JACOB’S LADDER

The cloud as the perfect data manager BY SHAMANTH SHANKAR As retailers grow, efficiently managing data across their application landscape becomes increasingly central. Business users and information technology (IT) leaders therefore require data management solutions which provide insights to them and relevant information to their customers along their purchasing lifecycle. For this reason, accommodating scale,…

SOUNDMACHINE

A classic becomes modern BY SANDY STRASSER Record players are the interior trend of the year, with the comeback of vinyl music currently omnipresent. But what exactly makes the sound system of yesteryear an absolute must-have today? Using new technologies, these new record players usually come with a USB connection, allowing music to additionally be…

HUNGRY FOR RESULTS

Global player in the digital fitness industry BY ANJA FAHS This app is really tough! My muscles were burning like fire and during the last ten jumps my legs started to feel heavy as lead, yet there were still squats to do, which would be the final straw for my trembling muscles. Quitting is not…

FREE SPIRIT

A girl and her eagle BY ANJA FAHS As soon as its mistress removes the protecting cap, the great eagle turns its head and looks around with its piercing eyes. It is still perched on the young girl’s arm. Suddenly, it spots its prey and in two great beats of its wings, it flies up…

Temel Kahyaoglu in conversation with Jürg Weber

Temel Kahyaoglu, Chief Analyst TGOA, in conversation with Jürg Weber, CEO censhare (Schweiz) AG, on Corporate Newsrooms Jürg Weber is the CEO, co-founder and co-owner of censhare (Schweiz) AG. Throughout his career, he has acquired in-depth experience in product management, purchasing management and sales marketing at both nationally and internationally active trading companies. During this time, he…

STEFAN SAGMEISTER

BY NADINE PELZER / SABINE STAHL What makes people really happy? This is precisely the question the acclaimed designer Stefan Sagmeister has asked himself. The very personal documentary ‘The Happy Film’ is the result of years of research and self-experiments on the way to happiness. His work inspires and fascinates, and is known for its…

THERE IS SOMETHING IN THE AIR

BY NADINE PELZER Time is a magical thing. Sometimes we feel it racing past, and sometimes it seems to stand still. But what if the time could suddenly catapult us into entirely different spheres? If we could let time literally intoxicate and sprinkle us? We can … At first glance, one could believe the simple…

NEXT GENERATION

Cult brand Abercrombie & Fitch reinvents itself BY ANJA FAHS At the end of the 19th century, someone stepping into ‘Abercrombie & Co’, a small shop on the waterfront in downtown Manhattan, would have found him- or herself in the midst of a large selection of expensive and in some cases quite exotic outdoor and…

THE NEW AGE OF COMMUNICATION

The challenge of personalisation and localisation BY MATHIAS WURTH Through digitalisation, the world has become smaller. The multitude of online distribution channels and social media at our disposal today also means we can communicate in various ways with more people in more time zones simultaneously. For a standard campaign, an average company uses at least…

MOMENTARY DECISION

Interview with photographer Jim Rakete BY SANDY STRASSER In a career of almost 50 years as a photographer, he captured the German elite of acting and music - Jim Rakete. Many great international personalities too, trust him and his sense for what truly makes a portrait. With us he spoke about the beginnings of his…

TIMELESS ELEGANCE

Interview with Slowear Managing Director Roberto Compagno BY NADINE PELZER Carefully designed details and an immaculate fit combined with top-quality material is the recipe for timeless items of clothing. For 60 years, the Italian Slowear Group, which consists of 4 brands, has been passionately devoted to manufacturing products which are beautiful, sustainable and reliable at…

Thomas Lucas-Nülle in conversation with Michael Kugler

Thomas Lucas-Nülle, Chief Analyst TGOA, in conversation with Michael Kugler, Managing Director Contentserv GmbH, about the Ability to Execute Mr. Kugler is an industrial engineer and has more than ten years’ experience in various specialist and management positions, from consulting and marketing through to product management and sales. He is regarded a pioneer in the area of Product…

HUMAN SUBWOOFER

Basslet is the first speaker to be worn on the wrist BY DR CLAUDIA PELZER To not only listen to music, but to feel it – that is the vision of the Berlin start-up Lofelt, the creative minds behind the Basslet bracelet. They have been working on the prototypes since 2014. In 2016, a Kickstarter…

TIME TO GREEN

Audi connects with traffic lights in the US BY THOMAS LUCAS-NÜLLE If you know in advance when a traffic light will turn red or green, you will drive more relaxed and efficiently. Audi is the first car manufacturer to connect with the urban surrounding – an important step towards autonomous driving. This service is called…

NEW BUSINESS

On the trail of the customer BY SARAH GRECHENIG Digitalisation has not only turned our everyday lives upside-down, it has also extensively revolutionised commerce. Developments in eCommerce have actually strong-armed digital transformation. The boundaries between sectors have become more fluid, those selling insurance today may be selling cars tomorrow. Nothing seems impossible any more. As…

