vaude summit book 40 years vaude [en]

40 years of mountain sports

Summit Book 1974 – 2014

40

Contents

Introduction ......................................................... 6

A Family Business ................................................ 8

Produkte und Innovationen..............................18

VAUDE’s Role in the Outdoor Market ..............28

VAUDE Worldwide .............................................36

Fit for the Future ................................................40


40 years of VAUDE -a brief journey in time

PRODUCTS

SOCial COmmiTmenT

eCOlOgy

PaRTneR / SPOnSORing

1974 Albrecht von Dewitz founds the company VAUDE.

2009 Antje von DewitzCompany founder Albrecht von Dewitz’ daughter takes over the company management.

1994 Ecolog Recycling NetworkFor the first time, functional, pure-sort high tech apparel can be 100% recycled.

2001 Ecological bluesign® StandardAs the first outdoor brand, VAUDE produces a part of its collection in accordance with the strict bluesign® textile standard.

1986 Sympatex® membraneVAUDE is the first outdoor brand to use the environmentally-friendly Sympatex® membrane.

2011 German Sustainability AwardVAUDE placed in the “Top 3 of Germany’s sustainable future strategies (KMU) 2011.”

2008 EMAS and ISO 14001VAUDE is the first certified outdoor brand.

1980 Expansion of productionat the company headquarters where bike bags, Packs ’n Bags and the Bulin backpack continue to be manufactured.

1981 ’Butterfly’ suspension system Revolutionary, lightweight and stable suspension system.

1983 Space TentThe first double-walled dome tent with pole pockets for a fast pitch.

1989 First HF welded backpacksA revolutionary advance on the outdoor market: VAUDE manufactures its first HF-welded and waterproof backpacks.

2004 Expansion of the VAUDE testing laboratoryVAUDE ensures a high quality level with comprehensive and technically sophisticated tests at the company headquarters’ testing laboratory.

2006 Siliconized touring tentThe world’s first touring tent with factory sealed, waterproof seams.

1986 Tergoflex suspension systemLightweight synthetic back panel for trekking backpacks, adjustable to different torso lengths.

2007 Powerframe technologyTent pole construction for maximal stability and minimal weight.

2012 Bulin backpack – Made in GermanyVAUDE once again manufactures an Alpine backpack at the company headquarters – climate neutral and Made in Germany.

2001 VAUDE KinderhausOpening of the company’s on-site childcare center.

2005 Career and FamilyVAUDE receives the quality seal “Zertifikat Audit Beruf and Familie” for its family friendly measures.

2009 FWF membershipMembership for worldwide fair and transparent working conditions.

2002 Official Partner and sponsor of the German Alpine Club, DAV.

2011 WWF Start of the cooperation between VAUDE and WWF Germany for environmental protection projects.

2006 Centurion VAUDE Bike Team

2004 Kilian Fischhuber and Angela EiterSponsoring of both Austrian climbing and bouldering pros.

2006 VAUDE und Edelrid Albrecht von Dewitz takes on Edelrid.Edelrid becomes part of the VAUDE group.

1989 HUADE ChinaAlbrecht von Dewitz founds the production facility Huade in China.

2006 Open-air swimming pool Obereisenbach VAUDE takes over the facilities as leaseholder.

2008 VAUDE VIETNAM Opening of the VAUDE production facility in Vietnam.

2012 VAUDE Obereisenbach is climate neutral.

2012 B.A.U.M. Environmental AwardDr. Antje von Dewitz receives theB.A.U.M. Environmental Award from the Federal Minister of the Environment

2006 VAUDE Trans Schwarzwald The VAUDE Trans Schwarzwald takes place in 2006 for the first time; VAUDE is main sponsor.

2014 DAV Panorama Award 1 st place for “Sustainability” in the readership survey of Panorama, the members’ magazine of the German Alpine Club.

2010 Launch of Green ShapeVAUDE’s guarantee for environmentally-friendly and resource-conserving products.

1988 Mark tent patentDome tent with wrap construction for for easy set-up.

2008 ’Erfolgsfaktor Familie’VAUDE is honored as Germany’s most family friendly company.

2013 CSR-PreisFinalist of the Federal Government CSR Award


87

… and eco-friendly too

… and alsoenvironment friendly

… sustainable and eco-friendly tooWhen I was a young girl I wanted to save the world.

