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Offline Bigdaddynz  
#251 Posted : 09 February 2012 00:19:47(UTC)
Bigdaddynz

New Zealand   
Joined: 17/09/2006(UTC)
Posts: 18,661
Location: New Zealand
Originally Posted by: H0 Go to Quoted Post
The new CEO is Wolfrad Bächle, the old CEO is Stefan Löbich.



Confused Confused Confused Confused


I thought Stefan Löbich was new to the Märklin CEO's job. Has he now left Märklin as well?
Offline Western Pacific  
#252 Posted : 09 February 2012 08:13:04(UTC)
Western Pacific

Sweden   
Joined: 19/09/2009(UTC)
Posts: 841
Location: Lidingö, Sweden
Originally Posted by: Bigdaddynz Go to Quoted Post
Originally Posted by: H0 Go to Quoted Post
The new CEO is Wolfrad Bächle, the old CEO is Stefan Löbich.



Confused Confused Confused Confused


I thought Stefan Löbich was new to the Märklin CEO's job. Has he now left Märklin as well?



As far as I've understood the situation, Stefan Löbich is CEO and Wolfrad Bächle is Technical Director and both of them are listed as top managers. See this link or the German Link which also lists the area managers (Vertrieb = Distribution, Produktion = Production, Finanz- und Rechnungswesen = Finance and Accounting, Entwicklung/Konstruktion = R&D, Einkauf/Logistik = Purchase/Logistics).

In my mind, a succesful company should besides, the CEO, if they appoint some managers as part of the top management team, also have a Marketing Director, not only a Technical Director.
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Online H0  
#253 Posted : 09 February 2012 09:42:47(UTC)
H0


Joined: 16/02/2004(UTC)
Posts: 15,254
Location: DE-NW
Originally Posted by: Bigdaddynz Go to Quoted Post
Has he now left Märklin as well?

I didn't say he left.

See here:
http://www.maerklin.de/de/impressum.html

They are both listed as "Geschäftsführer" - some translate this as CEO, others as Managing Director.
Regards
Tom
---
"In all of the gauges, we particularly emphasize a high level of quality, the best possible fidelity to the prototype, and absolute precision. You will see that in all of our products." (from Märklin New Items Brochure 2015, page 1) ROFLBTCUTS
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Offline Bigdaddynz  
#254 Posted : 09 February 2012 11:14:34(UTC)
Bigdaddynz

New Zealand   
Joined: 17/09/2006(UTC)
Posts: 18,661
Location: New Zealand
Originally Posted by: H0 Go to Quoted Post
Originally Posted by: Bigdaddynz Go to Quoted Post
Has he now left Märklin as well?

I didn't say he left.



I didn't say that you said that! I just asked the question!


In English, when you say so and so is the new, and such and such is the old, that implies that the 'old' has been replaced by the 'new', hence the reason why I asked the question.

But in Germany, it seems you can have two people at the same company both with the same job title!
Offline NZMarklinist  
#255 Posted : 30 April 2012 09:59:07(UTC)
NZMarklinist

New Zealand   
Joined: 15/03/2011(UTC)
Posts: 1,757
Location: Auckland NZ
Originally Posted by: kimballthurlow Go to Quoted Post
Originally Posted by: Webmaster Go to Quoted Post
I think the Google translation is not so accurate as it could be... The German text does not sound so bad at all...


However, I get it that one of Lars' "dreams" was for a museum in Stuttgart Strasse (same location as the factory) to showcase toy technology.
And Löbich says that he is obliged to the creditors (the banks) to pursue new directions that "add value" to the Company, and that from his perspective, the existing Marklin World in Goppingen is enough.
So perhaps there was doubt that a museum would do anything for the Company.

Do you think I have that right?

regards
Kimball


I distinctly remeber reading somewhere on the opening of the new "Marklin Erbinswelt" that it was said to be temporary and would be replaced by a permamnent one within the main Marklin factory building. Perhaps this was Lars Schilling dreaming out loud, but I thought an ideal situatiuon for the Museum, as the previous one was miles from anywhere if you where on foot, except that you got to pass the Porsche Dealership Wink and the new one seemingly not that far from it but closer to Goppingen.
However I think Stephan Lobich is on the right track, in that it was an ideal that was hard to justify in tough economic times, (other than paying someone else rent) and more so, when since then, they have brought production back to Germany from China and probably need the space in the factory for manufacturing ThumpUp
Glen
Auckland NZ

" Every Marklin layout needs a V200, a Railbus and a Banana car", not to mention a few Black and red Steamers, oh and the odd Elok !

CS1 Reloaded, Touch Cab, C Track Modules, K track layout all under construction. Currently Insider
Online H0  
#256 Posted : 30 April 2012 11:09:09(UTC)
H0


Joined: 16/02/2004(UTC)
Posts: 15,254
Location: DE-NW
Hi!
Originally Posted by: NZMarklinist Go to Quoted Post
they have brought production back to Germany from China
China to Europe: yes. China to Hungary: yes. China to Germany: I dunno ...

