A coffee with Chloë de Graaf
Hi Chloë, welcome to the Lepelclub journal! Who is Chloë?
Thank you so much for inviting me! My name is Chloë, 29 years old and I live in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. I work as a freelance Marketing Manager for different brands, currently for a beauty and a fashion brand.
I’m a workaholic, but in my spare time I love to spend time with my loved ones, do reformer pilates or yoga, go out for diner or go on a citytrip.
Where did you grow up and where do you currently live?
I grew up in a small village near Rotterdam and I still live there with my (now) fiancé and our dog Cici.
What does your morning routine look like?
Since I was a teenager, I’ve been doing 15 minutes of yoga every morning. As a highly sensitive person, this practice has been essential for me to stay grounded and calm, no matter what the day throws at me. It helps me not feel overstimulated or overwhelmed so quickly, which can sometimes be a challenge when navigating a busy life.
The past couple of years, I’ve optimized my routine. Now, I either do a yoga session at home or attend a Pilates class at 7.00 AM. Another important change I’ve made is avoiding my phone until I’ve fully gotten ready for the day—this way, I can start the day with more focus and intention. I also include gratitude journaling as part of my morning routine, which helps set a positive tone and keeps me centered on the things that matter most.
Where did your journey into the marketing world begin from?
My journey into the marketing world actually started when I was a little girl. I used to binge-watch The Hills & The City, and Lauren Conrad and Whitney Port were my absolute idols. I dreamed of having a job like theirs—working in fashion and PR. I started an inspirational blog on Tumblr back in the early days, where I loved curating content and sharing ideas, which was kind of my first step into the world of branding and digital marketing.
I officially started my career in marketing at the age of 20, working for a Dutch fashion brand called SuperTrash, which at the time was my dream job! I learned so much there, and I had the opportunity to work closely with Olcay Gulsen. To this day, I still work with her, and she continues to be a true inspiration to me. She taught me a lot about marketing and how to build a brand from the ground up, lessons I carry with me in everything I do now.
At Lepelclub, we enjoy unwinding with a coffee or cocktail. How do you like to relax after a busy day at work?
I wish my unwinding or evening routine was as structured as my morning routine, but it’s always quite hard for me to let go of work at the end of the day, haha.
When I do manage to unwind, I love taking a hot bath and doing an extensive skincare routine. Lighting a good scented candle really sets my mood, or sometimes, I’ll go for a walk and cuddle with my dog—that always helps me relax and disconnect from the busy day.
Reflecting on your experiences, what's the most valuable advice you've ever received, either personally or professionally?
That’s quite a hard question, haha! But I guess ‘God is in the details.’ I believe in overseeing the bigger picture and managing priorities, but it's crucial to never lose sight of the details. In marketing, it's often the small, thoughtful touches that make something stand out and surprise the audience. Paying attention to those finer elements can really elevate a campaign or a brand experience.
And finally, how do you hope to stir things up in the future?
Well, I hope to create my own brand from the ground up one day. This might be happening s(p)oon ;-) It’s something I’ve been dreaming about for a while, and I’m excited to take everything I’ve learned and apply it to my own project.