Or at least, to make a small contribution. It was

never self-evident that I would end up pursuing pre-

cisely these goals in the family business. I wanted

to work for a non-profit organization or in the media

and went out and did the work placements. During

an internship at VAUDE, I was given responsibility

for building up an entire division. This allowed me

to appreciate the scope for change that you have

as a businesswoman. And I realized that VAUDE is

a brand with a conscience and green roots. What’s

more, I really enjoyed and felt proud about working

for this company founded by my father and with

such a motivated team. After all, I am a passionate

outdoor enthusiast …

I realized that I had found what I was looking for;

this is something that has not changed to this

day. I’m delighted to be part of a team that makes

products for the most beautiful sport in the world.

The constant search to find new solutions, whe-

ther for technical problems or social challenges,

is something that I find enormously fulfilling. I’m

motivated by the fact that we always remain true

to our values and take our corporate, social and

environmental responsibility seriously. We make an

active difference.

Thank you to everyone who has contributed along

the way.”

It has to be innovativeand functional ...Sometimes, I wonder where the time has gone.

The years have flown by. I can still remember how

it all started, with our first backpack collection that

we introduced at the Spoga in Cologne. Right from

the start, we had daypacks, alpine packs and hiking

packs – and some them represented completely

new approaches.

I’ve always really enjoyed and continue to enjoy re-

ally getting down to the nuts and bolts of a problem

and continually improving things – using unconven-

tional methods if necessary. Over the years, we’ve

got a lot of things right. I’m really proud of the

team and even a little bit of myself – so many of our

patents are now used across the outdoor industry

all over the world.

When there were problems to solve, we’ve been

decisive and resourceful. If something needed

testing, for example a new alpine rucksack and it

was summer, then we’d build a cold chamber. Our

testing facilities have proved invaluable. I consider

myself very lucky to work with people with such

great expertise, who get things done and are passi-

onate about what they do.

The outdoor business has changed so much over

the last 40 years. The same applies to the world

that we live in. Then as now, I continue to believe

that protecting mountain regions and environmen-

tal awareness are essential. Antje pushed these

issues within the company right from the start,

which I wholeheartedly support. As far as VAUDE

is concerned, I’m very optimistic about the future

– and plan to be around for a good while to come.

Thank you to everyone who has supported VAUDE

over the last 40 years.


109

A Family BusinessThe whole family at our long table, which quickly became too small. There was always a reason to celeb-rate – both within the family and in our extended corporate family as well.


11

After completing his studies in management science in Wilhelmshafen,

26-year-old Albrecht von Dewitz moved with his young family to the rolling

hills of southern Germany.

He decided to found his company in the Tettnang region. Back in those

days, everything connected to mountain sports was based in or around

Munich. However, the transport links were pretty good and the office pre-

mises were much cheaper than in Munich.

At school, Albrecht von Dewitz’s nickname was V.D. (the initials of his

surname von Dewitz). In 1974 when he started the company, he named it

after this nickname, spoken out loud and spelled VauDe. At that point, he

had no idea of the many curious pronunciations the name would take on

in different languages in the future (the letter v is one of the few cases of

ambiguity in German, it normally has an “f” sound). Base camp for initial

operations was in a converted barn belonging to

hop grower Paule Martin in Untereisenbach. The

company started as a one-man-show with support

from family members, friends and neighbors. The

first ever employee was “jack of all trades” Klaus

Fuhrmann, who retired on July 1, 2014.

Late-night photo shootsThe barn in Untereisenbach served

as warehouse, packing room, kid’s

playground, production site and

location for photo shoots. Work

often carried on late into the

night, and whoever was pre-

sent was frequently co-opted to

model in the photo shoots.

These were often hilarious

affairs due a certain liquid beve-

rage made of hops that was of-

ten consumed by participants.

The Early Days -– from v.D. to VAUDE

Albrecht von Dewitz as a young man

with his first outdoor equipment.

Albrecht von Dewitz (left) also modeled the products

himself. His first employee, Klaus Fuhrmann (right)

worked in sales, then as director of maintenance and

logistics.

Photo from a

1984 catalog.

Above: Hubert von Dewitz,

Albert’s younger brother in the

family-owned company’s office.

Left: The first company

van – Albrecht von Dewitz

used to drive it himself.

The first company sign outside the barn in Untereisenbach, the

future company manager (left), older sister Martina (right).