Temel Kahyaoglu in conversation with Robert Schneider

Temel Kahyaoglu, Chief Analyst TGOA, in conversation with Robert Schneider, CEO w&co MediaServices, on the rising significance of integrators Since 2009, Robert Schneider has been the Managing Director at, and a shareholder in, w&co MediaServices GmbH & Co KG, a full-service media services provider based in Munich, Germany. Prior to this, he had been a manager at…

ROYAL TOUCH

Culinary secrets from the Royal Chef BY NORA MANTHEY Carolyn Robb was the Royal Family’s chef for thirteen years. She travelled with Prince Charles and was there when Prince William and Prince Harry lost their mother, Princess Diana. Her expertise and experiences inspired a cookbook: ‘The Royal Touch, Simple stunning home cooking from a former…

NAVY UNDERSTATEMENT

As versatility, timelessness, and effortless style go, the navy blazer is the piece of clothing that’s hard to beat. In fact, it’s one of the cornerstones of the modern male wardrobe – a classic item which can be worn at the weekend, in the evening and most importantly, in a smart casual office environment. The…

Temel Kahyaoglu in conversation with Ania Hentz

Temel Kahyaoglu, Chief Analyst TGOA, in conversation with Ania Hentz, CEO silver.solutions on, what makes B2B eCommerce so special Ania Hentz is the founder and Managing Director of silver.solutions GmbH. With a background in marketing, Ania Hentz identified the potential of the Internet in 1999 and founded her own IT company in collaboration with Frank Dege. She is…

FEEL COMFORTABLE

In and out of slippers in style BY CHRISTIAN PECHER Just be relaxed and keep the slippers on when you go out, suggests the London label mahabis, which offers slippers with separate outer soles. Comfortable slippers in a lovely Scandinavian design are thus transformed into stylish outdoor footwear and vice versa. Who says functional wear…

SUCCESS IS IN THE PRODUCT MIX

Orsay persuades with bright omnichannel BY JÜRGEN BURGER There is hardly any industry spinning faster than fashion. Collection chases collection as customer preferences change virtually monthly. Fashionable companies, especially those with young target groups, must thus offer new products practically every week to ensure consumers’ continued interest in the brand. Even for the most experienced,…

SMART FABRICS

Google unites textiles and technology in its Jacquard project BY DR CLAUDIA PELZER Google’s Advanced Technology and Projects Group (ATAP), which focusses on researching future technologies, is currently transforming textiles into interactive surfaces. Here, new weaving techniques are being developed that permit sensors and electro-conductive yarns to be integrated into fabrics. At the annual Google…

Marketers, let it rain gold in 2017!

On the road to success with digital business, personalization and data protection BY ANDRES DICKEHUT Andres Dickehut, CEO of marketing service provider Consultix, set off on behalf of Das Produktkulturmagazin in search of digital marketing trends. He has been advising international clients on customer engagement, eCRM, customer lifecycle management and eCommerce since 1994. ProCampaign®, one…

CREATING THE NEW

Is adidas’ new business model leaving competitors far behind? BY SANDY STRASSER Whether a product fulfils its purpose, whether it’s trendy and stylish, and above all whether it has its finger on the pulse of time — these factors are increasingly being decided by the customer in the digital age. It is he who not…

CYBER CRIME

Tracking down the perpetrators BY SANDY STRASSER As people conduct more of their private lifes online, attackers are increasingly focused on using the intersection of the physical and digital world to their advantage. In 2015, the American software company Symantec saw a resurgence of many tried-and-true scams. Cybercriminals revisited fake technical support scams which saw…

BEAUTY IN MOTION

Mercedes-Maybach luxury BY ANJA FAHS Each year in August, the world’s vintage car fan community transforms Pebble Beach in California into a superlative beauty pageant – a summit for the most exquisite classic automobiles. This year, it proved to be the perfect venue for premièring the exclusive Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6, a luxury-class coupé of the…

MAN OF THE FUTURE

Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff creates Artificial Intelligence for anyone BY NADINE PELZER Artificial Intelligence is creating new ways for people to engage with technology and with one another. Various forms of AI already power for many years some of the world’s most popular consumer experiences, such as Apple’s Siri or Facebooks deep learning facial recognition…

DRESSED

Interview with Falke Managing Director Paul Falke BY SANDY STRASSER Fashion is driven by our own quest for beauty. The need for people to adorn themselves and to look for, and gradually find, their own style is also the driving force in fashion. Sock manufactory Falke has committed itself to developing stylish fashion for modern…

DIGITAL TO THE TOP

Interview with Dr Torsten Wingenter, Head of Digital Innovations at Lufthansa German Airlines BY JÜRGEN BURGER The Lufthansa Group is a globally operating aviation group with a total of 540 subsidiaries and affiliates. Over the last financial year, these were organised inter alia in the business segments of Passenger Airline Group, logistics, technology, catering, etc….

