By Tim Hoff Höfing Nike & Co. produce in Asia - the Hamburg sports shoe dealer Lars and Ulf lungs rather build a factory in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. The higher wages in Germany, by discouraging. Because they have had enough of jerky quality from the Far East.
Düssin - Mario Renk is still a bit incredulous before the shield, which it on the lawn in front of his house in the ground planted. "Reconstruction and Redevelopment Kuhstalles as a running shoe factory" is it. Renk is still well suited to the mood in the town remember when suddenly there was sign. "Everyone thought: This is unusual. Shoes but come from Asia."
Düssin Meanwhile, in anticipation of the surprise diminished. In the village in the south-west of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, "the former grßte cowshed in Germany" aufgemöbelt. In the brick from 2007 to be at least 15,000 running shoes per year. Only times in a small series - but Made in Mecklenburg. Larslung, 40, it can not even grasp what he is here with his brother Ulf, 45, who launched it. "It took a fancy to see that there is a shoe factory," he says, "that the production hall": With Zwick and sewing machines and the large tables, in which employees new running shoes together. End of the year everything will be ready. At the top of the first floor, where Lars lung his office building will remain to feed the old machines.
jogging shoes from the eastern province: This is not just for the residents get used to it. In the globalised economic cycle Asians have made the race when it comes to the production of running shoes. Whether jogging, soccer games or walking: Almost all shoe factories of Nike, Asics, Puma & Co. are in countries such as China, Vietnam and Indonesia. And no expensive in Germany. Only Adidas produces some football shoes.
The lungbrothers are convinced that the time is ripe for its factory. Six sports shoe stores in Hamburg and Berlin have them there, they want to continue running shoes also sell other brands. Ulf lungs, the chain founded 27 years ago, now has 30 employees and makes three million euro turnover, but "its own production - that was always our dream". "I will no longer" For so farLunges nobody was able to deliver, which they rightly happy. "When I once again a container packed, I thought: I will no longer," says Lars lungs. The quality of shoes from South Korea was poor, and since the Lunges in Asia could develop and produce, there was trouble because of ideas Klaus. "This is terrible," says Lars lungs. More and more often had their ideas emerged in Asian competitors.
The commitment ofLunges is in year 17 of the German unit is part of the building East: Ten new jobs, they want to create, then we should have 30. If it really goes well, maybe the 100th
6000 square meters, the three-storey building. In the middle stands a small tower indicate the Hamburg Michel copied. The listed cowshed is a powerful look at Fang Düssin - just behind the railway line, where the ICE from Berlin to Hamburg vorbeirauscht. Such a building in a city like Hamburg to buy would have been prohibitive, says Ulf lungs. In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, however, there are funds and agencies involved in the two entrepreneurs to put stuff. "There is a good support," said Ulf lungs. All the basic materials from Germany The brothers are fully on German craftsmanship: leather, nylon - all basic materials for the lung-running shoes will be provided from the domestic. "The German quality is much better," says Lars lungs. "The Chinese do not get to the series."
The high wages in Germany, by discouraging. You want to succeed as a niche provider. With Asian mass-produced, they can not compete anyway, know the Lunges. "Our products are priced higher," says Ulf lungs - but with less wear and better skin. On average jogger would be here for 120 euros a shoe issue. The lung shoes will cost about 180. "Our shoes, but from 2000 to 3000 km, and not just the 1000th"
Lunges trust at the end of the greed-is-cool-euphoria, at least in terms of running shoes are concerned. Three million running shoes were here a year on the table, expect the entrepreneurs. In its price class is about one million shoes. In this market, they want to occupy a lucrative niche.
Great marketing expenses such as Nike, Adidas and Puma have not Lunges. They rely on a small collection with no minimum quantities for the dealer. This allows even small shoe-series and flottes reaction from the idea of a shoe to the first model should not exceed one week pass. Until the extradition should be only one month. "So we want to beat the other."
residents such as Mario Renk hope that the idea of Lunges success. In the village there is finally enough to renovate: If it with the cowshed are ready, they could "immediately afterwards with the old water tower continue," he says.