Povag expands internationally from the Netherlands

For the workers. This slogan, displayed prominently on the wall at Povag, reflects not only the company’s target audience but also its internal culture. A culture defined by decisiveness, contagious enthusiasm and a strong passion for entrepreneurship. Founded by Bart Pongers, Povag has grown in just a few years from a simple webshop into a serious player in workplace and industrial furnishing. “But I believe we are only at the beginning of what we can truly achieve,” Bart says with characteristic modesty.

The journey began in 2016, when Bart was an intern at a local outlet and quickly recognised the potential of selling products online. A few years later, together with Blaine Rikhof, he launched a webshop, marking the start of Povag. Orders came in quickly, and the small warehouse they rented soon proved too limited. “When you see your revenue growing, it becomes more and more enjoyable,” Bart explains. “I had no experience in this sector, but I did have ideas. We just started doing it. You shouldn’t make things more complicated than they are. Of course, you need a good plan and logical thinking, but I’ve learned most by simply doing.”

Bart is not afraid to make major decisions in a short period of time. Over the course of three years, storage capacity quadrupled, the webshop was optimised, Metalin Steel Creators was acquired and the production line was relocated to Turkey. At the same time, the company’s premises in Holten underwent a major renovation.

“To meet growing demand, scaling up is essential,” Bart explains. “Last year we decided to start a factory in Turkey. Within four months everything was arranged, from building the factory to appointing management. It all happened at incredible speed.” Even Bart himself is sometimes surprised. “Seeing Povag vans driving through the desert is still something special.”

With an additional 17,000 square metres of production capacity in Turkey, the production department in Holten could be dismantled, making room for storage, assembly and brand-new office space. In recent months, the company has entered calmer waters, allowing time for reflection and long-term vision. “During that intense period there was little time for strategy and process design. You’re mainly firefighting. Now we can reflect again: why do we do things the way we do, and how can it be smarter and more efficient?”

Through the acquisition of Metalin, Bart came into contact with Erik Bakker, senior advisor at Visser & Visser. “I was looking for someone I could trust. The value of the company we were acquiring had to be assessed properly, and we needed an expert who knew what to look for. It’s important to have someone beside you who understands the numbers and asks critical questions. Especially in an acquisition process, you need to know exactly what you’re getting into and what the risks are.”

That same need for clarity applies to Povag’s international activities and ambitions. Visser & Visser supported Povag in gaining insight into international risks, structuring activities correctly and ensuring Bart always has a clear view of his financial position. “Knowing the consequences of certain choices is probably the most important thing for me as an entrepreneur,” Bart says.

Povag has ambitious plans for the coming years. International expansion will continue, the product range will be extended to include warehouse and office furnishing, sales channels will grow and the dealer network will be expanded. One thing is clear: Povag is far from finished.