BOATS: Mr Günther, you are an institution! Anyone in the Rhine-Main region who owns a floating vessel knows your shop and almost always knows you personally. Nothing has changed since you founded your boat accessories shop in Wiesbaden 45 years ago. Your range is enormous! Do you know where to find everything?
GÜNTHER: Yes, we have over 250,000 items in stock and in most cases I can find the parts straight away. However - the other day I was looking for a very special shroud tensioner and I was a bit sad that I had to order it separately (laughs).
BOATS: The large outfitters are not badly stocked in terms of basic equipment, and a number of trained employees are also able to advise customers quite well in their specialist areas. However, you are more of a one-man show, and it is always impressive that there is actually no specialist area in which you are not at home. Technology, materials, accessories, comprehensive advice on every topic. Where does your knowledge come from? Did you learn boatbuilding?
GÜNTHER: Not at all. I worked in a completely different industry in Frankfurt, but I had a sailing boat here on the Rhine, a Shark, for which I needed a few parts. As a result, other skippers came to me and asked where this equipment was available. I got the parts and then the whole thing literally exploded. Within a year I had made 300 per cent turnover, and after the third year it was already 500 per cent. The demand was enormous. I liked that. I took off and continued to expand the business. I still have parts from the early days. If someone needs a thirty-year-old toilet seal, I still have it in stock. And the great thing is that I know exactly which shelf it's lying on.
BOATS: You have always shied away from building a glass palace here despite ever-increasing sales and have stayed in the premises where you started 45 years ago. Was there never any thought of modernising and expanding the business?
GÜNTHER: Yes, we had planned a large building down at Schierstein harbour 12 years ago, but it was planned and planned and the city also made difficulties. In the end, I cancelled everything with the explanation: "I'll be 102 by the time you're finished and I'd rather stay where I am."
BOATS: It's nice that everything has stayed the same, because as an old customer you don't really like change.
GÜNTHER: Yes, that's right. You should remain modest and be satisfied with what you have. The customer is basically only interested in one thing - am I being served correctly.
BOATS: You used to trade in boats, is that still part of your business today?
GÜNTHER: Yes, but we only sell the Shark 24, which we have always offered. However, the boat is now almost completely manufactured in Poland. With a high quality standard, by the way. It is still selling brilliantly and there are many enquiries and interested parties.
BOATS: Mr Günther, you're at an age when others are enjoying their well-earned retirement, but when people come into your shop, you're still bustling around here and are present around the clock. Relaxing is not your thing, is it?
GÜNTHER: Nope, I left my business to my son 16 years ago and since then I've been allowed to work here as a hired slave, at least 10 hours a day or 60 hours a week. But it's not a burden for me, I still really enjoy it.
BOATS: ...and that at the age of 82!
GÜNTHER: We're not talking about... (laughs).
