Up early for the most beautiful flowers: Meet John, buyer at Tuning

At Tuning, everything revolves around flowers that are carefully selected, processed, and prepared for customers. Buyer John van Dijk plays a key role in this process.

At Tuning, everything revolves around flowers that are carefully selected, processed, and prepared for customers. Buyer John van Dijk plays a key role in this process.

The day starts early at Tuning, long before most people even think about their first cup of coffee. For buyer John van Dijk, that’s exactly what the job entails. As an early bird, he starts his workday by preparing for the auction, because the auction begins at 6:00 a.m. That’s when experience, an eye for quality, and knowing exactly what customers need come into play.
 

A familiar face

John (36) has been working full-time at Tuning since 2024. Yet his story with Tuning goes back even further: He used to do an internship there, and later he would occasionally help out on friday mornings. The connection has always remained. That makes his place within the team not only natural but also familiar.

At Tuning, John is responsible for purchasing. That means keeping a close eye on supply, responding quickly, and purchasing the most beautiful flowers for customers all over the world. John enjoys the variety in his work, as supply and demand vary from day to day. In addition to purchasing, he assists customers with price lists and helps out on the workfloor to prepare orders for shipment.

What does John like about the flower industry?

The combination of the product and the ambiance. Selecting quality flowers gives him energy. Especially when he sees how many flowers leave Tuning and ultimately arrive safely at the customer’s doorstep. That’s exactly what the team works together to achieve.

According to John, that team spirit is also what makes Tuning special. Tuning is a fairly small team, and he sees that as a strength. Everyone is there for one another, and there’s a strong commitment to the customers.

Staying calm when the pressure builds is an art

Colleagues would describe John in one word as cheerful. That trait also helps him in his work. In an environment where pace, quality, and sometimes stress resilience are important, cheerfulness brings a breath of fresh air and energy. He’s personally proud of his ability to select and purchase flowers under pressure. Because sometimes decisions have to be made quickly, while quality always remains the top priority.

His favorite flower is the lisianthus, but during the season he also really enjoys peonies. According to him, they almost always bloom beautifully.

As long as there’s some action

Even outside of work, John is someone who enjoys being around people and spends a lot of time with his friends and family. With two kids, there’s always something going on. He also likes to stay active and can often be found on the soccer field or the padel court.

Actually, it’s pretty clear: John loves having a bit of action around him.
Maybe that’s why the flower industry suits him so well.

As John himself says: “Buying beautiful flowers for our customers every day, that’s still the best part of my job.”