ESBE GMBH TURNS 30!
2023-12-07
ESBE’s first subsidiary, ESBE GmbH, celebrated its 30th anniversary on November 30, 2023. To mark the occasion, we paint a portrait of the company.
The year is 1976 when German entrepreneur Manfred Krause starts a trading company and initiates a collaboration with ESBE. Manfred is married to Marlies, and she takes over the partnership after Manfred’s passing in 1990. When ESBE aims to strengthen its presence in Germany, ESBE GmbH is founded, and Marlies is offered half of the shares and the role of CEO. She takes on this role with excellence, and Germany becomes ESBE’s largest market. When Marlies retires in 2001, one of her biggest customers takes the helm, and Stefan Söhn becomes the new CEO.
Stefan is interviewed about the successes in 2006 and states:
“In five years, everything has more or less multiplied by ten. We started with two employees, and now we have twenty. We were in an 80-square-meter space, and now we have 800. We had barely 50 customers, and now we have 500”…
What has happened since 2006?
In one word: A lot!
Since 2006, ESBE GmbH has been located in its own premises in Dachau, and the company has evolved from a small German subsidiary into a distribution and logistics center with large parts of Europe as its field of operation. In addition to Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, customers can be found in the Netherlands, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, and Moldova.
Frank Heninger, CEO of ESBE GmbH, explains that in 2015, they nearly doubled the floor space. He summarizes the growth journey as follows:
“Our premises now cover 1,500 square meters, and if we are to compare ourselves to Mr. Söhn’s statement from 2006, we have continued to grow.
Today, we serve approximately 1,000 customers and 35,000 plumbers. And when I say ‘we,’ I mean 33 fantastic employees, 10 freelance agents, and 2 freelance technical service agents. We are represented in all wholesale online shops and catalogs, and we exhibit at an average of eight trade shows every year.
The financial development looks like this in terms of turnover:
2010 - approximately 15 million euros
2015 - approximately 22 million euros
2022 - approximately 49 million euros.”
Julia Mayr and Michael Mösinger both work at ESBE GmbH, and they feel like important team members in ‘One ESBE.’
We conclude the 30-year portrait by asking a few questions to two employees at ESBE GmbH.
Julia Mayr, Marketing Coordinator, and Michael Mösinger, Regional Sales Manager for Southern Germany, generously share their experiences working here.
How long have you worked at ESBE GmbH?
Julia
7 years
Michael
3 years
What’s the best thing about working at ESBE GmbH?
Julia
We have flat hierarchies and approachable managers. The doors are always open for conversations, which I appreciate a lot. It’s also wonderful that whether I need to collaborate with colleagues in Dachau or with the headquarters in Sweden, teamwork knows no boundaries, and the cooperation works very well. Finally, I like the varied work because the tasks here are very diverse, and no two days are the same.
Michael
The best thing is the camaraderie and team spirit with colleagues. The fact that our product quality is so high and that ESBE is a well-known brand is something else I appreciate. And, of course, feeling that I am part of ‘One ESBE.’ Having good cooperation with the team, both regionally and at the headquarters.
Do you have any tips for enjoying your workplace?
Julia
Don’t stand still in your development, but seek opportunities where you can incorporate your own interests into your work.
Michael
It’s really important that you do your job as best you can. For me, as a regional manager, it’s also important to listen to opinions and understand the market. Just enjoy it!
ESBE GmbH has a Swedish owner. Does that show in any way?
Julia
Yes, you can feel the Swedish mentality. There is a pleasant and friendly working atmosphere, and care is taken to find a good solution for everyone when problems arise.
Michael
The social responsibility is noticeable. ESBE really takes care of the environment, the sustainability of products and the entire production, and the company also take care of the city they are located in. For example, both the headquarters and we at ESBE GmbH make yearly donations to local charities.
What does ‘One ESBE’ mean to you?
Julia
For me, ‘One ESBE’ means that every single employee is an important part of the system, and only good cooperation can produce an optimal result. I think it works very well at ESBE.
Michael
The essence is to be successful together. Stand together as a team. Pull on the same rope.
ESBE GmbH – congratulations on your 30th anniversary!
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