PROVIDE FEEDBACK AND WIN! - Invest in Bavaria

BUSINESS BAVARIA
ISSUE 12 | 2012
WHAT‘S INSIDE
5 MINUTES WITH ...
Verena Röthlingshöfer,
Managing Director of MyOma.de
Page 2
IN FOCUS:
TOYS – MADE IN BAVARIA
Traditional Quality
Page 3
BAVARIA IN YOUR BRIEFCASE
Winter Holidays in Bavaria: Spend the
Night in an Igloo
Page 4
THE DIGITAL CHILDREN‘S ROOM
Christmas is gift season in Bavaria and retailers expect record revenues.
The toy industry in particular is to profi t this year.
Germans are buying more toys than ever before. By the end of the year,
revenues will have soared to a record high of € 2.7 billion, according to the
German Association of Toy and Game Retailers. Many Bavarian companies
are profi ting from this 3% increase. The Federal State in the South is
traditionally considered the heart of Germany’s toy industry. Brands such as
Zapf, Käthe Kruse, Haba, Bobby Car and Playmobil have featured on children’s
wishlists for many generations.
Not surprisingly, Bavaria also hosts the world’s largest Toy Fair. From 30
January to 4 February 2013, the Nuremberg Fair will once again showcase
innovations from all over the world. “There are two trends at the moment.
As well as classic toys, there is a clear move towards toys that are supplemented
with digital and electronic gaming features”, explains the Fair’s
AT THE HEART OF THE MARKETS – COMPANIES SETTLING IN MIDDLE FRANCONIA
Outstanding infrastructure, highly-qualifi ed professionals plus the support
of Invest in Bavaria and local authorities have convinced a growing number
of companies to invest in Bavaria. Among them is the Belgian Joris
Ide Group, who laid the foundations for their new German headquarters in
Ansbach. In the spring of 2013, the production of steel products will start
here to allow them to better serve the Central European market. The Italian
Every month we collate breaking news from Bavaria to keep you informed
about local trends. However, as our readers are from all over the
world, we know little about what you particularly like in our newsletter
and where we can do better. We have therefore put together a brief
feedback survey and would be delighted if you took a few minutes of
your time to complete it. All participants will enter a draw to win one of
100 Lederhosen phone covers. If you are one of our lucky winners, your
WWW.INVEST-IN-BAVARIA.COM
spokesperson, Kyra Mende. “In addition to cuddly toys and racing cars,
there are more and more multimedia devices in almost every child’s room.
Especially classic toys that can be combined with smartphones or tablets,
so-called iToys, are all the rage.”
This is without doubt a development that raises many questions. Do these
iToys promote or prevent our children‘s creativity? Are digital toys here to
stay or just a fad? The Toy Fair will seek answers to these questions in a
feature billed “Toys 3.0 – The Next Generation!” The Fair will have 2,700
exhibitors from 60 countries showcasing about one million products. About
70% of companies attending will be from abroad – Belgium, China, France,
Great Britain, Hong Kong, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Taiwan and the US.
www.toyfair.de
PROVIDE FEEDBACK AND WIN!
The Business Promotion Agency of the State of Bavaria
company Lattonedil has also chosen Middle Franconia as a new base. In
November, the wall and roof panel specialist opened a production facility
in Dinkelsbühl to benefi t t from the geographical location and and easy access to
Northern and Eastern European markets.
smartphone smartphone will always have a special Bavarian touch!
We thank you for your loyal readership and wish you a relaxing
festive holiday and a successful start to the New Year.
READERSHIP
SURVEY
Your Business Bavaria Editorial team!
Click here for a direct link to the survey – or visit
https://www.umfrageonline.com/survey/survey.php?code=809c76b&lang=2
PAGE 1

5 MINUTES WITH ...
VERENA RÖTHLINGSHÖFER,
MANAGING DIRECTOR OF MYOMA BASED IN FÜRTH
For a year now, a group of people have been knitting away on behalf of ‘MyOma’. The team, currently 25 grandmothers and one grandfather,
hand-make hats, scarves, gloves and other fashionable and warm woollen creations that are sold via the internet. Hand-made products are
a current trend especially during Christmas when demand rises – just like the number of grandmothers who want to knit for the company
which is based in the Franconian town of Fürth.
