Triumph International

Line

• Markus Spiesshofer
• Oliver Spiesshofer

Triumph International is an international underwear manufacturer, which was founded in 1886 in Heubach. The Group's headquarters are located since 1977 in Bad Zurzach, also has offices will be entertained in 50 countries. In addition to the eponymous brand Triumph manufactures and distributes the Group's products, for example, also under the brands Valisère and BeeDees. Triumph International is one since the 1960s, the industry leaders in particular for women and sleepwear. The shares of the German subsidiary were traded on the Stock Exchange until 2011.

History

Founded in 1886 Michael Brown and Johann Gottfried Spießhofer in Heubach (Baden- Württemberg ) is a factory for the manufacture of corsets under the name "Economic Club Spiesshofer & Brown, family club reg. ". They first employed six people at as many sewing machines. The number rose to 1890 to 150 persons in 1894 were first exported abroad. It was only in 1902 registered Spießhofer and brown the Triumph brand, which should remind you of the Parisian Arc de Triomphe and was supplemented International later by the addition. Following the economic boom, the demand declined in the 1920s after classic corset, which is why the company started in parallel with the production of brassieres. In the 1930s, Triumph International also began production of camisoles.

1933 was established in Zurzach ( Switzerland ), the first branch abroad. With the division of Germany in 1949 the Triumph International brand was continued in the German Democratic Republic, however, the business activities there came to a virtual standstill. However, the internationalization of the company continued in the following period, from the 1950s, offices were opened, for example, in Belgium, Great Britain, Sweden, Norway and Austria. In addition, Triumph International expanded from 1960 from the headquarters in Hong Kong in the Asia-Pacific region, the first branch in Japan was in 1963, for example, decorated. In those days, observers already a " cunning nesting " of the consolidated companies determined, were notified in the context of those companies in the tax havens of Liechtenstein and the Bermudas. In the late 1960s, the proportion of Triumph International was the total market for corsetry in Germany about 50 percent.

At this time, the Group achieved a turnover of 620 million marks and employed 22,600 employees. The mid-1960s led Triumph International on a broad front, the electronic data processing one. Due to the economic crisis then the company came in the early 1970s for the first time in any particular difficulties and making the company even had to file for short-time working. From the crisis, the business was affected with tights, which had to be added in 1969 and already set three years later. At the same time began Triumph International, the first time to produce products made ​​from lighter fabrics with fibers such as nylon or lycra. The late 1970s was also also introduced a new brand Sloggi, since underwear and other products with a high percentage of cotton are marketed under the. The company self-published in 1977, its headquarters from Germany to Switzerland, the Group's holding has since been a resident of Zurzach. By 1986, sales rose to 996 million Swiss francs, the number of employees decreased slightly to 19,000 employees. Simultaneously the company began selling in the People's Republic of China, further individual Triumph products under license in the GDR were from the year 1988 produced for the local market. This included an addition to underwear and swimwear.

With the acquisition of two French producers HOM and Valisere Triumph International has advanced in the market for men's underwear or lingerie quality. At the same time, the company announced in 1995, to focus more in future on its roof Triumph brand under which all other brands should be classified. As part of an advertising campaign with Naomi Campbell and Helena Christensen was performed. In the 1990s, Triumph International launched again a phase of international expansion, since 1998 it has been present on the subcontinent of India. 2001 was opened the newest production facility in Dunaújváros (Hungary). In the domestic market, the company Triumph counted after the turn of the millennium of the largest textile manufacturers in terms of sales.

From 2008 to 2012, the company hosted the Triumph Inspiration Awards, under which designer lingerie models could submit to an annually changing topic. The evaluation took place both by a jury and by a vote of visitors to the website of the competition. 2009, the competition for the first time reached a wider attention, especially through the event in London. In the participating countries initially, a local competition was held before an international excretion took place. Since 2012, all collections of Triumph International in accordance with Oeko -Tex Standard certified for textiles tested for harmful substances after testing individual products have been successfully completed in 1993 after the establishment of the initiative.