Regards
Tom
---
"In all of the gauges, we particularly emphasize a high level of quality, the best possible fidelity to the prototype, and absolute precision. You will see that in all of our products." (from Märklin New Items Brochure 2015, page 1) ROFLBTCUTS
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Offline steventrain  
#257 Posted : 28 January 2013 13:31:04(UTC)
steventrain

United Kingdom   
Joined: 21/10/2004(UTC)
Posts: 31,601
Location: United Kingdom
Märklin is now rolling to Fürth?

http://www.nordbayern.de...nun-nach-furth-1.2653141 German text

I suggest you use Google translate.
Large Marklinist 3- Rails Layout with CS2/MS2/Boosters/C-track/favorites Electric class E03/BR103, E18/E118, E94, Crocodiles/Steam BR01, BR03, BR05, BR23, BR44, BR50, Big Boy.
Online H0  
#258 Posted : 28 January 2013 15:53:57(UTC)
H0


Joined: 16/02/2004(UTC)
Posts: 15,254
Location: DE-NW
Yet another article discussing the Simba-Dickie takeover.
No results before end of February or even March.

Also discussed here:
https://www.marklin-user...old-to-Simba-Dickie.aspx
Regards
Tom
---
"In all of the gauges, we particularly emphasize a high level of quality, the best possible fidelity to the prototype, and absolute precision. You will see that in all of our products." (from Märklin New Items Brochure 2015, page 1) ROFLBTCUTS
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Offline steventrain  
#259 Posted : 30 January 2013 21:36:25(UTC)
steventrain

United Kingdom   
Joined: 21/10/2004(UTC)
Posts: 31,601
Location: United Kingdom
News just in.

Multi-brand strategy is paying off
30.01.2013 15:41:35

Nuremberg (dpa-AFX) - the multiple brand strategy driven for more than a year of the model railway manufacturer Märklin pays off. "2012 the entire intake was three percent higher than the previous year," said Managing Director Stefan Löbich overlooking the marks Märklin, Trix and LBG on Wednesday at the Nuremberg toy fair, the News Agency dpa. Also the turnover had risen 2012 easily, in addition the yield have developed very well. Märklin was slipped into bankruptcy in 2009, has abound on itself since then but again. Löbich sees the current takeover talks with the Franconian toy manufacturer Simba Dickie left.

"Simba would certainly be a good solution, but we are self-financed for three years, can pay our investments from cash flow and are therefore not cramped on the road," Löbich stressed. However, he would welcome the success of the acquisition. "That would be great - it's a German investor, it is a privately owned company, it is only 200 kilometers away from Göppingen, one speaks a language, encountered in similar distribution channels, and to how we perceive it, Simba Yes each allows the identity of the brands are."

Märklin has undertaken much in the past year to strengthen the identity of its three brands. Formerly Trix and LGB were considered sometimes as the unloved appendage of Märklin, Löbich reported. "Now all three brands are more or less equally side by side." So you wanted meet also the different needs of each client.

This year, Märklin wants to put even a cheat. "We will roll up the United States business further, we will be working increasingly also Scandinavia with the theme of ore train, and is clear, to expand the market share for LGB and Trix", Löbich gave the objectives. With the plug-train concept presented at the fair, the Swabians want to also intensify their efforts to the next generation.
Large Marklinist 3- Rails Layout with CS2/MS2/Boosters/C-track/favorites Electric class E03/BR103, E18/E118, E94, Crocodiles/Steam BR01, BR03, BR05, BR23, BR44, BR50, Big Boy.
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Offline petestra  
#260 Posted : 30 January 2013 22:50:05(UTC)
petestra

United States   
Joined: 27/07/2009(UTC)
Posts: 5,824
Location: Leesburg,VA.USA
Excellent news, Stephen. That's the kind I ♥ to read, especially when it's about my favourite company! Cheers,Peter

ThumpUp Smile
Offline Nielsenr  
#261 Posted : 31 January 2013 05:06:51(UTC)
Nielsenr

United States   
Joined: 06/10/2010(UTC)
Posts: 883
Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL
I would think that if Marklin wants to start making bigger inroads here in the USA they need to be more aggressive (and fair) with their pricing here. Before I continue, I will say this is rather a "sore" subject with me.

As I have looked at a number of items for 2013 that I could be interested in, I have done some analysis of the pricing. The current conversion rate between Euros and US$$ is around 1.35. Yet most of the locos I am interested in are running around 1.5 from Marklin's retail in Euro to Walthers retail in US$$. Rolling stock appears to be a little closer, around a little over 1.4 on average. This does not take into account that VAT should also be removed, in my opinion. Take an expensive loco like the new Big Boy. I could probably save almost US$300 or more if I bought from a European store that would remove VAT. That is a lot of money.

