Untitled - Vorwerk

Page 1 of 10

Vorwerk at a Glance
International, broad-based enterprise, excellent quality
• Vorwerk has been a family-owned company
since it was founded in 1883
• Vorwerk stands for the direct route to the customer,
a consistent commitment to service, and
outstanding quality.
• Business volume in 2009: 2.277 billion euros,
of which 1.54 billion euros came from direct sales
• 611,047 employees, sales advisers and
representatives worldwide
• Sales companies and sales partners in 60 countries
• Partners‘ equity: 53 percent
Page 2 of 10

Group Structure
Page 3 of 10

Executive Board
Peter Oberegger
Managing Partner
Walter Muyres
Managing Partner
Reiner Strecker
Managing Partner
Page 4 of 10

Supervisory Board
Dr. Jörg Mittelsten Scheid
Vorwerk & Co. KG
Supervisory Board Chairman
Dr. Jörg Mittelsten Scheid, member of the Vorwerk owner family, managed the
Vorwerk Group from 1966 to 2005. Since 2006 he chairs the Supervisory Board.
Further members of the Supervisory Board are:
• Prof. Dr.-Ing. Pius Baschera (Deputy Chairman of the Supervisory Board)
• Günther Busch
• Dr. Axel Epe
• Dipl.-Ing. Rainer Christian Genes
• Verena Klüser
• Jens Mittelsten Scheid
• Karen Schmidt-Paas
Page 5 of 10

Vision - Mission
Vision
We want to become a global leader in all of our direct
sales activities.
Mission
Page 6 of 10
As a trusted family business, we empower people
across the globe to be successful with our exceptional
products and services.

Direct Sales Brings many Benefits
Direct sales unites top quality with top advice.
• Direct sales is Vorwerk’s core business – and has been since 1930.
• Vorwerk vacuum cleaners, the kitchen machine Thermomix,
JAFRA products and Lux Asia Pacific products are demonstrated
and sold in the customer’s home.
• In-depth advice and demonstration in the customer‘s home makes it
possible to explain product benefits that might not be obvious at
first glance.
• This proximity to the customer enables us to closely adapt our products
to people‘ needs and to continue to develop our products further.
• Direct sales is a wonderful opportunity for people to build a
successful career based on their own achievements as a
sales adviser or representative.
Page 7 of 10

Social Committment
Page 8 of 10
Vorwerk works together with SOS Children’s Villages to help families and children in need.
• By supporting SOS Children’s Villages, Vorwerk wishes to
contribute towards enabling children all over the world to
grow up safe and secure in a family environment.
• To this end, Vorwerk set up the Family Fund and now
undertakes fundraising activities around the globe.
• To date, the concerted efforts of employees,
sales advisers and the Executive Board have raised
donations to the tune of 945,000 euros for the fund.
• Since the anniversary year 2008 Vorwerk has been
collecting donations for the construction of a new
children’s village in Quy Nhon, Vietnam.

Company History
Mile stones of Vorwerk’s history
1883 The brothers Carl and Adolf Vorwerk found the
carpet factory “Barmer Teppichfabrik Vorwerk & Co.”
1904 August Mittelsten Scheid joins the company
1929 Invention of the Kobold hand-held vacuum cleaner
1930 Start of the Vorwerk direct sales organisation
1943 Dr. Erich and Werner Mittelsten Scheid
take over management of the company
1959 Invention of the first electric carpet brush
1962 Vorwerk Carpets in Gehrden
(since 1986 in Hameln)
1966 Dr. Jörg Mittelsten Scheid joins
the Executive Board
1968 akf bank is founded
Page 9 of 10

Company History
Mile stones of Vorwerk’s history
1971 The “original Thermomix“ VM 2000 is launched in France
1974 Formation of Hygienic Service Gebäudereinigung und Umweltpflege GmbH
(today’s HECTAS Facility Services)
1994 akf unilease is founded (today akf servicelease GmbH & Co. KG)
2001 Lux Asia Pacific, headquartered in Singapore, becomes part
of the Vorwerk Group
2004 JAFRA Cosmetics joins the Vorwerk Group
2008 Vorwerk celebrates its 125th anniversary
Page 10 of 10

