On October 6, 1969, I began my retail career as a graduate trainee in the European empire of the Brenninkmeijer family. The next nine years with C&A in England, Scotland and the Netherlands gave me a meticulous grounding in the rudiments of keeping shops pertinent to their customers, across numerous European markets.

I’ve much to thank this mercantile, rigorous but caring family for; not only for the immensely thorough training it afforded me but for instilling a deep passion for the rich cultural diversity of my continent.