Whether emperor or chancellor – laces always work
It is again a snowy winter in the Bergisches Land. Only two years have passed since the war, which will later be preceded by a number: World War I. The family survived the time well, and the Carl Klostermann company was also able to keep its machines running. The future managing directors Carl junior and Heinrich Klostermann turned out to be a good team that always found solutions for the production when a shortage of raw materials around 1930. Grandpa Heinrich and great uncle Carl junior have been running the business for ten years. They are happy to take on new impulses, even if modern ideas of “advertising” forced them to improvise. Both learned their trade extensively, because Carl senior introduced them to the company at an early age and showed them all the tricks and knacks. He explained to them how to negotiate honestly, perhaps leaving out the odd detail here and there, and thus always achieving the best. And which tricks have to be done in production so that the manufactured ribbons and belts also offer the quality for which the family name Klostermann must stand. Now, in cold January 1920, Carl junior and Heinrich start in their The second generation discovers modern advertising. Their ideas will reverberate for a long time Whether emperor or chancellor – laces always go first year as sole managing directors. The emperor was driven into exile, a young republic is born Before them lie the years of terrible inflation, militant uprisings between French soldiers and the Wuppertal Freikorps, and the worldwide collapse of the economy.
After the 2nd World War, it was again time for a generational change at Carl Klostermann Söhne. Grandfather Carl “junior” had died during the war, for uncle Heinrich it became more and more difficult to continue the responsibility of the company on his own. In 1945 he had been managing director for 25 years, and like his father, he had led the company through several crises and through a war. In the mid-1940s, his son Karl Klostermann took over the management of the company and introduced his brother Heinz, 8 years younger than him, to the business. Uncle Heinrich remained involved in the day-to-day business as an advisor, but slowly withdrew to enjoy his well-earned retirement. History seems to be repeating itself – because the two new bosses also faced many challenges that a post-war period brings with it…lack of supply everywhere and an almost non-existent market economy. It was the great luck of the company Carl Klostermann Söhne that the production machines acquired in the past were of the highest quality, were constantly well maintained and also the war damages could be repaired quickly. Once again there was a lack of raw materials, but above all of infrastructure for the sale of the company’s own products and a means of payment that the population could trust.
In 1948, when the young republic also gave itself a new currency with the DM, everything changed overnight. Even though Germany lay in ruins, a new hope could be felt. And Karl and Heinz were soon able to announce that the Carl Klostermann company could now once again provide its products in first-class “pre-war quality”.
Of course…also the popular “Goldsenkel” was available again, from the middle of the 50s even more beautiful than ever before ! With the blossoming of the economy the demand increased rapidly; people in Germany were hungry for new products. So new variations of the golden lace were offered again and again – laces in new, bright colors for fashionable footwear, long salmon-colored ribbons for corsetry, two-color woven straps for sports shoes or innovative laces because “perlon-reinforced”. Karl and Heinz have taken up the embers and rekindled the fire – and always demonstrated the same inventiveness as their ancestors. Because the 3rd generation was also given the striving for quality craftsmanship in combination with commercial skill. They recognized the signs of the times and relied on modern advertising measures to keep the “gold sinker” as a brand product alive in the memory of the customers. For the new trend of self-service stores, they developed pretty sales boxes that made it easy for customers to find the right lace. The success of the advertising campaigns made “Goldsenkel” almost a generic term for all shoelaces, just as we still say “Uhu” today when we mean an all-purpose adhesive. As pleasing as the success was…the “golden shoelaces” popular with customers in the mid-1950s also attracted many free-riders, who quite brazenly brought shoelaces labeled with “golden laces” onto the market. And there were more and more! No matter how many ideas the monks had… unfortunately they had failed to register trademark protection for the “Goldsenkel” in earlier times!
Become part of our story.
You’re not just looking for a job – you want a role with real meaning? Then you’ve come to the right place!
Whether you’re an organizational talent, number cruncher, or communication pro – everything comes together in our office: planning, coordinating, advising, and creating.
As part of our team, you’ll take on a variety of tasks in administration, sales, or purchasing – always with a focus on what truly matters and a feel for great teamwork.
You don’t have to be a seasoned professional – what matters most is your motivation, your willingness to contribute, and your curiosity to learn.
We take the time to train you properly and will support you every step of the way.
There’s always a place for you with us!
Feel free to reach out for an informal chat – together, we’ll find the right role for you in our family-run company.