VAUDe – a friendly company VAUDE’s relationship to its employees, retail partners

and suppliers is friendly and accessible, direct and

vey personal. This reflects the nature of the outdoor

industry and mountain sports.


1413

In 1980, VAUDe moved from Untereisenbach to

obereisenbach, the workforce grew and the com-

pany became a global player.

However, our company culture remained unchanged:

direct and very personal. In addition, VAUDE further

strengthened its commitment to being a family-

friendly company and introduced new measures to

help employees maintain a healthy work-life balance.

In 2001, Antje von Dewitz, who has four children of

her own, implemented her father’s plans to

provide on-site company childcare.

The VAUDE Kinderhaus now looks

after 31 children aged six months

to ten years in a nursery group, a

mixed-age group and after-school

supervision.

Flexible working hours, home office and part-time

working arrangements have proved very popular –

making it possible for working parents to combine

both career and family. As a result, 40 percent of all

employees work part-time and over a third of all

management posts are occupied by women. In addi-

tion, 20 babies were born into our extended family in

2013.

VAUDE is also very active at a local level. When it was

announced that the nearby open-air swimming pool

was to close, VAUDE took over the lease in 2006. The

town of Tettnang supported the move and continues

to cover the pool’s operating costs, which VAUDE’s

entrepreneurial management team was able to redu-

ce by 50 percent. This lovely little pool has become a

popular attraction, especially for young families and

local children.

Nearby, VAUDE has opened a café that offers regional,

organic products – it also serves as a canteen for

VAUDE employees. VAUDE wants to reduce busi-

ness travel, making it as environmentally friendly as

possible. For example, there is a mobility lottery, to

help motivate as many employees as possible to ride

to work. Additionally, there is a free e-bike pool for

employees – with a solar charging station and repair

workshop.

Global Player with Local Roots

The birthrate at VAUDE is now

four times the German national

average.

Good working conditions create a good working

atmosphere, which means happy and motivated

employees. As a result, VAUDE has been honored as a

particularly family-friendly employer and for its com-

mitment to sustainability on numerous occasions.

Above: The new, ergonomically designed workplaces. Middle: The

local open-air swimming pool. Below: Riding to work.


1615

Sport climbing champion and multiple World Cup winner Angela Eiter, Kilian Fischhuber five-

times Bouldering World Cup winner. Tilmann Waldthaler, long-distance touring cyclist and

adventurer – he’s spent decades in the saddle using our equipment.The DAV Mountaineering Trainer Team

2010 with their new clothing.

We want long-term relationships with partners who

fit with our company philosophy and the values that

are important to us.

As such, we have longstanding relationships with

our manufacturers. Establishing mutual trust, sharing

the same high quality standards, establishing and

continually improving fair working conditions – all

these things require years of close cooperation.

We have worked together for five or more years

with almost 70% of our producers. We have worked

together for more than 10 years with nearly 30% of

our apparel producers and consider them part of the

VAUDE family.

In addition, we work closely with partners who

share our enthusiasm for and ecological approach to

mountain and outdoor sports and nature and who

communicate their projects to the public.

We are proud of our long-term partnerships with the

German Alpine Club (DAV) and the World Wide Fund

for Nature (WWF); we were delighted to recently

extend both these partnerships for many years to

come. Our partner organizations receive our active

support. For example, we outfit the DAV German

national trainer team and actively support the WWF

River Ammer conservation project. In return, we

benefit from their value feedback on our products

and their expertise in environmental matters.

Our partners and friends also include well-known

mountain sports athletes from all the different dis-

ciplines. For example, we sponsor Austrian climbing

stars Angela Eiter and Kilian Fischhuber and long-dis-

tance touring cyclist and journalist Tilmann Waldtha-

ler. Tilmann travelled the world by bike for 30 years,

visiting more than 130 countries in the process.

In addition, we sponsor mountain guides and moun-

tain bike guides from a number of mountain schools

with clothing and equipment – and get feedback

from their hardcore testing. Constructive criticism

and suggestions from these partners are then fed

back into the product development cycle.

Conversely, our employees also benefit

from our partner organizations. Our

mountain and mountain bike training

courses are run by these very same

partners, providing VAUDE employees

with relevant practical experience.

A partner to be

proud of – the

WWF panda!

The VAUDE Family -– Partners and Friends

The VAUDE TRANS SCHWARZWALD is a

mountain bike stage race. Vaude has

supported it as title sponsor since 2006.

