ANNUAL REPORT 2011 A.S. CRÉATION TAPETEN AG

GROUP MANAGEMENT REPORT
38
Both divisions contributed to the 4.1% increase
in sales revenues from € 184.6 million to
€ 192.3 million, which is the highest level
reached in the history of A.S. Création. While
the Wallpaper Division accounted for 4.4% of
this growth, the Furnishing Fabrics Division
contributed 0.8%. The company thus almost
met its sales projections, which provided for
sales revenues of between € 195 million and
€ 205 million in the fiscal year 2011.
Employees
The average headcount of A.S. Création
increased by 24 people or 3.1% from 772 in
2010 to 796 in 2011. 726 employees (2010:
706) worked in the Wallpaper Division and 70
(2010: 66) in the Furnishing Fabrics Division.
As in the previous year, approx. 82% of the
employees work at domestic Group companies,
while about 18% are employed abroad.
The increase in the average headcount in the
past fiscal year is mainly attributable to two
factors. First, additional employees were required
in Germany to manage the increased sales,
especially in conjunction with the first-time
deliveries to the new DIY store customers. Second,
the Russian sales organisation continued to be
expanded as planned so as to be able to market
the locally manufactured wallpapers starting
Number of employees (average)
787
42
335
410
2009
772
42
337
393
2010
September 2012. As the increase in the headcount
was only slight lower than the rise in sales,
staff productivity improved only moderately in
the fiscal year, with sales per employee reaching
€ 0.242 million (2010: € 0.239 million).
Staff productivity is thus still below the
€ 0.248 million reported in 2007.
796
39
359
398
2011
A.S. Création’s long tradition of training young
people should be seen against the background
of the long-term development of the company.
The Managing Board of A.S. Création is convinced
that the training and further education
of its workforce are important factors for the
future of the company. Accordingly, the company
decided to expand its training activities
already back in 2007. This decision was not
questioned even under the difficult economic
conditions prevailing in the past years. The
fact that the number of trainees and apprentices
declined nevertheless from 42 to 39 in
Trainees and
apprentices
White-collar
workers
Blue-collar
workers