BALANCED

The importance of personnel development BY TEMEL KAHYAOGLU How can companies win the most talented employees while skilled workers are scarce today? How does good and honest loyalty work in detail? Dirk Jurkowksi, Managing Director of Xtentio GmbH, and graduate psychologist Silke M. Jürgensen reveal the positive effects a consistent strategy for personnel development can…

START ON PAPER

Continue everywhere BY SANDY STRASSER To let one’s thoughts run free in a surrounding that is both beautiful and exclusive: the feeling to write on paper by Montblanc with the respective pen or fountain pen remains unparalleled for many. For more than a hundred years, the label is synonymous with writing culture and master craftsmanship….

Temel Kahyaoglu in conversation with Saim Rolf Alkan

Temel Kahyaoglu, Chief Analyst TGOA, in conversation with  Saim Rolf Alkan CEO ax semantics about the two classes in e-commerce Saim Rolf Alkan is the CEO of ax semantics, one of the pioneers in the area of automated copywriting. Based on his many years of experience with the requirements of content production and quality as…

KOBE BEEF

The Beefbar Butcher Shop BY ANJA FAHS No other foodstuff invokes our basic instincts like a juicy steak being grilled on the barbecue and we catch the spicy aroma of caramelising meat. Meat is pure pleasure, and it is also healthy, in view of the fact that it has been one of our most important…

DYNAMIC, NOT STATIC

Effective content is a matter of data management driven by demand BY MATTHIAS KANT Communicating across all channels is a challenge all companies face in times of cross-channel. But only those that provide high-quality information in their external communication while creating a personalised customer experience will have success in the long-term. Modern content management must…

GENERATION HUMAN

Why companies have to rethink in view of the ‘War for Talents’ BY THOMAS LUCAS-NÜLLE The emerging generation of working people has changed just as strongly as the working environment itself. The classical office or industrial workplace has in many cases disappeared and been replaced with flexible structures and tasks. At the same time, the…

TRAFFIC GUIDE

What traffic information will do in future BY THOMAS LUCAS-NÜLLE TomTom is a market leader in providing traffic services and products around the globe. With a market reach of 47 countries, its services aim to make the journey of the driver both safer and faster. However, the customer portfolio of the company, although indeed placing…

RETRO PERSPECTIVE

The sound of style BY NADINE PELZER Bluetooth speakers generally sound pretty well and are easy to use. In terms of style however, they rarely blend in with, shall we say, more carefully orchestrated surroundings. Not so the Caruso, a rather hip example which cleverly combines acoustics with storage space and sports a gramophone mimicking…

DATA SYNERGIES

Interview with Ingrid-Helen Arnold, President SAP Business Data Network By Temel Kahyaoglu In view of the digital economy and the Cloud, CIOs are today taking on important strategic leadership roles. Forward-looking CIOs have recognised that the Cloud is here to stay. For this reason, they are preparing their companies for a digital future that will…

MULTILANGUAGE

Learning to understand the customer’s language BY RAM APPIKATLA Nowadays market analyses show significant change in behaviour and demand of retail. It is therefore imperative for retailers to not only have a physical presence but to be present across channels also - to engage in omnichannel retailing ideally. To do this efficiently, targeted and while…

An Ode to Winter

If you work in a sprawling office with lots of colleagues, then it’s possible the main impression the people at the top have of you will be the way you dress. Whether you’re in a cubicle or a corner office, the way you dress can be a key determining process on your future career path….

MAR ADENTRO

Gateway to the ocean BY ANJA FAHS Dazzling light reflecting on the ocean, with nothing but endless blue all the way to the horizon. A gentle swell subtly hints at the power of the currents – a crass contrast to the rigid desert landscape of the coast. Here, the sun bears down on the radiantly-white…

GROWING PLAYFULLY

The new LEGO People House BY SANDY STRASSER A place for work and fun. A space to cooperate and play. These are some of the elements of LEGO’s new office building. Starting this year, it will serve as a global meeting point at the headquarters of one of the world’s leading toy manufacturers. We spoke…

MARITIME FUN

Welcome on board with Compass BY TEMEL KAHYAOGLU Compass is Europe’s largest mail-order company for motor boating and sailing sports. Ever since its foundation in 1979, the company is independent and family-run. Together with his wife, owner Michael Dehler is the second generation to lead the company in over 25 years. Today, with over 30,000…

HANDICRAFT

Individualism in Italian BY SANDY STRASSER Functional, practical and easy to carry - that is what the Italian label Piquadro stands for. Marco Palmieri is the boss of this bags and briefcases brand. Former engineering student and IT entrepreneur, he discovered his love of leather at an early age and eventually came to the decision…

A PANORAMIC VIEW

How to keep full control during digital transformation BY CHRISTIAN COLMER “Speaking to the pilot is strictly forbidden!” It was with these words that Picasso once curtly interrupted someone who was admiring his work. Successful CMOs do just the opposite. They are pilots who seek dialogue and keep an ear to the ground for customer…

DAM — IN THE CENTER OF THE IMAGE LIFE CYCLE

Modern Digital Asset Management for the creation, organizing and distribution of your media files BY CHRISTIAN LEEGER With the constant influx of new products, improvements and updates, as well as the changing needs of distribution channels, product information systems are being kept on their toes. Graupner/SJ, a leader in RC-toys, recently reorganised its entire communication…