HOW DID YOU COME UP WITH THE IDEA TO
START “MYOMA”?
Watching TV, I came across a feature on older
ladies and grandmothers who met to have coffee
and knit. This was when I realised that there were
probably many grannies who were often home
alone, knitting for themselves or family members.
Grannies who welcome topping up their pensions
as well. This holds incredibly high potential.
SO YOU FOUNDED THE LIEBLINGSOMA GMBH?
Yes. Together with my brother Jörg and Jan Dzulko,
a good friend.
NUMBER
OF THE
MONTH 3.52
With 3.52 start-ups per 10,000 inhabitants, Munich shows more
entrepreneurial spirit than Hamburg (3.18), Berlin (2.67) or even the
Rhine-Main region (3.22) in the Information, Communication and
Digital Technology sector. Moreover, Bavaria is the territorial State
with the highest number of company start-ups in this fi eld. With 1.81
start-ups per 10,000 inhabitants, the State is at the top nationwide.
WWW.INVEST-IN-BAVARIA.COM
DO ONLY FRANCONIAN GRANNIES KNIT FOR
YOU?
They are still the majority. In Bavaria, particularly
here in Franconia, this old craft and tradition is
rooted very deeply. However, we have inquiries
from all over Germany, even from Austria and
Switzerland. So in addition to Fürth, other MyOma
branches could develop there.
HOW DID YOUR GRANDPARENT TEAM COME
TOGETHER?
We placed ads in small weekly papers looking for
grannies who knit and 50 grandmothers contacted
us. So we organised a get-together where each
granny had to knit a hat. Step by step, we built
our knitting team which incidentally also includes
a male representative.
ARE ALL YOUR CREATIONS HAND-MADE?
Our hats, scarves or phone covers are made
completely by hand and consist of high-quality
yarn such as merino, cotton or alpaca. We do not
use any machines and thus do not mass-produce
cheap goods. With a MyOma creation you have a
unique product that lasts for a very long time and
keeps you warm. We also accept special orders
and create modern fashion items as well.
CAN YOUR GRANNIES KNIT FROM HOME?
Everyone is free to knit wherever he or she pleases.
We also have a large, cosy kitchen in Fürth
where our grannies and our grandpa enjoy meeting
for a coffee and knit away together. With this
approach, we also pursue a social aspect – after
all, MyOma also sets out to help older people
avoid loneliness and solitude. We have already
forged a some friendships across our team.
HOW DO YOU DISTRIBUTE THE INDIVIDUAL
KNITTING ORDERS?
We are in direct contact with our grannies and accordingly
distribute the orders to those who have
the time and capacity. Then, the grannies either
come to our kitchen or we send them a package
containing the yarn and relevant knitting instructions
for the desired product.
DOES THE CUSTOMER KNOW WHICH
GRANNY OR GRANDPA KNITTED THEIR HAT?
Yes. We‘ve developed a highly personalised approach.
We have brief profi les on the internet for
every granny and our grandpa. And every customer
delivery includes an autograph.
www.myoma.de
Only the City-States Berlin and Hamburg have a higher ratio. However,
compared to Munich, these two metropolises show a weaker
performance. The German Association for Information Technology,
Telecommunications and New Media (BITKOM) examined start-ups
between 2008 and 2011 for the study.
PAGE 2

IN FOCUS: BAVARIA’S TOY INDUSTRY
PERSUASIVE QUALITY AND A GLUT OF GREAT IDEAS
Bavaria is known for Lederhosen and laptops, beer gardens and
mountains, lakes and castles. But also when it comes to toys, Bavaria
is famous world-wide for its successful toy manufacturers who win
over the hearts of children and persuade parents with quality and innovations.
