Wolfgang Grupp has been running the textile company Trigema for more than 50 years. The well-known entrepreneur does not want to stop just yet. Now he’s 80 and struggling with rising prices.
Wolfgang Grupp is up to speed immediately. He can quickly become loud during a conversation, so loud that the meeting table in the open-plan office asks him to be a little quieter. The entrepreneur – perfectly groomed, handkerchief in a suit, gold watch – then grumbles briefly, but seems reasonable.
That’s how you know the group. On April 4, the Swabian entrepreneur will be 80 years old. He has been running the textile manufacturer Trigema in Burladingen (Zollernalbkreis) since 1969. The sprightly medium-sized company is known throughout Germany because it likes to represent its opinion with concise slogans and thus also offends people. And because for many years he has been chatting to a monkey about Trigema during prime time advertising before the news.
However, Grupp is not only a speaker, but also an entrepreneur who upholds values such as responsibility and decency. An old-school entrepreneur who still manages without a computer at his large desk. As a registered merchant, he is personally liable with his entire fortune for the company, which according to its own statements is the last textile company to produce exclusively in Germany. Children of employees are guaranteed an apprenticeship. In many ways, the entrepreneur is a rarity in Germany.
Current Challenges
One could think that at the age of 80 Grupp would have seen, experienced and survived everything that life as an entrepreneur entails. But currently Grupp is really challenged again. A crisis manager in retirement age. First, the corona pandemic turned the whole world upside down. And now, with Russia’s attack on Ukraine, a war has broken out in Europe, which, in addition to causing great suffering for people, also affects companies in this country.
Grupp is currently struggling with increased gas prices. “Last year, up until August, we had gas costs of 100,000 euros a month. They increased gradually, and at the beginning of March the gas price was so high that it would cost us around 900,000 euros a month,” said Grupp. As a consequence, Trigema suspended the night shift for four weeks, also because of corona failures, and the gas turbine, with which the company produces its own electricity, is switched off at night.
“I can’t answer the question of whether gas will still be available tomorrow or not, and that certainly makes me nervous.” The company has 100 percent equity, no loans to pay off and can survive such a crisis. “But of course not for years.”
In addition, other raw materials would also become more expensive. That will be difficult in the long run, since Trigema cannot raise prices to this extent. “Customers certainly won’t pay double the price for a t-shirt and then they won’t buy it anymore!”
The Corona years
Grupp survived the Corona crisis well. Actually very good. At first he thought he was facing the most difficult of all crises. “And then it was one of our best years,” says Grupp. He produced masks, according to his own statement 2.3 million pieces. In 2020 sales were 122.3 million euros. That was an exception. In 2021 Trigema had 112.8 million euros in sales. For comparison: in 2019, before the Corona crisis, it was 104 million euros. He does not like to talk about the profit, but Grupp emphasizes: “Trigema has never had a negative year in my 52 years.”
And apparently there is no end in sight. It seems as if the manager can’t let go. Grupp replies: “As long as I get the feeling from my employees and my family that they still like to see me, it would be arrogant and a huge mistake to say that I’m 80 years old, I don’t have to work anymore.” As long as he have the feeling of being needed, he stays. But: “If I get the feeling of being a nuisance, it would be fatal if I impose myself.” (dpa)