From what I know, there did appear to be a bigger than usual pre-order discount from Walthers to it's dealers in 2012. That bigger discount does not appear to be occurring this year, at least at this time.

I have heard rumors (not verified) that Walthers does not get the VAT removed and that money goes toward running the Marklin USA offices. There are some fine people in the Marklin USA office. But if this rumor would be confirmed to be true, I am not sure I get or require that amount of service from them to warrant the VAT not being removed. And I think that customers in other English speaking countries also use Marklin USA for information, etc.

Because Marklin chose to shut down Marklin USA as the US distributor and give the distributorship to Walthers should not have a great effect on pricing. I know of no other "distributor" that Marklin has established. I stand corrected if someone knows of another distributor. My logic (crazy as it may be at times ... LOL!!) would seem to say that a "distributor" would get the best discount from Marklin, better than individual independent dealers.

All that having been said, I will probably do a very minimal amount of pre-ordering this year. In fact there is a good chance I won't pre-order anything. And last year I probably pre-ordered approx $10,000 worth of items. Money will be a lot tighter this year due to a number of reasons that I won't mention since I do not want to turn this into a "political" post. If I decide to get something, I will wait until the item has been out for a while and try and find a good deal from some store in Europe. I have been real loyal to my local dealer ... probably greater than 95% of my Marklin collection came from my local dealer. And my dealer is a good friend so I know what his mark-up is and he is not the problem. All of this only hurts the local dealer in the long term.

Ok, I'll get off my soap box now and stop my ranting ...

Keep smiling everybody!!

Robert
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Offline rrf  
#262 Posted : 07 February 2013 02:42:15(UTC)
rrf

United States   
Joined: 15/11/2009(UTC)
Posts: 300
Location: Silver Spring, Maryland USA
Originally Posted by: Nielsenr Go to Quoted Post
I would think that if Marklin wants to start making bigger inroads here in the USA they need to be more aggressive (and fair) with their pricing here. Before I continue, I will say this is rather a "sore" subject with me.

<stuff deleted>

Robert


Hello,

Having just visited my local dealer for the first time this year, I will now post another of my periodic rants against Walthers.

As Robert states, their pricing policies discourage sales. More importantly they discourage sales through local dealers. These dealers are Märklin's primary representatives in the US. Walther's pricing forces many customers to the "indirect" sales channel of vendors that import directly from Germany.

In my case, nearly 80% of my yearly spend no longer goes to my local dealer. Even though I want to show loyalty and give him my business, it's difficult to justify purchasing through him and Walthers, when I can go to someone who imports directly and literally get twice as many toys for my money!

Now back to the visit to my local dealer ... the main purpose was to order the new Mega Digital start set. Despite the added cost, I wanted to give this business to my local store. I was quite surprised and upset to find out that Walthers has decided to no longer import the Mega sets. Apparently they don't want to be burdened with the added shipping costs of the large boxes and so will now deny these sets to the US consumer!

In my humble opinion, if Märklin is serious about expanding US market share as the quote from Herr Direktor Löbich implies then Walthers must go.

Bye,
Rob
Mackenrode Wende Bahn
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Offline petestra  
#263 Posted : 07 February 2013 12:22:42(UTC)
petestra

United States   
Joined: 27/07/2009(UTC)
Posts: 5,824
Location: Leesburg,VA.USA
Well said, Rob. Walthers has NEVER cared about Märklin. I did some marketing in my years
with the airlines and although this is a service business, marketing correctly is key to success.
The My World products should be sold at stores like Toys R Us, KB toys, etc. This would give them
much more exposure to children in malls, etc. My World sets would need to include booklets to
show how one could expand to the Märklin main line and list authorized US dealers for this.
I think this course would work. PeterSmile
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Online H0  
#264 Posted : 07 February 2013 14:43:20(UTC)
H0


Joined: 16/02/2004(UTC)
Posts: 15,254
Location: DE-NW
Originally Posted by: petestra Go to Quoted Post
The My World products should be sold at stores like Toys R Us, KB toys, etc.Smile
All over the world those items are sold with 3+ stickers - only in the USA they use 8+ stickers (IIRC they have to prove the safety of their plastics to get a 3+ rating).

Regards
Tom
---
"In all of the gauges, we particularly emphasize a high level of quality, the best possible fidelity to the prototype, and absolute precision. You will see that in all of our products." (from Märklin New Items Brochure 2015, page 1) ROFLBTCUTS
UserPostedImage
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Offline petestra  
#265 Posted : 07 February 2013 14:52:00(UTC)
petestra

United States   
Joined: 27/07/2009(UTC)
Posts: 5,824
Location: Leesburg,VA.USA
Thanks, Tom. Good info! I did not know our country was so strict about this. Cheers,PeterSmile
Offline Nielsenr  
#266 Posted : 07 February 2013 19:32:03(UTC)
Nielsenr

United States   
Joined: 06/10/2010(UTC)
Posts: 883
Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL
In reference to the 8+ sticker, after a similar thread, I checked them out at my dealer back around Christmas. I don't believe his My World sets have the 8+ sticker. I should be visiting my dealer soon, I will recheck to see if that is correct.

