At the 11th Global DIY-Summit Alexander Kremer, the CEO of Kremer Gartencenter, will hold a presentation on “Closer to Nature – Reinventing the Concept of Garden Centre”. Despite the fact that the majority of the audience might not be familiar with the Kremer Gartencenter brand, the vision of the company brings a whole new proximity of a green environment to the customer, whilst maintaining an eye for the future and a thought on the past – the story is too good to miss.
Kremer Gartencenter – 120 Years of Bold Endeavors.
In 1905, the great-grandfather, Franz Kremer, founded a horticultural business in the small town of Altenhundem in Sauerland, Germany. Initially, he grew and cultivated fir branches and wreath stock, which he delivered by bicycle to the Ruhr region.
Today, the fourth generation bears the responsibility for managing the business with a keen eye that it will be handed over to the fifth generation in better condition than when it was taken over by the third generation. This intergenerational perspective is the first insight into one of the key pillars of Kremer Gartencenter, and an example of their guiding principles.
A Small Footprint with a Big Impact
The Kremer Gartencenter chain is made up of 5 locations; Lennestadt, Gummersbach, Lüdenscheid, Remscheid and most recently Siegen. All located within Sauerland, Bergisches Land and most recently Siegerland, the stores are within 45-60 minutes drive of one another. Despite this relatively small footprint, Kremer Gartencenter is recognised internationally as one of the most ground-breaking and forward-thinking garden centre chains internationally and welcomes delegations for tours from as far away as Australia and New Zealand, as well as drawing fans from across Europe.
Intergenerational Care – Repositioning for the Future
As mentioned earlier, one of the keys pillars of Kremer Gartencenter is keeping an eye on the future and ensuring that the company is passed on in a better form than it was inherited. A key example of this is the “Zukunftsgarten – The Garden of the Future” that creates the centre piece of the most recent store in Siegen. The plants in this forest, each individually selected, are positioned to grow into an area in which customers and visitors alike can experience all their five senses to their fullest potential. The key principle of this garden is that it is not built for the now, but rather for the future.
This is also exemplified in the edifice of the Kremer Gartencenter Store in Remscheid. This Store is enveloped in a “Climate Forest”, with plants and trees selected that will withstand the climatic conditions of the future. Kremer Gartencenter understand that a gradual transition to drought-resistant and resilient plants and trees that require less water will be important in the future. This will ensure that our cities and your gardens remain attractive and green as the climate changes around us.
Strong Foundations to Support Growth
Although with a keen-eye maintained on the future prospects of the Kremer Gartencenter company, the past also plays a vital role. As previously shared, the company is this year celebrating its 120 years since foundation.
This history is presented in the “Garden Museum” at the germ cell of the company in Lennestadt. This was the first location of the Kremer Gartencenter family. Spanning 300 square meters, the permanent exhibition presents everything you need to know about natural gardening, through interactive stations, exhibits, products, and media, from A to Z. The Garden Museum is a place of inspiration and information, and, among other things, a platform for natural and ecological gardening, which again are a key necessity for the future.
Kremer Gartencenter, celebrating 120 years of history this year, is a bright spark in retailing in the DIY, home improvement and garden industry. The inspiration, creation and action of the company all point towards the legacy of bringing the customer into proximity with nature. To educate, encourage and empower visitors to consider their own green spaces and the potential they can have for the future. Alexander Kremer has a visionary story to tell, and those delegates attending the 11th Global DIY-Summit will leave feeling “closer to nature” after his presentation.
