Jacobs GmbH continues to grow after the construction of the new headquarters and the move to Eppertshausen

Report in PRO-LEDER – Issue 9/2016

Courtesy of the leather trade magazine: www.pro-leder.de

The leading leather magazine in German-speaking countries.

Italian fashion with German thoroughness: Jacobs GmbH's business concept was originally well-received, especially in the leather goods industry. Since then, the company has long since expanded into new markets; today, 70 percent of its revenue comes from the shoe industry. Over 40 percent of sales are generated abroad, and the trend is rising.

Blickt optimistisch in die Zukunft: Firmenchef Michael Jacobs.

Jacobs GmbH originally had a strong focus on bag fashion and was initially very nationally oriented at its original headquarters in Rödermark. Initially, the company operated as a representative and leather retailer. However, the team around Bernd and Michael Jacobs had higher goals: They began developing their own collections in-house, while simultaneously investing heavily in sales, both in the shoe industry and with a focus on internationalization.

Die neue Jacobs-Zentrale in Eppertshausen.

Today, the entire product range is produced in-house, with the collection being developed entirely in-house. Jacobs GmbH purchases its raw materials and wet blue, primarily from Spain and New Zealand, but also from other European sources. Tanning takes place in Italy, primarily in the north of the country. There, the company collaborates with three tanneries each for pre-tanning and post-tanning. For the finishing, the company relies on a broader spectrum of specialists: around 20 companies in northern Italy and Tuscany are responsible for this.

Production is overseen by two Jacobs employees who are permanently deployed on-site in Italy. The entire production process, from raw material inspection, tanning, finishing, pollutant control, and logistics to the entire fashion and technical development of the leather, is managed by the Eppertshausen-based company itself.

Das Jacobs-Lagerprogramm kommt bei den Kunden gut an.

The late customization of the leather allows for larger quantities to be incorporated cost-effectively in the preliminary stages. The suede, in particular, is kept in stock in a 500-square-meter warehouse in Italy; from there, it is sent to one of the finishing specialists for customer-specific customization. Jacobs primarily produces cowhide for a wide variety of purposes – for shoes, leather goods, belts, watch straps, bookbinding leather, and all kinds of accessories. Twice a year, a complete collection is created and presented at the Lineapelle trade fair in Milan. Inspiration for this collection is drawn not only from fashion magazines and fashion presentations; Michael Jacobs also relies heavily on input from his customers and his finishers in Italy.

"We're quite good at aggregating all the information and developing an attractive collection," he says confidently. In addition, he offers customized developments for individual customers. With a significant investment, Jacobs has now built up a warehouse program,

which includes around 20 items, each with up to almost 60 colors. The main items here are nappa and velour. Customers are increasingly reducing their inventory and want smaller quantities delivered at ever shorter intervals. Jacobs is going a long way to accommodate this request, delivering from one hide or skin, and for fashionable leathers, delivery is possible from ten square meters per color.

Jacobs GmbH currently employs a total of 13 people. There's no sign of difficulty finding new, suitable employees: Despite low unemployment, especially in the Rhine-Main area, the number of applicants for newly advertised positions has been extremely high. "As a medium-sized family business, we place great importance on a pleasant working atmosphere and see ourselves as a community of shared values, both internally and externally in our dealings with business partners, as well as in our sustainable business practices. This is sought after more than ever today," says Michael Jacobs. Therefore, the company has no experience of fluctuation.

The company's new building in Eppertshausen, which it moved into in 2014, offers a total area of 1,100 square meters. The eight-meter-high warehouse alone has a floor space of 700 square meters. Two spacious showrooms provide a perfect showcase for the current collection.

Nachhaltigkeit wurde bei dem Firmenneubau großgeschrieben. Davon kündet auch die innovative Holzpelletheizanlage.

Great importance was placed on sustainability throughout the entire interior design. The entire building is heated by an innovative wood pellet heating system. All lighting is provided by energy-saving LEDs, controlled by motion detectors and light sensors. This eliminates the need for light switches in the company. In addition, windows with high K values save around 18,000 tons of carbon dioxide annually compared to a "normal" new building. It's clear that Jacobs' firm belief in the future leads them to invest long-term and sustainably. "We are sure, together with our business partners, that we have successful years ahead of us," Michael Jacobs says confidently.