Robert
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Offline cookee_nz  
#267 Posted : 07 February 2013 20:20:26(UTC)
cookee_nz

New Zealand   
Joined: 31/12/2010(UTC)
Posts: 3,948
Location: Paremata, Wellington
Originally Posted by: petestra Go to Quoted Post
Well said, Rob. Walthers has NEVER cared about Märklin. I did some marketing in my years
with the airlines and although this is a service business, marketing correctly is key to success.
The My World products should be sold at stores like Toys R Us, KB toys, etc. This would give them
much more exposure to children in malls, etc. My World sets would need to include booklets to
show how one could expand to the Märklin main line and list authorized US dealers for this.
I think this course would work. PeterSmile


Could not agree more with this.

Putting the sets into as many mass-retailers as possible, for what it is, a childs toy, but with a massive and unique 'upgrade path' into more advanced Marklin products via more specialised and knowledgable dealers.

I wonder also if a key part might not be more track for expansion - even a child quickly tires of an oval, but track that can be run through doorways, under furniture, around where the cat sleeps BigGrin and other interesting routes of a child imagination gives them much more possibilty.

Once you have a larger assortment of track, it becomes easier to justify the 'need' for more or longer trains, and turnouts for more variety.

Given how low the price of the basic My World sets is, I simply cannot imagine the financial economics of the basic raw cost of those sets.

Design, materials, production, packaging, shipping from factory-distribution-retailer, factory markup, distributor markup, retailer markup. These things must be costing a very small amount to actually make, ie $10-$20 ex factory?

Are Marklin literally giving away the C-track to subsidize the cost of the set? - not in itself a silly idea, printer manufacturers have been doing it for years, give away the printer and make it up on the ink/toner except here we have no 'compulsory' after-purchase costs other than batteries which Marklin don't sell anyway.

But all that aside, if initial indications are anything to go by, these sets are pretty solid, there's hardly anything to go wrong, nothing to get broken off, so short of being badly dropped, or stood on, or batteries left in to leak and corrode, I would not be surprised to see many of these sets still going after many years.
Cookee
Wellington
NZ image
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Offline steventrain  
#268 Posted : 08 March 2013 11:35:18(UTC)
steventrain

United Kingdom   
Joined: 21/10/2004(UTC)
Posts: 31,601
Location: United Kingdom
Marklin/Dickie news.

Acquisition decision is scheduled at the end of april. 5-year job guarantee for employees.

>SWP<

>N.TV<

Both in German.
Large Marklinist 3- Rails Layout with CS2/MS2/Boosters/C-track/favorites Electric class E03/BR103, E18/E118, E94, Crocodiles/Steam BR01, BR03, BR05, BR23, BR44, BR50, Big Boy.
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Offline river6109  
#269 Posted : 08 March 2013 12:13:23(UTC)
river6109

Australia   
Joined: 22/01/2009(UTC)
Posts: 14,636
Location: On 1965 Märklin Boulevard just around from Roco Square
I think the problem with chain toy stores, department stores and the like, they don't offer any service, spare parts etc.
So all in all, regarding marketing I don't think anybody has done their homework.
from a Märklin point of view it may be all to complicated to get a satisfying solution to all possible obstacles, the main problem I can see is the maintenance, refund and spare part sections. You may have bought your items, e.g. at "toys r us" but than it would have to go back to a dealer or distributor and the time it would take from handing in the toy and by the time you get it back could be weeks and maybe month. I think people, parents or modellers would be put off of waiting for such a long time and when you have more than 1 store, person handling the item, the more people are involved the more mistakes or delays can or could occur, most items I can see sold at these mega stores are simple plastic throw away toys and don't need maintenance or spare part and the working mechanism is usually simple.
these mega store or toy chains are looking for a quick sale, make a considerable profit with no strings attached to it such as repair work etc etc.

the same goes for Australian distributor(s) there isn't enough demand for these items, the postage is enormous and the returns are small because of the amount is sold and you couldn't compete with European dealers.

My view is, Walthers is maybe the most suitable distributor from an distribution point of view but may lack the person to person communications and its pricing policy. taking on such a variety of products isn't easy to control or sell and it could finish up being another warehouse for Märklin outside of Germany, good for Märklin but a nightmare for Walthers.
We always talk about potential losses of sales but we never really analyze the bulk of the market, if Märklin would be sure there is a potential market in the US I think someone by now would have looked at the possibility of widening their wings into this country.