The five-day event is open to all and takes

place in mid-August every year.

The CentURIon VAUDe Bike team rides

are always found at the front of the field.

BEST BRAND 2013LESERWAHL GEAR OF THE YEAR

PLATZ KATEGORIE GREEN INNOVATIONS.1 VAUDE


1817

Being committed to environmental protection

requires commitment, entrepreneurial courage,

conviction and perseverance. VAUDE has been

honored with numerous awards for its social and

environmental commitment as well as its econo-

mic achievements.

In addition, VAUDE has won further awards for its

family-friendly company philosophy. For example,

VAUDE opened its own company child care center

in 2001 and has introduced numerous other

measures to improve work-life balance, reduce

its environmental footprint and support regional

development.

Committed to People and the Environment

B.A.U.M. Environ-

mental Award:

Antje von Dewitz

talking to German

Federal President

Joachim Gauck.

Recipients of the

B.A.U.M. Environ-

mental Award.

Here are some of the most important awards:

2001 Freedom and Responsibility Award from former German Federal President, Johannes Rau.

2005 VAUDE honored as one of the 35 most family friendly companies in Germany in a national

competition by former German Chancellor, Gerhard Schroeder.

2008 Success Factor Family Award from former Federal Minister for Family Affairs Ursula von der Leyen.

2011 ISPO Eco Responsibility Award for most sustainable company in the sports business. In addition,

VAUDE is listed as one of the top three companies in Germany’s Sustainability Award in the category

Most Sustainable Strategies for the Future, under the patronage of Angela Merkel.

2012 B.A.U.M. Environmental Award 2012 presented by German Environmental Minister Peter Altmaier

and reception with Federal President Joachim Gauck.

2013 VAUDE nominated for the CSR Award of the German Federal Government.

2013 German “Outdoor” magazine readership survey: VAUDE wins 1st place in the category Green Innovations.

2014 DAV Panorama Awards 2014 (DAV magazine reader survey): VAUDE 1st place in the category Sustainability,

2nd place in the category Favorite Brand, and 3rd place in the category Trend Company.


2019

Our products are like performance athletes – they are constantly being analyzed and improved in order to perform better. Our list of champions is long. Genuine innovations involve considerable financial investment. They are mainly the result of new advances in science and technology, combined with intensive testing in practice.

Products and Innovations


2221

Mountaineering was once the sport of a small

minority, namely masochistic outdoorsmen. The

bulky backpacks of the 1960s ensured that a passion

for climbing was often coupled with back pain and

shoulder welts.

At that time, the VAUDE Himalaja appeared on the

scene. It had a narrow profile for climbing through

chimney cracks, expandable capacity for gear, and

was very lightweight thanks to nylon rather than

cotton materials. Wide, padded straps and a padded

back gave it a degree of comfort that was completely

new. In addition, it featured a removable telescopic

bar frame, practical tanka closures, adjustable outer

pockets and a rugged double floor.

Other alpine-specific details included attachment

points for picks, crampons and thermal pads. Never-

theless, it was a purist pack – no bells and whistles

– and it came in bright signal yellow for visibility

in emergencies in thick fog or at icy heights. The

Himalaja was a resounding success with climbers.

In 1976, this comfortable pack designed for exten-

ded high-altitude use of all kinds was the first major

development by the gifted backpack designer and

inventor, Albrecht von Dewitz.

This VAUDE bestseller made a new lightness of being

possible on tour.

The wooden frame

could be easily adjusted

with screws allowing for

individual torso-length

adjustment.

The Incredible Lightness of Being


2423

decades of backpacking expertise to this new target

group and established Packs ’n Bags, a new lifestyle

division. During this time, Antje von Dewitz took on

her first responsibility at VAUDE, starting as an intern

and then as Head of Packs ’n Bags. The collection’s

tarpaulin bags in particular went on to become cult

objects. Today, the range includes urban backpacks,

practical bags as well as trolleys and travel bags.

Packs `n BagsA new trend arose out of the production of bike bags

at the end of the 90’s: lifestyle backpacks became

fashionable among teens and were soon a fixed part

of the urban scene. VAUDE decided to extend its

VAUDE Takes Off

Profile

Peter SontheimerHead of Products, Member

of the executive Board,

VAUDe employee since 1992

Peter Sontheimer – fresh back from a one-year world bike trip – played a decisive role in establishing the bike segment at VAUDE in 1994. He started out as a sales representative, quickly took on partial responsibility for product development and finally assumed management of the bike department. As Chief Product Officer, the experienced climber, backcountry skier and mountain biker is today responsible for all VAUDE products and has been a member of the Executive Board since 2014.

