Hans, you can look back on a long time at HARTJES. Can you still remember how you joined the company?
Yes, that was in September 1978, a year after I graduated from HAK.
One day I received a letter from Rudolf Hartjes in which he wrote to me directly because his company was looking for employees with foreign language skills at the time.
Specifically, it was about purchasing, transportation and customs clearance.
It sounded interesting, the interview was pleasant and we agreed that I would join the company.
That sounds very straightforward. What were the first few years at HARTJES like for you?
I first had to find my feet.
Annemarie and Rudolf Hartjes were demanding teachers who taught me a lot through their expertise.
Nevertheless, I realized that the job was not my professional fulfillment.
That’s why I decided to do further training in business administration with a focus on sales and marketing at the university in Linz while working.
Mr. Hartjes responded very positively to this commitment.
In 1982, he gave me the opportunity to start export sales activities in the cross-country skiing sector.
We started with Scandinavia, the USA, Japan, France and Italy.
We were involved in the development of cross-country skiing boots for many years and worked closely with Salomon and Fischer.
We have also had a partnership with the HERISANA Group since 1998.
So you have grown with these challenges. How would you describe your professional life in general?
It was very interesting.
Full of highs and lows.
I like to say: a reflection of life.
When I started at the end of the 1970s, there were still more than 100 shoe factories in Austria.
Now there are less than ten.
Running a company well and keeping it stable through these massive changes is a challenge that I have always been happy to take on.
It takes vision and a sense of reality and great employees with whom you can go down this path together.
But a vision alone is probably not enough. Someone has to know a company very well, doesn't they?
That’s for sure.
I’ve worked in practically every function in the company.
With the exception of accounting – I was only there briefly – I took a close look at everything.
That always helped me to understand processes and identify levers for improvement.
I worked in the model department, product development, order preparation, production, shipping, procurement and customs, and from 1987, after the death of Mr. Hartjes, I took over the management of marketing and sales for all countries and product groups, having been granted power of attorney in 1984 and entered in the company register.
Where do you see the reasons why HARTJES has been able to hold its own on the market - in contrast to many others?
There are certainly several reasons for this.
On the one hand, we have very loyal customers in different countries who appreciate our sensible and contemporary product and service.
Our brand image is excellent and we are constantly working to live up to this claim.
On the other hand, our employees are highly committed.
The company’s success is a shared success and not an individual achievement.
Our employees get involved, continue their training and we grow together.
This makes me proud and I am certain that HARTJES has a successful future ahead of it.
When employees feel good and enjoy coming to work every day, it shows that a company is fulfilling its responsibilities.
What can you expect in your future if you no longer come to work every day?
My enthusiasm for well-made leather is not just limited to shoes.
I have a great passion for soccer.
There are countless ways to play it.
I also love long-distance hiking.
And that’s something that takes up a lot of time.
I’m looking forward to having lots of resources at my disposal and being in good physical health so that I can set off again and again and hike routes that I don’t yet know.
So after the adventure of working life, the adventure of life is not yet over.
I am looking forward to it with great anticipation.
Handover of commercial management
At the beginning of the year, Hans Sternbauer hands over the commercial management to Christoph Götzendorfer, who leads HARTJES into the future together with Stefan Spreitzer, who is already Technical Managing Director.