Märklin will always look at a sale,whether it is Walthers or someone else, a sale we didn't have before but going beyond this involvement could be costly or damaging and it may did the take the wrong turn, who knows. their sales may be higher than before but there could be more disgruntled customers

John
https://www.youtube.com/river6109
https://www.youtube.com/6109river
5 years in Destruction mode
50 years in Repairing mode
Offline Webmaster  
#270 Posted : 09 March 2013 23:16:01(UTC)
Webmaster


Joined: 25/07/2001(UTC)
Posts: 11,161
Still - Simba Dickie seems to be a more serious longtime owner in the current market than the former owner Kingsbridge, who were a bunch of risk capitalist economists draining the company of money...

Herr Pluta has done an excellent job so far - so I think they are considering this option as the best long term option for the company...
Juhan - "Webmaster", at your service...
He who asks a question is a fool for five minutes. He who does not ask a question remains a fool forever. [Old Chinese Proverb]
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Offline mbarreto  
#271 Posted : 10 March 2013 01:26:52(UTC)
mbarreto

Portugal   
Joined: 18/02/2008(UTC)
Posts: 1,257
Originally Posted by: Webmaster Go to Quoted Post
Still - Simba Dickie seems to be a more serious longtime owner in the current market than the former owner Kingsbridge, who were a bunch of risk capitalist economists draining the company of money...

Herr Pluta has done an excellent job so far - so I think they are considering this option as the best long term option for the company...





I totally agree.

Best regards,
Miguel
Mostly Märklin H0.


Offline kimballthurlow  
#272 Posted : 10 March 2013 04:09:23(UTC)
kimballthurlow

Australia   
Joined: 18/03/2007(UTC)
Posts: 6,653
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Originally Posted by: Webmaster Go to Quoted Post
Still - Simba Dickie seems to be a more serious longtime owner in the current market than the former owner Kingsbridge, who were a bunch of risk capitalist economists draining the company of money...

Herr Pluta has done an excellent job so far - so I think they are considering this option as the best long term option for the company...


Well, I wonder if Simba Dickie have their own distribution channels in the USA? That would in part agree with Lobich's desire to see expansion there.

regards
Kimball

HO Scale - Märklin (ep II-III and VI, C Track, digital) - 2 rail HO (Queensland Australia, UK, USA) - 3 rail OO (English Hornby Dublo) - old clockwork O gauge - Live Steam 90mm (3.1/2 inch) gauge.
Offline xxup  
#273 Posted : 10 March 2013 04:13:52(UTC)
xxup

Australia   
Joined: 15/03/2003(UTC)
Posts: 9,457
Location: Australia
Personally, I wish that they would leave Marklin alone.. The Insider Club is running well - this year there was no drama with my Insider renewal, and the packages are arriving in a timely manner - which is to say that we have adequate time to order our Insider models..

The only bit I don't like is the decision to rein in the spare parts sales..

Adrian
UserPostedImage
Australia flag by abFlags.com
Offline I_love_Marklin_37538  
#274 Posted : 18 March 2013 05:19:46(UTC)
I_love_Marklin_37538


Joined: 19/09/2008(UTC)
Posts: 951
Location: ,
Märklin: signal for Simba

Marklin steams towards destination: One over by Simba nothing stands in the way, says council chief Georg Geiger. 98 percent of employees have signed labor contracts change.
Author: JOA SCHMID |

The negotiation poker between Göppinger Traditionsuntenehmen Märklin and Simba Dickie enters the decisive round, "One over by the Fürth Bobby Car manufacturer Simba-Dickie, nothing stands in the way", yesterday, boss Georg Geiger told the NWZ. In fact, 98 percent of the 480 people who signed in at the headquarters of the Stuttgarter Strasse amendment agreements, which would amount to a continuation of the house collective agreement for another five years, confirmed Geiger. With the written consent of the employee, smears compared to valid regional collective extrapolate, an important condition of Simba-Dickie is met. "We had expected and see the positive," it says Märklin trustee Michael Pluta. He anticipates the beginning of April with a decision. The toy manufacturer Simba Dickie would not comment on the negotiations.

With the takeover talks to play the collective agreements of the Märklin employees and the associated financial burdens for the buyer, an important role. Fürther Bobby Car manufacturers want to give his vows to "dream wedding of the toy industry" only if the employees spend at their headquarters in Göppingen part of the dowry. The Märklin company agreement, which was concluded in the course of insolvency in 2009, is to be extended beyond 2014 for another five years, was the claim of Simba Dickie, which met at the Göppingen IG Metall on deaf ears. Although the union rejects a takeover by Simba does not, however, insists on a gradual reduction of Märklin in the applicable collective labor contract. An extension of the collective bargaining agreement was not home to do with her.

In order not to jeopardize the takeover, Märklin had offered employees the change contracts that have now been signed by almost 100 per cent of the workforce.

