Levi joined Knivesandtools in 2017 as a Category Manager for our Outdoor categories.

‘What I liked about being a Category Manager was that I was very involved in the products. I really like outdoor products, so I was like a kid in a candy store. As Category Manager, I was responsible for defining the product range, connecting with suppliers and negotiating better purchasing conditions.’

Despite his passion for outdoor products, Levi noticed that the role of Category Manager was not quite the right fit for him.

‘Over time, I noticed that this position was not the perfect fit for me. Besides, I have always had more of a technical aptitude. I decided to try my luck with another employer.’

A year later, a new opportunity presented itself at Knivesandtools, which Levi enthusiastically took.

‘I was able to come back to Knivesandtools for a position that can be described as being on the cross-section between Business and IT. I was able to delve a bit deeper into technological aspects and remain closer to the subject matter than at my previous employer.’ Levi's return could not have come at a better time. After all, there was work to be done.

‘When I started working for the IT Department, a big challenge immediately awaited. All back-office systems were to be replaced. A mammoth task that took a lot of time. A new ERP, WMS and many more packages. We updated everything, and tied it all together in state-of-the-art, custom middleware in Azure. Additionally, we migrated 20 years of historical data to our new systems. It was incredibly challenging, but very satisfying when everything is finished. Well, finished... There is always plenty of work to be done.’

After the back office, the next big project began: redesign of the entire website.

‘We then moved on to a new website in one fell swoop. CMS, PIM, E-commerce engine, and some custom-built applications: everything was renewed and primed for the future.’

Meanwhile, Levi has continued to grow within Knivesandtools.

‘As Head of IT, I am now responsible for all IT projects. I really enjoy working at a company that sells cool products. On a technical level, I like the fact that we do everything ourselves using modern techniques. We have really cool software packages. In terms of working atmosphere, it feels like coming home every day. We have a nice team of people who work hard, but who also have fun together.’