Biography (History)
Berendsohn represents a characteristic hanseatic success story. Success based on tradition, coupled with innovation. He turned the company, which was founded in 1833 as a publishing house for high quality Hamburg townscape engravings, into one of the leading enterprises on the European promotional gifts market.
Berendsohn milestones
| 1833 | Foundation of the B.S. Berendsohn publishing house |
| 1860 | Publishing in its prime – The publishing house's success is based on the production of high quality Hamburg townscape engravings which customers present to their business partners all over the world. |
| 1948 | The company is re-established - quality and exclusiveness are the cornerstones of the new product policy. Günther Berendsohn, an energetic, young entrepreneur rides his bike on which he has fastened his sample case through the destroyed city of Hamburg. |
| 1958 | The field sales force in Germany now comprises as many as 50 agents. What is special and unique for all clients is the personal and individual service and consultation by the sales agents who present samples of the products and know-how to all industries. The annual turnover is as high as DM five million. |
| 1964 | Berendsohn turns to foreign markets. Sales agents take up work in Scandinavia, Italy, France, Austria and Switzerland. The annual turnover has risen to DM 10 million. |
| 1973 | The seventies are also described as the 'Orange Era' at Berendsohn. There was no item, preferably made of plastic, which did not at least have a glowing highlight somewhere. The annual turnover in 1973 amounted to DM 80 million. The field sales force comprised 300 agents. |
| 1983 | The beginning of the era for luxury presents and tailor-made advertising gifts. The emotional relationship of the client to the product and excellent service standards provide the crucial competitive edge. |
| 1987 | The company moves to today's headquarters. In addition to commercial departments, the new building also houses the production, i.e. print-on, completion and logistics. The total turnover amounts to DM 100 million with a foreign market share of just over fifty percent. |
| 1993 | The collapse of the Berlin Wall, opening of the inner-German border, monetary union and unification all affect Berendsohn. New markets emerge and another service centre with production facility is set up in Brüsewitz near Schwerin. |
| 2010 | Currently, more than 850 staff is in Berendsohn's employ. The product range comprises approx. 350 articles. More than 100,000 clients are served in Belgium, Denmark, Germany, France, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Austria, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland, Slovenia and Spain. No matter whether digital printing, CO2 laser engraving, screen printing or pressure ink dabbing -- Berendsohn provides any surface finishing on any material and all in-house. |