"I see the future of Märklin optimistic," says Geiger, boss. For employees with the new contracts, no deterioration was not related. Losses during summer and Christmas money could by attaching to the company's success annual bonus to be compensated. Moreover, the contracts included a job security until 2019. Trustees also Pluta assessed positively the new contracts: "We think it's more than generous, the staff in Göppingen to guarantee the job for five years," said Pluta. "That's extraordinary." Now obviously missing is the knot of Fuerth.




Family company based in Fürth

The 56-year old entrepreneur Michael Sieber had begun in 1982 with his father as a wholesaler. Now counts his company Simba Dickie to the largest toy maker in the world. Now wants Sieber, who has been proven with the acquisition of renowned toy companies a knack to take the model train manufacturer Märklin.

Simba-Dickie has 3,700 employees worldwide and in 2012 made sales of approximately EUR 615 million. The company is Mattel and Lego, the number three on the German toy market. 2012 is celebrating its 40th Anniversary. Simba-Dickie maintains central offices in Nuremberg, in the center of the German toy industry, in Lavans / France and in Hong Kong.

http://translate.google....imba%3Bart5583%2C1901048
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Offline Bigdaddynz  
#275 Posted : 18 March 2013 06:15:52(UTC)
Bigdaddynz

New Zealand   
Joined: 17/09/2006(UTC)
Posts: 18,661
Location: New Zealand
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Offline old toot  
#276 Posted : 18 March 2013 08:59:31(UTC)
old toot

New Zealand   
Joined: 09/07/2009(UTC)
Posts: 498
Location: christchurch, canterbury
hi all
well it looks like it will happen and could increase the range of goods which we are able to sell
If you have a look at the simba dickie website you will see they are a group of 12 companies
and when you look at each brand you will see that simba have been involved in taking over
and rebuilding a lot of the companies including wooden trainmaker, and schuco cars, majorette pedal cars
and just last week the LGB wagon in the new range came in with a SIMBA digger on the wagon, so we could
see a lot of toys added to the Marklin my world range and all well made european stuff
they seem to be a german based company that likes to look after their countries name and with Goldman sachs wanting
to exit they are probally a good match for marklin because they understand the toy business and its nature of sudden
changes and with marklins recent 48% cash flow of 120 mil euro is probally attractive to them.
so we shall see and regarding the parts, they have had to rationalise to cut down the number being used, but with longterm
objective to have this parts range available for us all, as they had over 14000 parts
regards
bryan old toot
were we pickit, packit and postit
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Offline I_love_Marklin_37538  
#277 Posted : 19 March 2013 12:23:11(UTC)
I_love_Marklin_37538


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I wonder if Simba Dickie getting Marklin would be a good thing but in the near future I would lay a bet we could see more East German models from the Deutsche Reichsbahn and the DRG Era or Landerbahn Era
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Online H0  
#278 Posted : 20 March 2013 17:24:49(UTC)
H0


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It seems the decision has been made (German text only): Simba-Dickie buy Märklin
http://www.handelsblatt....mt-maerklin/7959090.html

They say there will be a press conference tomorrow (Thursday).
Regards
Tom
---
"In all of the gauges, we particularly emphasize a high level of quality, the best possible fidelity to the prototype, and absolute precision. You will see that in all of our products." (from Märklin New Items Brochure 2015, page 1) ROFLBTCUTS
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Offline pab  
#279 Posted : 20 March 2013 17:54:18(UTC)
pab

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Originally Posted by: H0 Go to Quoted Post
It seems the decision has been made (German text only): Simba-Dickie buy Märklin
http://www.handelsblatt....mt-maerklin/7959090.html

They say there will be a press conference tomorrow (Thursday).


Another source confirms this (again only in German)

http://www.weser-kurier.de/news...erfekt-_arid,528142.html

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Offline I_love_Marklin_37538  
#280 Posted : 20 March 2013 21:51:41(UTC)
I_love_Marklin_37538


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FROM GOOGLE TRANSLATE:

Simba Dickie takes Märklin

20.03.2013, 15:33 clock

The toy industry refers to a "dream wedding": The insolvent model train manufacturer Märklin is performed by Bobby Car manufacturer Simba Dickie. The dispute was last a Märklin company agreement.

Fürth / Göppingen. The adoption of model train manufacturer Märklin by Fürth Bobby Car manufacturer Simba Dickie is perfect. That the German Press Agency (dpa) learned in Nuremberg on Wednesday from well-informed sources.

The agreement is to be on this Thursday officially announced at a press conference in Fürth. There want the head of the Simba Dickie Group, Michael Sieber, and Märklin insolvency administrator Michael Pluta explain details of the agreement. In the industry is a "dream wedding of the toy industry," the speech.

