From a corner of Bavaria to the edges of the globe, the Thomann family's successful growth is based on a few simple ideas.
Still family-owned and run, the Thomann Music1 brand started very small. In 1954, Hans Thomann Sr. left his rural Bavarian farm in the small town of Treppendorf to play in travelling brass bands. He drove 70km to Würzburg to take trumpet lessons and improve his skills. By the 1960s, he had a sideline selling instruments to other musicians, leaving his wife Betty to look after the farm and rear their children while he was on the road. It wasn't ideal. The solution? To bring the business back home.
In many ways, the rural isolation of the firm's origins has been advantageous, rather than problematic. As the business spread from local, to national, to continental, to international, Thomann was able to build warehouses and call centres in the same location. It has helped the company stay close to its roots2.
A business that can't stop growing
Still based in Treppendorf, Thomann now employs 250 agents in their call center alone. Music is still the common language, but business is conducted in a further 19 languages. How was this incredible growth possible?3 Hans Jr. has a few theories: "I'm proud to say that even with 1400 employees and more than 9 million customers, we're still an independent family-owned company. No managers, no business consultants, no suit and tie guys." The business was always scalable but not through the influence of any strategic advisors. Just people who love selling musical instruments.