Many of the well-known German toy manufacturers come from Bavaria and
can boast a long history. The traditional companies contribute signifi cantly to
the variety of products offered at the Nuremberg Toy Fair. “They account for
about 30% of German exhibitors”, confi rms Kyra Mende, spokesperson for the
Toy Fair. She stresses: “Especially in Bavaria and particularly in Franconia, it
can still be felt today that toy production is fi rmly connected with the region
and that some companies even play a major role worldwide in the premier
division of toy manufacturers.”
SO, IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS, HERE IS A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF
BAVARIAN TOY SPECIALISTS:
Haba – Wood for Inventors
The Habermaaß GmbH from Bad Rodach sees itself as the ‘inventor for children’
and with a broad product portfolio, ranging from wooden and textile toys
to decorating ideas and accessories, offers a wide selection for babies and
children. The company was founded in 1938 by Eugen Habermaaß and Anton
Engel and is still family-owed. The high-quality goods are popular with children
and their parents. After all, Haba stands for quality and tradition – which is
increasingly important for responsible consumers.
Bruder – An Eye for Detail
Bruder predominantly produces toy vehicles in Germany – in Fürth Burgfarrnbach
to be precise. These vehicles are characterised by their high attention
to detail on a 1:16 scale. No other manufacturer offers comparable products
at this scale. Numerous vehicles were awarded the ‘spiel gut’ quality
approval seal. The company has a local and international customer base.
Playmobil – A Children’s Classic
Playmobil fi gures have invaded children’s rooms from the town of Zirndorf. The
core element is a 7.5 cm plastic plaything. The hands, arms, legs and head
can be moved, and tools and everyday objects can be attached to the fi gures.
WWW.INVEST-IN-BAVARIA.COM
Of course there are suitable play worlds such as castles or airplanes that the
children can assemble themselves. The label’s name and characteristic blue
logo were designed by artist and graphic designer Rainer Willingstorfer. Every
children’s room in Germany probably has at least one Playmobil fi gure, vehicle,
farm or pirate ship.
Sigikid – The Stuff of Children’s Dreams
The origins of this toy manufacturer date back as far as 1856 when Heinrich
Scharrer from Nuremberg created a business for mirrors, glass beads and toys
made from pearl in the Upper Franconian town of Bayreuth, 100 km from his
home town. Sigrid Gottstein took over the company in 1968, specialising in the
production of high-quality children’s toys. She created her own product line
called ‘Sigikid’ – a combination of her fi rst name ‘Sigi’ and the word ‘kid’. Since
then, the Bavarian toy manufacturer from Mistelbach has made countless children
happy with colourful toy clocks, baby comforters, cot mobiles, stuffed
toys, dolls, baby and children’s fashion lines as well as bags.
BIG – Plastics in Motion
The BIG toy factory in Fürth is among the leading manufacturers of high-quality
plastic toys worldwide. Their famous ‘Bobby Car’, which was developed to help
small children learn to walk, is of particular note. The toy car has a centred
seat so children can sit as if on a motorcycle and move the car with leg paddle
movements. The company logo, the BIG buffalo, symbolises strength, robustness
and durability – which is exactly what distinguishes the toys from this
Bavarian company.
Käthe Kruse – Dolls from Grandma’s Days
Not much has changed – the ‘Käthe Kruse Manufaktur‘ in Donauwörth
still produces dolls by hand just as they did 100 years ago. The late
Käthe Kruse who founded the factory (1911), began to make dolls for
her daughters as early as 1904, simply because she didn’t like the commercially
available models. The bodies of Käthe Kruse’s dolls are made
of cloth and hand-stuffed with deer or reindeer hair. In addition to these
coveted collector’s items, the product range has been extended by Kruse’s
daughter and successor Hanne Adler-Kruse, ensuring that the tradition
and quality of the hand-made dolls has remained the same. There is even
a Käthe Kruse doll museum in Donauwörth.