There was disagreement in the ongoing talks for months, most recently, the question of a collective wage agreement for the Märklin employees. Since these cuts in holiday and Christmas bonuses and no pay increases provides the IG Metall had demanded a return to the surface tariff

Märklin, boss Georg Geiger, however, had already been reported in early March that many of the approximately 470 employees at its Göppingen (Baden-Württemberg) had approved the acquisition of the house collective agreement. In return, the employees get a job guarantee until 2019.

http://translate.google....-maerklin%2F7959090.html

Alex, please include a link to the original German article in your posts, so that folks can read it for themselves, should they want to. /BDNZ
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Offline Webmaster  
#281 Posted : 21 March 2013 18:39:08(UTC)
Webmaster


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And here is the official press release from today... Wink
File Attachment(s):
en.pdf (22kb) downloaded 104 time(s).
Juhan - "Webmaster", at your service...
He who asks a question is a fool for five minutes. He who does not ask a question remains a fool forever. [Old Chinese Proverb]
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Offline GSRR  
#282 Posted : 21 March 2013 21:04:24(UTC)
GSRR

United States   
Joined: 01/03/2009(UTC)
Posts: 1,339
Location: USA


Dear Club Member:

We are pleased to announce Simba Dickie held a press conference today in Fürth, Germany and announced their takeover of Märklin (includes all the brands: Märklin, Trix and LGB). For more information, please see the attached press release we just received from the press office.

To learn more about Simba Dickie, here is a link to their English language website:

http://simba-dickie-group.de/en/index.shtml

To read an article from 2012 about Mr. Florian Sieber, the new managing director who is joining the current managing directors Mr. Stefan Löbich and Mr. Wolfrad Bächle, please click on this link:

http://simba-dickie-grou...florian_sieber.139.shtml

Best regards,
Märklin, Inc.





ETE UserPostedImage ECoS iTrain TouchCab C-Gleis German Era Id & IIIb USA Era IIIb SBB Era III SJ Era IV GC Era V
Offline river6109  
#283 Posted : 22 March 2013 03:10:30(UTC)
river6109

Australia   
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Location: On 1965 Märklin Boulevard just around from Roco Square
Well one could say this topic is no longer applicable an era of speculations has finished with a positive outcome. it is no longer insolvent nor is it in a recovery mode and we may see some positive changes and more innovative news as well.

John
https://www.youtube.com/river6109
https://www.youtube.com/6109river
5 years in Destruction mode
50 years in Repairing mode
Offline xxup  
#284 Posted : 22 March 2013 04:56:04(UTC)
xxup

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But it is significant history and it it worth following the journey to the end point..
Adrian
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Australia flag by abFlags.com
User is suspended until 23/03/4752 12:54:35(UTC) Mulldog Lemon  
#285 Posted : 01 February 2014 22:41:30(UTC)
Mulldog Lemon

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Originally Posted by: xxup Go to Quoted Post
But it is significant history and it it worth following the journey to the end point..

Are we there yet?

UserPostedImage
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Offline NZMarklinist  
#286 Posted : 21 September 2014 11:45:38(UTC)
NZMarklinist

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Here is a video I had not seen before. Unfortunately I cannot understand most of what is being said and reminds me I must get on with learning the lingo Wink
It has interviews with Herr Pluta and Marklin Staff and Marklin enthusiasts ThumpUp and Alexandra Marklin Love Blushing Wink




There is also a lot about the lead up to the insolvency and the Marklin Museum burglary of 2005

The comments below the video are interesting reading too. If you use Google Chrome it has a translate button Wink
They are a bit like our forum sometimes Laugh
Glen
Auckland NZ

" Every Marklin layout needs a V200, a Railbus and a Banana car", not to mention a few Black and red Steamers, oh and the odd Elok !

CS1 Reloaded, Touch Cab, C Track Modules, K track layout all under construction. Currently Insider
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Offline steventrain  
#287 Posted : 21 September 2014 14:02:36(UTC)
steventrain

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I have see the video on old topic more that four years ago.
Large Marklinist 3- Rails Layout with CS2/MS2/Boosters/C-track/favorites Electric class E03/BR103, E18/E118, E94, Crocodiles/Steam BR01, BR03, BR05, BR23, BR44, BR50, Big Boy.
Offline hxmiesa  
#288 Posted : 16 September 2016 10:07:31(UTC)
hxmiesa

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Two years has passed since the last post in this thread.
I now never hear/read anything about economic trouble at Märklin, but also nothing about recovery or updated plans by Simba-Dickie for the brand.
Last things I heard of, was a gradual return of production from China, to the new plant-addition in Györ. Some 400 new jobs created. (Alas not in Germany, but still a positive trend)
If somebody is in the know, could we then please have some heads-up and/or some links if anything additonal has surfraced?
Thanks in advance!
Best regards
Henrik Hoexbroe ("The Dane In Spain")
http://hoexbroe.tripod.com
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Online H0  
#289 Posted : 16 September 2016 10:57:26(UTC)
H0


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Posts: 15,254
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Originally Posted by: hxmiesa Go to Quoted Post
Some 400 new jobs created.
Oh, really? Or is it rather only 50 new European jobs created?
Former German jobs returning from Far East?