We act, plan and work together according to
defined corporate principles with a view to assuring
our company a successful future.
Page 1 of 6

Customer Focus
Customer Focus
Direct contact with our customers is the heart of our
business. We know their needs and expectations better
than anybody else, and we excite them with our specially
tailored products and services.
Page 2 of 6

Create Entrepreneurship
Create Entrepreneurship
We offer attractive career opportunities and room for
entrepreneurial development. We provide optimum
conditions to nurture the growth of our employees
and sales partners. Our cooperation is grounded in
trust, honesty, fairness, and respect.
Page 3 of 6

Exceptional Quality
Exceptional Quality
Vorwerk stands for quality and innovation in all of our
products, services, and sales activities. We set the
standards for our markets.
Page 4 of 6

Think and Act for the Long Term
Think and Act for the Long Term
A long-term mindset, strategic planning, and sustainable activities
have been the hallmarks of our family business since its foundation
in 1883. We invest in the future of our employees and sales
partners and are committed to our communities and the
environment.
Page 5 of 6

Open to Change
Open to Change
Our readiness for change ensures our lasting success in
business and society.
Page 6 of 6

Page 1 of 6

Vorwerk Kobold
The Vorwerk Kobold features a unique system that guarantees thorough cleaning,
deep down. We create a new dimension of cleanliness and freshness to enhance daily
well-being in the home.
• A small motor coupled with high efficiency
• Hygienic microfilter for proven, lasting allergen reduction
• Turnover in 2009: around 695 million euros
• The Vorwerk Kobold is sold direct to customers in 22 countries
by over 9,140 independent sales advisers following a
demonstration of the system at the customer‘s home.
Page 2 of 6

Vorwerk Thermomix
With the Vorwerk Thermomix, fresh food can be prepared more quickly and
easily than ever before. With the Thermomix, it’s a joy to cook tasty, healthy meals.
• The Thermomix can: weigh, chop, mix, stir, cut, grind,
pulverise, knead and blend.
• Thanks to its heatable, stainless-steel mixing bowl, it even cooks.
• Turnover in 2009: around 420 million euros
• The Vorwerk Thermomix is sold direct to the customer in 40 countries,
at parties or on referral, by more than 20,600 mainly female
representatives pursuing this as an extra income opportunity.
Page 3 of 6

JAFRA Cosmetics
JAFRA Cosmetics creates quality products that enhance a woman’s beauty
and self-assurance. With its facial and body-care products, colour cosmetics
and fragrances, JAFRA defines a world of beauty, care and wellness – and
gives women a sense of utter well-being.
• Over 50 years of experience in developing cosmetic products
• JAFRA offers people the opportunity for personal, professional and
financial development. JAFRA – The Power to Transform Lives
• Turnover in 2009: over 390 million euros
• JAFRA products are sold in 17 countries direct to
the customer by some 558,000 self-employed
consultants at individual or group consultations
that take place in the home.
Page 4 of 6

Lux Asia Pacific
Lux Asia Pacific operates successfully in the Asia-Pacific region, specialising in the
production and sale of high-quality water filters and vacuum cleaners.
• Lux Asia Pacific operates exclusively in the Asia-Pacific region.
• Lux Asia Pacific comprises the former direct sales
subsidiaries of Electrolux in Asia.
• Turnover in 2009: around 34 million euros
• Lux Asia Pacific products are sold by some
1,600 independent sales advisers in 13 countries
in the Asia-Pacific region.
Page 5 of 6

Vorwerk Carpets
Page 6 of 6
Superb materials, premium quality, innovative design and a great feeling for room aesthetics
are the hallmark of Vorwerk Carpets for private and commercial premises as well as hotels.
Vorwerk Carpets are eco-friendly and carry the TÜV seal “Suitable for allergy sufferers”. They
are the only carpets recommended by the German Allergy and Asthma Federation, DAAB.
• Vorwerk Teppichwerke has established itself as a
leading producer of high-quality carpets.
• Carpets are the original Vorwerk product.
• Vorwerk collaborates with several internationally
renowned artists – currently with the designer
Ulf Moritz and the architect Hadi Teherani.
• Vorwerk is more than just a carpet. That’s why we
chose the slogan: New | Ambience | Atmosphere.
• Turnover in 2009: around 70 million euros.