PAGE 3

BAVARIA IN YOUR BRIEFCASE
WINTER HOLIDAYS IN BAVARIA: ESKIMO ADVENTURE IN THE MOUNTAINS
Igloo Hotels – The new Alpine Trend
At fi rst glance, everything looks completely normal. The rooms have tables,
chairs and beds. Hotel guests meet at the bar, in the restaurant or the jacuzzi.
However, the difference is that all the walls are white and literally ice-cold.
It‘s what you‘d expect when they‘re made of ice and snow and the hotel is in
the middle of the mountains, 2,000 metres above sea level. The ‘IgluLodge’
at the Nebelhorn near Oberstdorf offers particularly cool pleasures.
Families, couples, friends or work colleagues can all enjoy the icy Eskimo
adventure. The so called ‘Schlaf-Iglus‘, (Bed Igloos) are 2.8 metres high with
a diameter of 4 metres. The Igloo Bar and Igloo Restaurant are each 7 metres
in diameter, offering enough space to feel cosy and to spend the night in a
world of sparkling ice crystals.
FAIRS & EVENTS
… IN MUNICH
BAU 2013
14 – 19 JAN. 2013
The World‘s Leading Trade Fair for
Architecture, Materials, Systems
www.bau-muenchen.com/en/Home
OPTI 2013
25 – 27 JAN. 2013
The International Trade Show for
Optics & Design
www.opti-munich.com/en/home
YOUR KEY TO OUR STATE
Invest in Bavaria – The Business Promotion Agency of the Bavarian Ministry of
Economic Affairs, Infrastructure, Transport and Technology and Bayern International.
IMAGE SOURCES: P. 1: © photocase.de/jala | P. 4: © myOma
P. 3: © thinkstockphotos.de | P. 4: © IgluLodge
… IN NUREMBERG
TOY FAIR
30 JAN. – 04 FEB. 2013
International Toy Fair
www.toyfair.de
However, when guests dress for dinner, tuxedos or evening gowns are not
an option. For the high-alpine dinner at 2,000 metres, your apparel should be
warm and suitable for winter conditions.
“It can get very cold outside after sunset”, explains IgluLodge’s Matthias
Lenz. “However, the temperature inside the igloos is constant between -5
and +5°C.”
Those with energy to spare after dinner can stretch their legs in the jacuzzi
(+40°C) or have fun with the Iglu Lodge game collection. Guests sleep on a
snow bed with special thermal insulation and in expedition sleeping bags
(designed for up to -40°C). Also available are twin sleeping bags and reindeer
skins made in Finland for extra cosiness and sweet dreams.
Only one question remains: how old do guests have to be to enjoy this icy
pleasure? “Everyone, from 10 who feels fi t and loves nature is more than
welcome to join us here”, explains Lenz. So there is nothing else standing in
the way of a unique Eskimo adventure at the Nebelhorn. You can also enjoy
the experience at the Zugspitze, where they have a whole Igloo village. So
wrap up nice and warm and experience the world of Eskimos and ice crystals
for yourself.
www.iglu-dorf.com
www.iglu-lodge.de
www.oberstdorf.de
… BY AND WITH INVEST IN BAVARIA
INVEST IN BAVARIA AT ARAB HEALTH
28 – 31 JAN. 2013 IN DUBAI,
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
Your Contact:
Dr. Martin Wimbersky
Phone: +49 89 2162-2209
martin.wimbersky@invest-in-bavaria.com
PUBLISHER
DR. JOHANN NIGGL
PRINZREGENTENSTR. 28
80538 MUNICH | GERMANY
TEL.: +49 89 24210-7500
FAX: +49 89 24210-7557
WELCOME@INVEST-IN-BAVARIA.COM
BUSINESS BAVARIA
COORDINATION: ALEXANDRA SCHMIDHUBER
EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT: WWW.TEXTBAU.COM
TRANSLATION: WWW.TRANSLATE-ME.INFO
ART DIRECTION | INTERNET: ALEX PODOLAY
DESIGN: WWW.TREIB-STOFF.COM
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