New delivery services are popping up everywhere and especially in Berlin. FLINK stands out for a few reasons – it is fast, fresh and reliable. Flink provides flexibility and stability for its customers and employees. Steadily changing consumer behaviour, it promotes a new way to shop as well as a modern work environment.
By speaking to four of Flink’s employees, we gained deeper insights into the online supermarket: its work values and culture and more interestingly, the personal stories of the people behind it.
MOHAN wears TOP Paco Rabanne PANTS Wandler SHOES Wandler RING Jane Koenig ANKLE BRACELET Veert EARRINGS Jane Koenig BAG Flink Transportation Bag
Mohan, 21, Picker
SLEEK: Hi, can you tell us a bit about yourself?
Mohan: My name is Mohan, I’m 21 years old and I was born in Bangalore (India). I moved to Berlin 2.5 years ago for my studies, and started studying Fashion Design while working on the side for Flink.
S: How long have you worked for Flink?
M: I’ve been working for Flink since June 2021, first as a rider and now as a picker – A picker is someone who collects all the items for the orders and takes care of the products within the warehouse. Some of my friends are also working for Flink and recommended me for this job. It was a great opportunity for me, as it was not easy to find a job during the pandemic.
S: Speaking of Fashion: Are you wearing specific work clothes? And do you like an element of style in your workwear or is functionality paramount?
M: Before I began as a picker, I was a rider for a while. For this, I always wore the rider jacket. It was super practical with lots of pockets to store different things and definitely made a difference during bad weather conditions. Fashion is a big part of my personal life. Through my studies and modelling, I deal with fashion almost every day.
S: When did you start modelling?
M: When I was still in India. I first started at 17 and now I’ve started again after a small break in between.
S: What do you wish for in the future?
M: I would like to have my own fashion label someday. I also hope that I can pursue my dream of modelling even further and travel even more.
DMITRY wears CAP Han Kjobenhavn DENIM JACKET Filippa K T-SHIRT Model’s Own Flink T-Shirt JEANS Filippa K WATCH Casio SHOES Filippa K BAG AND JACKET Flink
Dmitry, 59, Rider
SLEEK: Hi, can you tell us a bit about yourself?
Dmitry: My name is Dmitry, I’m 50 years old and I’m from Ukraine. But I’ve been living in Berlin for over 7 years now.
S: Can you describe Flink in 3 words?
D: Fair, growth, responsible.
S: What is your favourite memory or moment at Flink? What’s something that stuck with you?
D: The gratitude of the customers! I often bring deliveries to customers that are very surprised at how quickly the order has arrived. With this I get to feel the gratitude of people every time.
S: Flink’s colour is pink, what does this colour mean to you?
D: For me, the colour pink is a revolutionary colour! I think it’s a good match for Flink because we change the way people shop and contribute to growth.
OG wears TOP Effenberger Couture x Benedikt Rugar BOMBER JACKET Ximon Lee SHOES Li-Ning PANTS Model’s own EARRINGS Jane Koenig WATCH Casio T-SHIRT Flink
OG, 24, Picker
SLEEK: Hi, can you tell us a bit about yourself?
OG: My name is OG, I am 24 years old and was born in South Africa. My family and I moved to Germany when I was 3 years old.
S: How long have you been working at Flink and why did you choose this job?
OG: I have been working at Flink as a picker since May 2021. A friend of mine lives in Hamburg and also works for Flink. When I told him I was looking for a job, he directly recommended Flink to me. He said there was room for promotions, since he was promoted from rider to shift lead in a relatively short time. But when I started at Flink as a picker, I realised that I didn’t want another job. I’m good at it, and that’s why I enjoy the job so much.
S: Do you have a moment at Flink that stands out in your memory?
OG: A particularly cool day was when I was allowed to pick orders with Shirin David in the Hub. I’ve been following Shirin since the beginning and I never thought I’d meet her – it was a really nice experience. She was super authentic, likeable and asked me questions that made me realise that she was genuinely interested in my job.
S: Flink’s colour is pink, what do you associate with this colour?
OG: With pink I associate fruity and sweet – it fits somehow. I mean, we sell fruits and sweets.
S: What do you think of your workwear? Is fashion generally an issue for you or does functionality come first?
OG: At work, fashion is not so important to me. What matters most is that the clothes are comfortable and do not bother me at work. Outside of work, I like to dress fashionably and pay attention to what I wear. Brands don’t interest me but I still want to look good. I’m also a model on the side, so fashion already plays a role for me.
S: How long have you been modelling?
OG: I’ve been modelling for a while, without an agency in the beginning. But since last year I’ve been working with a management agency. They scouted me over Instagram and I was super happy when I got the request.
S: What do you wish for in the future? Do you have a specific goal that you are working towards?
OG: I would like to do more with my hobby, which is artistic roller skating. I already give lessons and spend a lot of my free time practicing it. I would also like to have my own brand someday, maybe in fashion.
JÜRGEN wears T-SHIRT & PANTS Li-Ning SNEAKERS Asics WATCH Casio SWEATSHIRT, GLASSES, PIERCING & SOCKS Model's Own BAG FLINK Transportation Bag
Jürgen, 38, Rider and Hub Manager
SLEEK: Hi, can you tell us a bit about yourself?
Jürgen: My name is Jürgen, I am 38 years old, I was born in Kyrgyzstan and came to Berlin in 1999.
S: Did you have a favourite moment or event at Flink?
J: I think my favourite moment was when I was told that they would consider promoting me to Hub Manager – I didn’t expect that at all.
S: Flink’s colour is pink, what do you associate with this colour?
J: Pink is actually my favourite colour. I have many clothes in pink, which was also one of the reasons why I wanted to drive for Flink and not for any competitor in that field.
S: Tell us something about yourself, what makes your personality?
J: I would describe myself as a “cycling punk.” I’m almost always on my bike and come from the Punk Rock scene. Fortunately, this is completely tolerated at Flink and I don’t have to pretend to be someone I’m not, which was often not the case with my previous employers.
S: What do you do in your free time?
J: In my free time, I pack my few belongings, grab my dog, get on my cargo bike and ride across the world. I’ve already biked through Saxon Switzerland, the Netherlands and Austria.
S: Has your awareness of food changed as a result of your work at Flink?
J: Very positively so! I pay way more attention to what food I buy now, because at Flink we have a special product selection. I also have much more knowledge about food. I know directly which products are organic and good, and which are not.
Find the app on Apple and Google Play or order online at goflink.com.
Credits
Photography: Jan Kapitän
Photography Assistant: Rianon Vran
Styling: Behnam Samrad
Hair and Make up: The Baligans
Creative Producer: Claude Gerber
Production Assistants: Indigo Lewisohn, Roxane Juhasz
Models: Mohan, OG, Dimitry, Jürgen.