With years of experience in the production of back-

packs, tents and clothing, it was natural to transfer

this expertise to the various disciplines of bike

sports, which had boomed since the late 1980s. Bike

touring and mountain biking had become modern.

In 1992, the new market segment Bike Sports was

founded as the company’s second pillar. Since that

time, it has seen double-digit growth almost every

year and now includes a range of products including

backpacks, bags, clothing and footwear for mountain

bikers, road racing, biking tours and urban biking.

Today, VAUDE is one of the leading manufacturers of

bike gear.

Catalog photo from

1996: At that time, image

photos for our catalog

primarily came from

sponsor partners on their

travels. The arrangement

included an exchange of

VAUDE gear for photos

and in-depth feedback.

Below:

The VAUDE pannier

Made in Germany.

1988 Mark tent patent:

Dome tent with wrap construction

for easing pitching.

The idea behind the double jacket came from VAUDE: in 1996 the jacket

made its breakthrough at Sporthaus Schuster.

Below: Canvas bags made from tarpaulin have won cult status; recycling

bags made from PET materials, however, are catching up rapidly.

Footwear has again become a fixed division at VAUDE since 2007.


2625

Profile

Stefan Engerstechnical Manager

Product Development

VAUDe employee until 2006

During his 17 years at VAUDE, Stefan Engers

was responsible for marketing and technical

management. As a passionate climber as well

as creative and strategic thinker, he provided

trendsetting momentum. He initiated pionee-

ring green projects such Ecolog®, and campaig-

ned for the bluesign® textile standard in 2001.

VAUDE launched the Ecolog Recycling Network

long ago in 1994, facilitating the 100% recycling of

pure polyester clothing. This was a big step in the

company’s dream of creating a continuous cycle of

raw materials and resources. It was a clever project

that was initiated with a great deal of commitment,

but it ultimately failed due to lack of textile returns

from customers.

The Recycled Series has been a great success for

many years now. These bags and backpacks made

with functional raw materials originating from recyc-

led PET bottles are in great demand.

To meet its responsibility for used products, VAUDE

not only has a large, in-house repair department, it

also collaborates with FairWertung, a non-profit um-

brella organization. This program grants products,

which have worn out after years of service, a chance

for a second life. They are either re-used, collected

by FairWertung to support programs with social

benefits or recycled.

One of the company’s biggest challenges continues

to be the responsible use of functional chemicals

throughout the production chain, including design,

manufacturing (with all its energy and water-inten-

sive processes such as dyeing and finishing) and

product use by the customer. bluesign Technologies

AG provides the greatest possible degree of environ-

mental and social safety for this challenge. We were

the first European outdoor company to start using

bluesign® certified materials in 2001 and became an

official member in 2008.

We are proud of the milestones we have reached:

The entire VAUDE Tettnang location and all products

manufactured there are EMAS certified and climate

neutral; the percentage of our Green Shape pro-

ducts in the Apparel Collection is now at 78%. Green

Shape is well established in the retail industry – a

sign that we have been able to raise awareness for

environmental issues with our dealers and customers.

Eco Trendsetter since 1994:Ecolog Recycling Network

A good example for the combination of Per-

formance and Ecology: the Tacul Down Jacket.

Optimal thermal insulation with certified down

and environmentally friendly materials.

Green Shape is VAUDE’s guarantee for environmentally friendly products –

made from sustainable materials and resource-saving production.

Performance meets Ecology


2827

The Bulin backpack is a no-compro-

mises alpine pack with a welded,

waterproof floor and a taped top lid.

It has a functional, minimalist design

and impressive eco-friendly creden-

tials. This climate neutral product is

manufactured at VAUDE’s headquar-

ters in Obereisenbach. With the Bulin

pack, VAUDE is once again making

backpacks in Germany.

3D CAD designs are discussed and

altered directly on screen.

The Bulin’s (full contact) back panel

(Muscle Flex).

All materials are tested in our own

on-site test laboratory.

Research and DevelopmentWe make it our mission to continually develop bet-

ter solutions to maximize the performance of our

products and minimize their ecological footprint.

