Growing together: Simon Kaiser supports the IP44.de sales team
For IP44.de, last year was the most successful year in our company’s history so far. At a time when more and more people are discovering outdoor time as a valuable part of their everyday lives, we sold more outdoor lighting than ever before. Because we will continue to grow in the future, we are strengthening our sales team. Our well-established DACH sales team around Peter Bals and Michael Speth is pleased to welcome Simon Kaiser, a top-class newcomer. Since the beginning of 2021, the former Occhio man has been in charge of our sales in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
“We claim to be among the best with our lamps,” says Bernd Schmalhorst, the founder and managing director of IP44.de. “The same applies to our cooperation with specialist retailers, lighting designers and architects.” This is no easy task in view of an ever-expanding portfolio and dynamic growth. In the past few years, it was, among other things, the expansion of our collection to include portable outdoor luminaires that ensured steadily increasing demand. Connect, the flexible energy supply for outdoors, has also been in huge demand since its market launch in 2017. With the supply system, garden and patio luminaires can be connected directly without the need for excavators and electricians. Specialist retailers and lighting designers can thus offer their customers a foolproof plug’n play solution.
In order to be able to offer our partners a consistently high quality of advice and service despite dynamic growth, we looked for a reinforcement for our sales team – and found an ideal sales manager in Simon Kaiser. “Simon has excellent contacts and market knowledge,” says Bernd Schmalhorst. “At the same time, he knows and appreciates the characteristics and values of our brand.”
Simon Kaiser comes from the lighting brand Occhio, for which he managed sales in the North/East Germany region for twelve years. The move to IP44.de was the logical next step for the 48-year-old. “At Occhio, I was able to accompany the growth of an owner-managed design brand,” says Kaiser, “and that’s exactly what we’ve set out to do at IP44.de.” What impressed him about the Rheda-Wiedenbrück brand was its very own approach and the harmonious cooperation with specialist retailers and lighting designers. “IP44.de is unique on the DACH market and has excellent growth prospects. I am very pleased to have the opportunity to accompany the IP44.de colleagues and partners in their realisation with immediate effect.