In recent years, the company expanded both through new own stores, as well as the acquisition of competitors. So Triumph International acquired in 2010 with Beldona the leading Swiss branch dealer for laundry, more dealers were later purchased in Mexico and the United States. In the latter country Triumph International acquired a majority stake in luxury retailers Jour Nelle and since then has three of his own stores in New York. The Triumph International AG, based in Munich, in the Group's German business is contained, was acquired by the Group company in 2011 by the exclusion of the minority shareholders again completely. The company's shares have since ceased trading on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, the company is wholly owned by the families and Brown Spiesshofer.

Brands

• The Triumph is in his own words the focus of the company. Within these products are divided into so-called segments Fashion, Shaping and Everyday, with Triumph International is usually presented in each case several collections for spring and summer and autumn and winter. 6 As of 2010, particularly the importance of shapewear rose for the company, the sale of these products by Triumph special attention was given. Triumph 2013 was honored as one of the best product brands.

• In Valisère is the designation for products in the premium segment, which are available since 2007 also in Germany and mainly include lingerie. They are sold separately from the core brand Triumph and were with launch available, for example in branches of Breuninger or in Hamburg's Alster Lake House. Valisère was in 1860 caused by Auguste Perrin in Grenoble, France to life and belongs since 1990 to Triumph International. The company has Valisère advertised in recent years, more reserved than triumph.

• Triumph International has been trying since the 1980s with BeeDees young customers up to the age of 25 years to address. The products are distinguished according to his own statement by special accessories and fabric samples from: 8 The brand was extended to 2008 with the text by triumph and is now with a claim as BeeDees - led The Look of Love. . Besides BeeDees the sports bras of the company are marketed since the late 1990s under Triaction.

• In the late 1970s, launched the Triumph International Sloggi brand of underwear made ​​of cotton, initially only for female customers and later also with products for men ( Sloggi men ) and swimwear ( Sloggi swim ). The sale was initially organized through triumph, only since 2008, the brand also in the company was largely independent. In the 1980s the French manufacturer upscale underwear for men HOM was purchased, which has since also been continued as a trademark within the company. The headquarters are located in Marseille, the sale takes place among others in the Galeries Lafayette.

The distribution of Triumph products via both trade partners and department stores, as well as through its stores. By the end of 2011 the company had built a network of 2100 stores in 120 countries, of which 800 were operated self, 450 franchised and 850 with other partners. The company is one of the largest German linen dealers in Germany in terms of number of stores, the retail space on the largest branch was opened in Dresden's Centrum Gallery 2012 in respect. In addition, Triumph International operates since May 2011 an online shop, first in Germany and the UK. This was implemented using the Fulfillment service Netrada Europe, which now belongs to Arvato.

Criticism

2002 was forced to close its office in Myanmar due to public pressure, Triumph International. The Berne Declaration and Clean Clothes Campaign accused the company to have rented a premises by the military regime of the country and to support it indirectly. In January 2002, Triumph International has announced to close the affected factory and offer a social plan for the remaining employees, because no buyer was found for the object. In addition, Triumph International clarified that among the employees not use forced labor that would have been.

In October 2003, the self-regulatory body of the French advertising industry Triumph International for a campaign of the brand complained Sloggi. Core of the protest was the picture scantily clad women on billboards, which campaigned under the slogan " It's string time! " For strings of the company. The ads would violate the honor of women and shame the public perception of advertising extraordinary, although the company did not want to set the campaign. It has been criticized by leading politicians like Ségolène Royal.

2008 Triumph International was criticized after a president of the local union was released in Thailand. She had occurred in the evening program of the Thai television with a t-shirt on which a political statement was seen. The company's management took the view that this performance has damaged the public image and optional for the affected employee therefore. The international council of the company, Triumph International Labour Union, Protested and collected 2,500 signatures for the readjustment of the union President, in Germany, among others, the Verdi solidarity youth. In November 2008, the Labour Court in Bangkok declared the dismissal to be lawful.

Last Triumph International was the end of 2009 to a greater extent in the criticism after mass layoffs in Thailand and the Philippines had led to transnational protests by trade unions. The company regretted this step and make clear that it was necessary due to the global economic crisis. Allegations, parallel to the layoffs points were set up at another location in Thailand, were also excluded.