This weeks Day In The Life Interview features Mark Studholme, CEO at Amsterdam based CROWDYHOUSE! This amazing e-commerce believes that inspiring creations that stimulate our senses must be exposed, admired, shared and bought. This is the reason why they offer users the most exciting furniture designers and makers in Europe!

1. First can you tell us a bit about your job? What does your company do?

I am the co-founder and CEO of CROWDYHOUSE – an online marketplace for the most exciting furniture designers and makers in Europe. We discover extraordinary designers throughout Europe and connect them to one store crowdyhouse.com where we sell their designs all over the world.

2. What brought you to this area?

I have always worked within property, architecture and interiors. Previously I was the Editor-in-Chief of an online social network for architects and designers called Archello. Here I spoke to and met many designers that wanted to sell their work. I saw this as an opportunity to build something new for these designers. So that they had one place to be found and to sell their work.

3. What time does your day start, and what does your typical work day schedule look like?

I start the day as soon as I wake up at 7am with answering any emails I received the day before. The I go to the gym and I am in the office at 9:30am. Every morning I have a quick chat with the technology team, the marketing team and the operations team to see how they are doing and to review the current projects. Currently the rest of my day is spent reviewing and final checking the different teams projects and improvements.

4. What kind of projects are you currently working on?

Currently we are focussing on improving the technical SEO and SEO authority of our site. We are also optimizing our customer service. Recently we had a partnership with Elle Decoration and I am looking for more partners to work with that would compliment our brand.

5. What do you consider the greatest achievement in your work to date?

The current status of CROWDYHOUSE. We have sold to over 51 countries. We have 800 brilliant designers selling 6000 plus products. The site is in English, Dutch and French and close to fully automated so we can focus on helping our designers sell their unique items.

6. What is the one app you could not live without?

Google Maps. I am constantly travelling to different meetings in Amsterdam, the Netherlands and around Europe. I always need to get from A to B the fastest way possible. Google Maps does it all.

7. What’s the best thing about working at your company?

We are bringing unique design to the masses. Receiving an email from a happy customer who received the design item that they use in their home gives everyone a great feeling. We celebrate together as a team and we push new changes fast. So we all can see improvements and growth.

8. Where is the after work hangout?

At the office. We run a design co-working space in the middle of Amsterdam called CROWDYOFFICE. Every Friday we drink beers with the guys who share the office with us and put on some music.

9. Who is your professional role model?

Richard Branson. He showed you can be a successful businessman without being a dick.

10. Which tech trends are you most excited about?

Blockchain, AI and … blockchain.

11. What are the top 3 qualities you look for in an employee?

Willingness to learn. Enthusiasm. Passion.

12. And finally, what is the one piece of advice you would give to an entrepreneur starting out?

Read the The Lean Startup. Find the pain for your potential customers before building anything.