Page 1 of 4

At Vorwerk, research, development and production are united in a single enterprise.
Vorwerk sets high standards in all areas. The customer gets what he has grown to expect
from Vorwerk: an innovative product that is practical, useful and extraordinarily durable.
• Vorwerk products are developed and produced by Vorwerk.
• Vorwerk‘s own development departments in Wuppertal
ensure the unparalleled quality of its products.
• Vorwerk regularly receives eco-certification for ist
environmentally friendly production systems.
Research, Development and Production
Page 2 of 4

Tests and Design
Vorwerk products are known for their exceptional quality and outstanding design.
• The Tiger with electric brush was rated as one of the top vacuum cleaners by the leading German
consumer safety group Stiftung Warentest (test 4/2008). It was also nominated as top energy performer
by the watchdog magazine EMPORIO (issue 3/2008).
• The Kobold is one of the few vacuum cleaners entitled to carry the TÜV certificate “Suitable for
allergy sufferers”.
• The Design Center NRW (North Rhine-Westphalia) has awarded the Kobold, the Polsterboy, the
Pulilux, the Thermomix 31 and the Vorwerk Tiger 260 the “red dot” award for high design quality.
• Vorwerk carpeting was the only carpeting to receive the seal of recommendation of the German
Allergy Sufferers and Asthma Association (DAAB). It also received the “ZukunftsAward 2006”
(Future Award 2006) for the “Smart Carpet”.
Page 3 of 4

Vorwerk Elektrowerke, Wuppertal, Germany
• Research and development
• Production of Vorwerk Kobold, Polsterboy and electric brush
• Motor production for all Vorwerk products
Vorwerk Teppichwerke, Hamelin, Germany
• Production of Vorwerk rugs and carpets
Vorwerk Semco, Cloyes, France
• Production of Thermomix
Vorwerk Folletto, Arcore, Italy
• Production of Pulilux and diverse accessories
Vorwerk Household Appliances, Shanghai, China
• Production of water filters for Lux Asia Pacific
• Production of Tiger and assembly of all products sold in China
JAFRA plant, Querétaro, Mexico
• Production of entire JAFRA Cosmetics product range
Vorwerk production sites
Page 4 of 4

Page 1 of 4

HECTAS Facility Management
HECTAS is one of the leading companies in Europe in the area of infrastructural facility
services. HECTAS offers its customers individual solutions, tailored precisely to all their
facility needs.
• HECTAS has been a reliable partner to its
customers for over 30 years as a provider of
infrastructural facility management: from cleaning,
gardening and snow and ice control to security and
janitorial services.
• HECTAS has 60 branches and over 11,600
employees working in Germany, the Netherlands,
Austria, Poland, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Hungary
and Luxembourg.
• Turnover in 2009: 195 million euros
Page 2 of 4

Leasing and financing of moveable-property investments, sales financing and fleet
management – the akf group provides first-rate service and consulting in these sectors.
• Trained sales staff provide individual consulting
at the customer‘s workplace.
• Purchasing benefits thanks to close contact
with major manufacturers and importers
• Fast and uncomplicated processing of contracts
• New business in 2009: 451 million euros
• Head office in Wuppertal, international subsidiaries
in Spain, Poland and Italy
Page 3 of 4
akf group

Vorwerk Direct Selling Ventures is an independent subsidiary within the Vorwerk Group,
which invests venture capital in young, innovative direct sales companies.
• Focus of investment: Direct sales – direct, person-to-person
sales or via sale channels such as internet, catalogues or
home shopping
• Investment philosophy: Long term minority investments
• Growth financing through investment of equity
• Investment size per single investment: 0.5 to 5 million euros
• International scope
• Added value: Extensive direct sales expertise and an
international network
Page 4 of 4
Vorwerk Direct Selling Ventures