For this reason, we are in constant contact with

textile industry research laboratories and univer-

sity research centers in search of new, environ-

mentally-friendly functional fabrics, materials and

technologies.

Just how sustainable a product ends up, is really

down to the product designer. The materials involved

and the techniques needed to work with them have

to be decided on right at the design stage. These de-

cisions then determine whether it would be possible

to repair the finished product, if required, to prolong

its lifespan or whether it would have to be recycled in

an environmentally responsible and efficient manner.

BULIn BACkPACk –

MADe In GeRMAny

Before we bring a new product to market, both the

materials and the finished product are subjected to rigo-

rous testing on numerous devices in our test laboratory

– among other things functionality and robustness are

carefully scrutinized.

By continually investing in the latest technologies and

materials, we have been able to maintain our market

position and image as an innovative manufacturer of

outdoor clothing and equipment and eco-pioneer.


29

VAUDE is one of Europe’s leading out-door brands and is pioneering envi-ronmental protection and sustainable development.

VAUDE’s Role in the Outdoor Market

1974 - 1979

1980 - 1998 1998 - 2011


3231

Trade show stands might have changed over the

years, but they still have the same objective. They

should communicate a company’s philosophy,

provide a backdrop to showcase products and

have plenty of room for people to meet and talk.

Whereas show stands used to be a creative,

do-it-yourself affairs, these days a whole team is

involved in the design and implementation of our

trade show concept.

And although our booths now look dramatically

different, they still mainly feature a renewable,

environmentally-friendly resource – wood.

Outdoor Boom:VAUDE at the Trade Shows

Above: Ten years of the OutDoor trade show in Friedrichshafen

Middle: With Bernd Kullmann from Deuter at the OutDoor Celebrity

of the Year

Profile

Elmar Bereuter

Distribution, PR Manager,

Product Development

VAUDe 1979 - 1991

In the early years at VAUDE he was a passionate skier and mountaineer, who was responsible for product develop-ment and marketing as well as distribution. He fought for greater environmental awareness through his choice of cover images and catalog texts back in the 1980’s. Elmar Bereuter is also the author of several books, including ’Die Schwabenkinder‘ and ’Hexenhammer‘.

Tent City at the OutDoor trade show 1994

Above: Discussions at a trade show.

Above middle: The latest backpack – “The Super Thing”,

note the aluminum foil backing.

the outDoor in FriedrichshafenAt the OutDoor trade show 2013 in Friedrichshafen,

Albrecht von Dewitz was named as Outdoor Celeb-

rity of the Year and celebrated as one of the German

outdoor pioneers and a founding father of the Out-

Door show. Bernd Kullmann from Deuter described

him in the following words, “He is exactly like his

handshake – strong, straightforward, no-nonsense.

Albrecht von Dewitz is an institution in the outdoor

industry, a dyed-in-the-wool entrepreneur, spirited,

innovative, eternally restless, demanding – a real

outdoorsman by absolute conviction.”

since 2012


3433

It’s a summit of a special kind: Since 1994, tens of

thousands of outdoor enthusiasts have annually

flocked to Friedrichshafen in Southern Germany for

the OutDoor trade show. What started out as a show

for a niche segment of outdoor sports enthusiasts,

manufacturers and specialist suppliers – a place to

rendezvous with friends, if you will – has become the

largest outdoor trade show in the world.

Seasoned trade show visitors always keep their

calendars free for Friday evening. The VAUDE Party in

Obereisenbach has become quite a cult event, with

live music, dancing the night away, an amazing buffet

(now 100 percent organic), a fully stocked bar and a

VAUDE T-shirt to help you celebrate.

The VAUDE Tent City is located in a meadow next to

the VAUDE headquarters where you can stay for free

(with registration) after the party. A welcome service

year after year – it was all about connections and

new collaborations, competitors’ innovations and

new strategies. And there was a lot of laughter. Alb-

recht von Dewitz, one of the founding fathers of the

OutDoor trade show in Friedrichshafen, then came

up with the idea to turn this cherished tradition into

an OutDoor “after-work party.”

In Obereisenbach, it can get a little loud, and often

continues into the early hours of the morning. But

the local sports club is an active participant, and the

villagers are invited to join the party.

Lucky winners: Flying in to the VAUDE party

Party, the whole night long. Up to 1,000 people

come to join the celebrations, once a year at

the VAUDE headquarters.

that that is gladly accepted given a party that often

lasts until the wee hours of the morning. Each party

has had its own highlight. Once, customers were

flown from the Friedrichshafen trade show to the

VAUDE party in a Zeppelin.

