| 1982
For his work as a freelance painter and sculptor Wolfgang
Boesner (1), moves into a studio in Bochum. Like many
others, Wolfgang Boesner experiences how difficult it is to
live exclusively from his art. Not only that: the materials
needed have to be bought in a local shop. Poor selection and
too high prices make artistic work more difficult because
the financial means for buying materials are lacking.
THE IDEA THAT LED TO THE SETTING UP
OF THE COMPANY
As a consequence, the idea of buying materials from other,
more direct sources, emerges. Soon Wolfgang Boesner is supplying
a group of about 50 painters with artists’ materials.
What wasn’t expected at the beginning follows: the commercial
work becomes so time-consuming that the founder of the company
decides to go down the entrepreneurial road full-time.
It is the personal experience of buying
materials that led to the idea of building up a company that
is in solidarity with artists, making it possible for them
to save money on materials.
Contributing to artistic work by providing better buying conditions
has become one of the most important core ideas of the company
in its further development.
1984
Rapid expansion of the basic range. Fast increase in customer
numbers. The studio is gradually getting too cramped.
1985
Move to adequate storage and sales areas in Witten-Herbede
with an initial 900 m² total space.
1986
Early 1986 the first 50 page wholesale catalogue is issued.
In May brother Klaus Boesner
(2) joins the young company, which is then jointly further
developed. In close cooperation they consider the future of
the company. By the end of the year there are initial plans
for an outlet in Cologne. The idea of consolidating the successful
first catalogue into an informative communication medium gradually
takes on form.
1987
Carmen Gieselmann (3) joins
the company and as executive partner and takes on the structuring
of the branch in Cologne that was founded in 1987. In the
meanwhile over 2000 painters, gallery owners and specialist
dealers have become regular customers.
1988
In Witten and Köln there are 15 employees in all. In
February the second, long overdue catalogue is issued with
an initial print-run of 5000.
1989
A further outlet is set up in Forstinning
near Munich with an initial 500 m² floor-space.
Executive partner Wolfgang Reimann
(4) assumes management responsibility.
1990
The number of customers has grown to over 10,000. In June
the direct sales outlet in Cologne moves to new premises with
about 1,000 m² floor-space.
1991/1992
The company employs 45 staff. Numerous new products are added
to the range. The company now has 25,000 regular customers
in all and has become European market
leader for professional artists’ materials.
1993
During an economically difficult period it is even more important
for users of artists’ materials to be able to buy at
reasonable prices. The number of regular company customers
rises to about 34,000. There is a workforce of 71 employees.
1994
A year with particularly big changes.
In order to improve the logistics of the central mail-order
service, the mail-order sector is separated from direct sales
in Witten and moves into premises of 2,300 m².
In November the first foreign outlet with about 1.300 m² floor-space
is opened, in the German-speaking area of Switzerland. Executive
partner Simon Dutoit (5). takes
over the establishment of this branch in Unterentfelden.
1995
The Swiss outlet is welcomed enthusiastically by Swiss artists.
At the end of the year Switzerland gets its own edition of
the catalogue. The Forstinning branch enlarges its premises
to about 2.000 m². The number of regular customers rises
to about 65,000. The workforce totals 90 in all.
1996
In response to customer wishes, further products with a particularly
good price-quality ratio are added to the range. The workforce
totals 110. Building is started on expansion of floor-space
in the Witten and Cologne branches.
1997
In May a further direct sales outlet is opened in Leinfelden-Echterdingen,
near Stuttgart, for which Georg Schauer
(6) is the reponsible executive partner. In August, the direct
sales sector in Witten-Herbede moves into the extension which
provides an extra 750 m² floor-space.
1998
In March a further outlet is opened in Frankfurt.
Jochen Schmelzer (7) is the
executive partner. In September 1998 the company has about
120.000 loyal customers. In
all, the company employs about 160 staff.
1999
In March a further outlet is opened in Berlin.
Executive partner is Michael Harnacke
(8). The new branch is given a spontaneous welcome by Berlin
artists.
The second foreign outlet opens in Vienna
with Wolfgang Reimann (4) as
executive partner.
BOESNER BECOMES INTERNATIONAL
MARKET LEADER IN PROFESSIONAL ARTISTS’ MATERIALS WITH ABOUT 210.000 CUSTOMERS
2000
Mid-November the Forstinning branch moves to premises and
reopens with a floor-space of about 5.600 m². Late 2000
preparations for the Hamburg outlet are initiated. The company
has over 350,000 regular customers.
2001
A year with particularly big changes. In July the central
mail-order service in Witten moves into new premises of about
8,000 m². In August and September two more boesner outlets
are opened:
Bordeaux (about
1,400 m²) now has the third foreign branch. Executive
partner for this outlet is Stephan
Kinseher (9). Bordeaux gets its own edition of the
catalogue.
In September the 11th branch opens in Hamburg
with about 3,000 m² floor-space. Executive partner is Markus
Feldmüller (10). The workforce increases to over
350.
2002
In June 2002 boesner is 20 years old. boesner is a vigorous
establishment in modern-day art business. In
all there is a workforce of over 400. The outlets in
Bordeaux and Hamburg that were newly opened only last year
are successfully established after only a few months.
In September the 12th branch opens in Nuremberg
with about 1,600 m² floor-space. Executive partner is Wolfgang Reimann (4).
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