On bundesanzeiger.de one can find two new files published 2016, covering the business year 2014/15.
Sales were almost €97.3m. The year before it was €101.8m.
The EBIT was €4.7m. The year before it was €5.9m.

In 2015 they expected sales of €105m for the business year 2015/16 (which ended April 30, 2016). I think in about one year we will know how their plan worked.
In January their expectations were already down to about €96m.
Regards
Tom
---
"In all of the gauges, we particularly emphasize a high level of quality, the best possible fidelity to the prototype, and absolute precision. You will see that in all of our products." (from Märklin New Items Brochure 2015, page 1) ROFLBTCUTS
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Offline hxmiesa  
#290 Posted : 26 March 2021 07:54:37(UTC)
hxmiesa

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Location: Spain
So, again around 4,5 years has passed since the last posting here.
I am sorry if this is considered necro-posting, but the subject is really interessting to me, and I dont see it discussed anywhere else...

Browsing through the german WIKI page about the company, it says that sales in 2020 was up 40%, compared to the previous year. ("Thanks" to CoVid).
If 2019 was €112 mio, that would make 2020 a whooping €160 mio!
So thats positive, right? (if the article in WIKI is correct, which is never a given!)

I suppose that the current CoVid situation will last 6 months more (at least here in Spain), and even if this doesnt constitute a continued INcrease in sales, it might be helping to mainTAIN the higher sales rate, and thus a healthy influx of money to the company.

I am also interessted in more information about the whole Kingsbridge period, and their nemesis Alix Partners. -But that link is dead on the Wiki page. My public-school level german makes me seem to understand that Alix was sentenced to pay €14 mio Kingsbridge. But wether this has been done, appealed or settled, I dont know.

Anybody else has more information on the subject¿?
Best regards
Henrik Hoexbroe ("The Dane In Spain")
http://hoexbroe.tripod.com
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Offline marklinist5999  
#291 Posted : 26 March 2021 08:08:57(UTC)
marklinist5999

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Location: Michigan, Troy
Hard to forecast. How much capital will be used in post covid economic recovery for every sector? Future product developments, etc.
The US economy is doing better as of yesterday. The Dow is up too. This at least means better confidence.
Still many on temporary or long term unemployment though.
Online H0  
#292 Posted : 26 March 2021 08:54:56(UTC)
H0


Joined: 16/02/2004(UTC)
Posts: 15,254
Location: DE-NW
Originally Posted by: hxmiesa Go to Quoted Post
Browsing through the german WIKI page about the company, it says that sales in 2020 was up 40%, compared to the previous year. ("Thanks" to CoVid).
No, it does not.
It says that orders went up by 40%. Sales did not grow by the same amount as Märklin was unable to deliver.

Wikipedia does not give a link to support the claim about the "40%", but I think I read something to that effect somewhere.

Newspaper post, update November 30, 2020:
Quote:
Anfang des Jahres hatte Sieber noch von einem Umsatzplus um 5 auf 117 Millionen Euro im Geschäftsjahr 2019/2020 gesprochen. Mit 112 Millionen Euro Umsatz schloss das Geschäftsjahr nun auf Vorjahresniveau. Für dieses Jahr wagt Sieber keine genaue Prognose, hält aber ein leichtes Wachstum für möglich.
Source: https://www.stimme.de/su...a-krise;art19071,4419951

English: Sieber gives no exact prognoses for the current business year, but thinks a small growth is possible.

Update: I found this:
https://www.kunststoffwe..._auftragsbuecher_t246852
Quote:
Der Hersteller von Modelleisenbahnen Märklin (Göppingen) rechnet für das Geschäftsjahr 2020/21 (30.4.) mit einem kleinen Umsatzwachstum auf 113 (Vorjahr: 112) Mio EUR. Das berichtete der geschäftsführende Gesellschafter Florian Sieber. Für 2021/22 strebt Märklin einen Umsatz von 120 Mio EUR an. Im Dezember 2020 seien die Auftragsbücher des Unternehmens zu 40 Prozent besser gefüllt gewesen als im Jahr zuvor.


A whooping growth from 112M EUR to 113 M EUR for this financial year is expected. Märklin is aiming for 120M EUR in the next financial year starting in May 2021.
This article indicates a growth of 40% for the order backlog in December 2020 compared to the year before. The order backlog also grows if products are delayed and not shipped on time.
Regards
Tom
---
"In all of the gauges, we particularly emphasize a high level of quality, the best possible fidelity to the prototype, and absolute precision. You will see that in all of our products." (from Märklin New Items Brochure 2015, page 1) ROFLBTCUTS
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Offline cookee_nz  
#293 Posted : 26 March 2021 09:58:55(UTC)
cookee_nz

New Zealand   
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Location: Paremata, Wellington
This recent thread referring to the recent NY Times articles also gives some perspective

https://www.marklin-user...Times-article-on-Marklin
Cookee
Wellington
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