How Reelin Freed Us to Chase Effective Growth.
Scaling Ambitions with a Remote Workforce
Frank Hof, is the commercial director at Diamant Centrum, a wholesale jewelry business based in Amstelveen, Netherlands. For over a decade, they have built a strong reputation with our curated collections sold through online auctions across Europe. What started as a modest operation has grown into an auction powerhouse, but by 2024, that growth was stretching our small team thin. They had to scale up or risk losing our edge.
The Challenge: Overwhelmed by Rapid Growth
When I asked Frank about the tipping point, he didn’t mince words: “Our growth was incredible, but it buried us. Listings, bids, shipping—it was all piling up.” “As the commercial director, I was supposed to drive our auction strategy, but I was stuck sorting out operational messes. We couldn’t focus on growing the business.”
The team was stretched thin as online auctions boomed. Frank explained the dilemma: “Our auctions were thriving, but we couldn’t keep up. Hiring locally in Amstelveen wasn’t an option—finding the right skills was tough, we had no extra office space, and costs were sky-high. We needed help fast.”
The Solution: Bringing Maureen on Board Remotely
Varol (General Manager) and I knew we needed someone to handle operations, and that’s when we brought on Maureen from the Philippines through Reelin.” “She was perfect—experienced, proactive—and Remote made onboarding her very easy.”
Maureen took charge remotely, overseeing auction listings, shipping, inventory, and customer follow-ups. “She synced with us using Slack and Trello,” Varol chimed in. “It felt like she’d been part of the team forever.” Frank added, “Remote handled her contract and payroll, so we didn’t have to sweat the details. It freed us up completely.”
The Results: 34% Sales Growth and Beyond
Frank says “Maureen running operations was a game-changer. Varol and I could finally focus on what matters—sourcing new jewelry, tweaking auction strategies, pulling in bidders. She lifted that operational burden off us.” Varol nodded, “She kept it all running like clockwork, so we could push for growth.”
The numbers backed them up. Auction delays vanished, listings posted faster, and bidder satisfaction rose. By the end of 2024, Diamant Centrum saw a 34% sales increase year-over-year. “That wouldn’t have happened without Maureen,” Frank said firmly. “The savings from hiring remotely even let us test new platforms, and we’re planning to add a marketing specialist through Remote next.”
Takeaways: Why Remote Worked for Diamant Centrum
Speed: Maureen was onboarded in weeks.
Expertise: She filled operational gaps seamlessly.
Focus: Frank and Varol shifted to revenue-driving priorities.
Growth: A 34% sales boost in 2024.
Frank; “Hiring Maureen through Remote turned a potential crisis into a triumph for Diamant Centrum.”