Building a brand is like laying a mosaic. It takes many pieces to create the picture.

What motivates us

 

While current theory maintains that economic development requires expansion of specialized industrial goods and services, we are challenging this notion. There is a clear downside to products being standardized with little tolerance for variation. We think it is wrong for the process of design being far removed from that of production with an overwhelming focus on the marketability and efficiency of the product. Big data has a lot of economic power, but it also reduces our creativity to the largest common denominator.

In what is becoming known as the artisan economy, certain sectors are demonstrating craft-like qualities that have catalyzed their success. This is true for products as well as services and experiences. They touch many areas of our daily life: what we eat, how we live, the places where we work and the experiences we make.

As a specialist in maker brands, we bring attention to the importance of sustainable, well designed and crafted products. We believe that brands and products should surprise and delight.

Our Values

Sustainability

We focus on sustainable development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. By managing sustainability, our companies improve processes, pursue growth, and add value to their corporation rather than focusing on reputation alone.
U

Transparency

Transparency produces trust. It starts with people. Transparency is one of those subtle things that can make a dramatic impact on a business. It will impact the bottom line but that is not the sole objective. The point is that it helps everyone do business better – our brands, their people and their clients.

Design

Good design matters. It is an integral part of a brand and creates a lasting relationship with the user. We believe that design and manufacturing must be closely linked with design being the leading force.

Craft

Craft not only supports an idea, it can strip it back to reveal its simplicity and intelligence. It requires persistence and the products created by the brands stand out in today’s world of standardized and non-descript commodities.

What motivates us

 

While current theory maintains that economic development requires expansion of specialized industrial goods and services, we are challenging this notion. There is a clear downside to products being standardized with little tolerance for variation. We think it is wrong for the process of design being far removed from that of production with an overwhelming focus on the marketability and efficiency of the product. Big data has a lot of economic power, but it also reduces our creativity to the largest common denominator.

In what is becoming known as the artisan economy, certain sectors are demonstrating craft-like qualities that have catalyzed their success. This is true for products as well as services and experiences. They touch many areas of our daily life: what we eat, how we live, the places where we work and the experiences we make.

As a specialist in maker brands, we bring attention to the importance of sustainable, well designed and crafted products. We believe that brands and products should surprise and delight.

Our Values

Sustainability

We focus on sustainable development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. By managing sustainability, our companies improve processes, pursue growth, and add value to their corporation rather than focusing on reputation alone.
U

Transparency

Transparency produces trust. It starts with people. Transparency is one of those subtle things that can make a dramatic impact on a business. It will impact the bottom line but that is not the sole objective. The point is that it helps everyone do business better – our brands, their people and their clients.

Design

Good design matters. It is an integral part of a brand and creates a lasting relationship with the user. We believe that design and manufacturing must be closely linked with design being the leading force.

Craft

Craft not only supports an idea, it can strip it back to reveal its simplicity and intelligence. It requires persistence and the products created by the brands stand out in today’s world of standardized and non-descript commodities.
Jan-Patrick Schmitz

 Our Founder

Our firm was founded by Jan-Patrick Schmitz. He dedicated his career to the development of consumer brands where the excellence of craft, superior product quality and the beauty of design are central to the brand equity. Mr. Schmitz is also the CEO and Chairman of the Management Board of the WÜSTHOF Group. In addition, he serves on the board of directors of Thornwillow Press and the German American Chamber of Commerce in New York. 

He is the former Chairman of the Steiff Group, a diversified company operating in the consumer and engineering space. He served for over two decades on the global leadership team of MONTBLANC, a Richemont-owned luxury brand. He has been instrumental in repositioning and growing Montblanc into a $ 1+ billion company. 

For many years, he was a driving force behind the “The 24-Hour Plays” on Broadway and the “The 24-Hour Plays: Los Angeles”. He has been actively involved with Urban Arts Partnership, a New York-based organization providing arts curriculum to underserved schools in the New York City and the Los Angeles public school system. Previously, he served on the Board of Directors of “Jewelers for Children” and the advisory board of the Ethics Institute at Kent Place School.

Mr. Schmitz is a thought leader in the consumer goods space with extensive experience in brand management. He lived and worked in the United States, Europe, and Asia. He has been a guest lecturer on global consumer brand strategies at various universities including Harvard Business School, George Washington University, New York University and the Fashion Institute of Technology.

Selective Media