UP CLOSE WITH: IT Manager Dirk De Busser

In honor of our 50th anniversary, we’re celebrating the people behind Fashion Club 70. Up Close With those who have been part of the company for many years. A series of 12 people, the whole year round, that define the half-century of FC70.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE FASHION CLUB 70 IN ONE WORD?

Agile. Editorial note: what else would you expect from IT if not a tech term?

“There’s no such thing as ‘can’t’ here.” We always find a way. It’s in our culture: quick thinking, staying flexible, and sometimes letting go of the original plan. That’s what keeps us sharp ;)

WHAT IS YOUR ROLE WITHIN THE COMPANY AND WHERE DOES YOUR EXPERTISE LIE?

When it comes to all things IT, I’m the go-to person. As partners to HR, our team handles everything from the digital onboarding of new colleagues to setting up a modern workplace that’s easy and efficient to work in. Cybersecurity is a key focus for me, as many colleagues have probably already noticed. And of course, my team and I are here every day to support employees with any IT-related questions.

WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER THE MOST SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN THE FASHION INDUSTRY OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, AND HOW HAS FC70 RESPONDED TO IT?

The biggest shift has been the rise of social media. It completely changed the way we interact with customers. Like many companies, we used to block Facebook at the office, but we were among the first to reverse that, because that’s where our customers are now. Today, we think social first in everything we do. For example, with every new project, we team up with our Marketing colleagues to check if the name already exists on Instagram or is available as a domain name.

WHAT IS YOUR BEST MEMORY AT FC70?

Without a doubt, the opening of Globe 2, Fashion Club’s second building. It was a big IT project, from rolling out Wi-Fi to setting up everything behind the scenes. But it was about more than just tech: a bigger showroom, a new restaurant, a central reception… At the opening, the reaction was unanimous: wow!