right approach, the right style and meeting the different customer requirements is a challenge as it always involves the whole process that a product goes through. From concept to development, production, marketing, sales, distribution and after-sales, all these individual phases need to be considered. In addition, it is a challenge to offer potential IRs an attractive opportunity to create fair and balanced commission and ranking models.
In addition to these two challenges, there is another: meeting all the individual national legal aspects relating to products and our IRs while strictly adhering to the guidelines of the international direct sales organizations of which we are a member.
How will QN Europe adapt and respond to the changing business landscape, especially with regard to the growing demand for sustainable healthcare/digital products?
We are striving to sustainably expand our product portfolio in the area of health and health-related products, as we have recognized the importance of this segment and the growing demand. Alongside cosmetics and household appliances, health products will always be the third pillar on which we stand.
Who are your role models in business?
When I’m asked about my role models, I automatically think of Steve Jobs. His relentless pursuit of excellence and innovation is very much in line with my own aspirations. His visionary approach to product design and his ability to anticipate market trends have always fascinated me. His famous mantra ‘Stay hungry, stay foolish’ is a guiding principle in my career that encourages me to constantly seek knowledge. Although he faced setbacks, his perseverance and unwavering belief in his vision helped revolutionize several industries. His leadership style, which emphasizes the importance of passion at work and a belief in the power of innovation, inspires me to push boundaries and strive for excellence in every project I tackle.
How do you balance the demands of your professional and private life?
The balance is of course not always easy as QN Europe is a life project and you need to be available for your teams and IRs who also work weekends and evenings. Also, we are a large international company with headquarters in Malaysia and Hong Kong, so working in different time zones is also time consuming. I focus on spending quality time with my husband, children and friends
Where do you see QN Europe in the next 3 years?
We hope to be known for the opportunities we offer potential members of our family. Our goal is to be among the industry leaders when it comes to providing an accessible and interesting opportunity to get ahead in life. Our strategy is to achieve this through the key pillars: product quality, customer service and a fair and balanced compensation plan.
What advice would you give to young professionals aspiring to a leadership role in the direct selling industry?
A career in direct sales is a great opportunity for anyone who wants to get ahead in life and create freedom for themselves. To achieve this, the ability to listen and learn is very important. Our IR’s are happy to pass on their knowledge to those who listen and put this valuable knowledge into action. Flexibility, perseverance, discipline and the ability to be self-critical are essential for success. Of course, all technical knowledge, product knowledge, etc. are important, but since direct selling is a people business, the human factor is most important. You must be able to recognize people’s needs and be willing to serve them. A respectful and caring interaction is one of the foundations to be successful in this business.