The origins of this party lie long before the founding

of the OutDoor in other “trade show debriefing”

sessions. These took place after dismantling the

trade show booth at the SPOGA and the ISPO. With a

bottle of whiskey – passed around a circle that grew

The VAUDE Outdoor Party

Vertical fashion show at VAUDE.

Climbing competition at the OutDoor.


3635

Media has Changed - Our Philosophy Hasn’t

Our ecological

approach has been

directly addressed on

the title page – or in the

foreword – of many of

our VAUDE catelogues.

Above: The last VAUDE full

product range catalog of 2008

Left: In this jubilee year,

VAUDE will premiere its

Environmental Report in

accordance with GRI (Global

Reporting Initiative) – for the

greatest possible and most

objective transparency of

our total commitment. The

main aspects will be clearly

displayed on a separate GRI

website.

Below:

In a “Business Week“ survey, VAUDE took 2nd place within the German sports industry in the

category “Digital Relationship Value“. This successful dialogue can be seen in the high participation

levels and emotional appeal of our brand fans on social networks like Facebook and high click-

through rates on the VAUDE YouTube Channel.

Communicating the company’s philosophy and goals is inherent in a modern, sustainable corporate

culture. Way back when, we used the VAUDe catalog; today – in the digital age – we spread our message

through social media channels, such as Facebook and our website.

ecologocial awareness from the very beginning

“Without reverence, a “reasonable person” demotes the majesty of the mountains to a heap of rubble. He

devastates an ecological system that represents his natural resources. He destroys irreplaceable assets,

because it seems to be “reasonable” and “necessary” in the moment. Reverance is not subservience. It is the

realization of something bigger and more permanent than our small selves. Reverence is marveling at the

size and diversity of creation; we are only its manager for future generations. Mindful mountaineering – in all

its variations – is one of our greatest opportunities. Let‘s seize it!”.

This quote comes from the foreword of the VAUDE retailer’s 1982 catalog and is a clear sign of how deeply rooted

the company’s awareness and commitment to nature conservation and environmental protection at VAUDE is.

As a company, our goal is to raise our customers’

awareness of this paradox: long ago – through our

catalogs, today – online via our website, Facebook,

or Youtube. These channels help us to communicate

on an emotional level what sustainable mountain

sports can look like today. Starting this year, we have

a separate website to present our externally certified

sustainability commitment.


3837

Secure collaboration based on long-term partnerships, fair and family-friendly working conditions with fair wages are a matter of course for us – at our company site in Obereisenbach, but also around the world.

VAUDE Worldwide


4039

Social Responsibility: At Home and Around the World

Profile

Susanne Medesi

Purchasing Manager

VAUDe employee since 1994

Since 2010, VAUDE has been a member of the Fair

Wear Foundation, an independent organization that

monitors production facilities to ensure fair working

conditions for all employees. The experts of the Fair

Wear Foundation and other member companies are

trying to support an improvement in labor conditions

worldwide by sharing information.

As a member of the Fair Wear Foundation, we pledge

to adhere to strict rules derived from International

Labour Organization (ILO) conventions in all of our

facilities. These include fair and safe working con-

ditions, prohibition of child labor and payment of a

living wage.

Any system is only as good as the extent to which

it is put into practice. As a member of the Fair Wear

Foundation, the principle of shared responsibility

applies to VAUDE and its producers. We support our

suppliers in the continuous improvement of working

conditions. At the same time, we are working on

our own procedures in the planning and ordering

process, to create the conditions necessary for our

contractors to plan at an early stage for the capacity

of their workers. This helps them to provide timely

deliveries, safely and without depending on excessi-

ve overtime.

Fair pay, fixed contracts and fixed wor-

king hours encourage a good team spirit.

Vocational training and continuous professional development

assure professional qualification of employees in our production

facilities.

Left: Even the smallest details

are meticulously documented, to

avoid any possibility of confusion

during the sewing process.

Factory cafeterias serve employees three times a

day with healthy and warm local cuisine.

Prerequisite:

modern, safe jobs.

Susanne Medesi started in product management and, after a few years, changed to procurement where she established the quality management system in Asia in direct coordination with Albrecht von Dewitz. Today she is responsible for purchasing, quality assurance and production of VAUDE products and, along with her Asian team, ensures compliance with fair working con-ditions in collaboration with the Fair Wear Foundation.

