Rauch is a family-owned company that has been based in Freudenberg/Main in Germany ever since it was founded in 1897. Once a small carpenter's workshop, over the decades it has evolved in the international bedroom manufacturer it's known as today. With Export Manager Christina Nitsche we discuss the challenges of the market and the brand's upcoming participation in the Brussels Furniture Fair.
In which markets is the company currently most active, and what challenges does it face in today's marketplace?
'Besides the domestic market, we are also very active in many export markets, such as Austria, the UK, the Netherlands, Belgium, France as well as Eastern Europe.
I believe that many industries, including furniture manufacturers and retailers, are currently facing the same challenges. The economy is slowing down, costs are rising. When net incomes fall, consumers think very carefully about what they spend their money on.
This made it all the more important for us to once again develop better products this year that also offer sufficient product variety to appeal to the different market segments.'
You're going to Brussels Furniture Fair soon. What are your expectations for the fair?
'Both the Netherlands and Belgium are focus markets for Rauch. Accordingly, the Brussels Furniture Fair offers us a platform to meet existing and potential customers and to present Rauch and our latest product innovations.
The Brussels Furniture Fair is also important for us personally. It gives our sales teams from Belgium and the Netherlands the opportunity to meet many good and long-standing customers in just a few days and also to have personal conversations.
We will be showing several smaller hinged and sliding door wardrobes as well as promotional bedroom sets in the entry-level segment, we are focusing on a new modular wardrobe system in the premium segment that offers solutions to individual customer requirements.'
What are the future plans for Rauch?
'As a furniture manufacturer, we will continue to offer the best and most commercially viable products to our retailers in the furniture trade. However, today it is about much more than manufacturing and selling furniture. We will also continue to focus on topics as sustainability and new logistics solutions. Sustainability, for example, which is on everyone's lips these days, has already been part of Rauch's everyday practice for many years. We take our responsibility towards the environment very seriously and have been honoured with several sustainability and quality awards.'
More information:
Rauch
[email protected]
www.rauchmoebel.de
Germany