4241

In order to continue our sustainable, long-term business success, we are steadily investing in our infrastruc-ture, employee education and voca-tional training, quality management and the expansion of our distribution channels.

Fit for the Future

4443

VAUDE is currently in the process of renovating its

existing premises and constructing new buildings.

The work is due for completion in August 2015. The

intensive planning phase lasted twelve months alone.

Our construction team is headed up by Erwin Guten-

sohn, who is working closely together with the Vollack

architecture group. The new premises are intended to

reflect VAUDE’s company philosophy and values, such

as sustainability and transparency. In addition, the new

buildings will improve communication between em-

ployees and encourage free-thinking and innovation.

Construction started with the renovation work in 2013.

The existing company buildings are being rebuilt and

incorporated in the new overall plan and further exten-

ded by means of a central construction between the

existing buildings. In keeping with VAUDE’s company

philosophy, it is going to be a DGNB certified green buil-

ding that fulfills all criteria for sustainable construction.

For example, environmentally-friendly building materi-

als are being used. In addition, the entire interior and

exterior architecture is designed for energy efficiency.

Particular attention is being paid to health-related

and comfort-related aspects of the new work-

places. For example, there will be ergonomic, height

adjustable desks, intelligent lighting concepts and

furnishings and fittings that employees can adapt to

their own requirements.

The idea is to create a completely new working

environment with state-of-the art sound-absorbing

technology and acoustic elements, which will enable

employees to work in full concentration, despite the

open-plan office design.

Additionally, the courtyard is also being transformed.

The inner courtyard formerly contained 60 parking

spaces; these are going to provide an open area of

green space. There will be a climbing wall, a bouldering

Rebuilding the Premises: Vision Becomes Reality

Above: Signing the building application.

Right: A model showing the car-free inner courtyard

with its green space and the new building.

Right: The new courtyard area under construction. Above: The old warehouse is being transformed into light and

spacious offices; the new, air-conditioned, meeting rooms with

glass panels; facilities to conduct meetings standing up; the product

department Team.

Left: Working while being able to see the VAUDE Kinderhaus.

“If our employees feel happy, they’ll enjoy coming to work and

be more creative. We need these kind of people to

be successful in the future.”Antje von Dewitz

area and a large cafeteria area connected to the

canteen, which provides organic food. Employees

from the product department already moved into

their new offices in early 2014 – they are delighted

with the new working atmosphere.

4645


our stores are a showcase for VAUDe:

they’re not just about selling our products,

but about the brand experience.

The expansion of our distribution channels, such as

through our own stores , is an important part of our

strategy for the future. In our own stores, we can

create an entire VAUDE brand world for our custo-

mers.

The sophisti-

cated decor

of our stores

communicates

the company

philosophy.

Different facades, similar interior: throug-

hout Germany there are now 11 VAUDE

Stores with a uniform store concept, and

the trend is growing.

At the same time our trained employees (who are

often locals, depending on store location) communi-

cate our product philosophy in direct exchanges with

customers. Often the customer does not recognize

the high quality, functionality and innovation of each

product at first glance. So it’s important that trained

personnel can explain these in detail and, at the

same time, communicate our product motto “Perfor-

mance Meets Ecology.”

VAUDE Stores -More than Just a Shop

The communication of our environmentally friendly

corporate philosophy is supported by a sustainable

store design with ecological materials and energy-

saving lighting. This store concept is being imple-

mented worldwide.

The personal selection of our franchise partners is

particularly important to us because they are repre-

sentatives and ambassadors of the VAUDE brand.

U4Thanks!

It’s been an exciting and fulfilling 40 years that now lie

behind us and all fellow VAUDE travel companions. We

would like to express our heartfelt thanks to everyone

who has accompanied us on this journey .

The journey is the reward and we are excited to face

the challenges, summits and valleys that lie ahead. We

are a strong team and well prepared for the future.

We are delighted to travel this path with you together.

ABOUT THIS PUBLICATION

Text / Graphics: VAUDE

Photos: VAUDE archive, Moritz Attenberger, Ralf Gantzhorn, DAV

Translation: Tracy Flodin, James Heath, www.jamesheath.de

Print: Pfitzer GmbH & Co.KG, Renningen / Germany, Juli 2014

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