Company founder Rolf Trautwein and his daughter Nadine, who is the second generation of the family to head the company, have always remained true to their "Made in Germany" quality standards. While countless stores were being flooded with cheap products from the Far East, Hunter fought back with quality and lifestyle. At the company's 5 000 m2 headquarters in the middle of Germany, nearly 150 employees create mainly hand-made leather goods.
Qualified partner companies in Germany and abroad supply Hunter with leather raw materials as well as items like accessories, toys, clothing, beddings and treats. One factor that is common to all 5 500 products is that, under the system instituted by Rolf and Nadine Trautwein, they are subject to stringent quality inspections in Bielefeld and must satisfy the company's strict standards to be permitted to carry the coveted green company logo.
Around 1 200 new products will be on show at Interzoo, primarily from the dog and cat ranges. Their functionality, their fit and new materials - including lines manufactured from eco leather - should delight visitors to the fair.
An international brand
The German products are in demand worldwide, even in countries that are normally regarded as having low purchasing power. Even in such countries, a growing number of customers would rather save up and spend their money on a high-quality Hunter product that will give them pleasure for years. Hunter products are now offered for sale in 57 countries, for the most part through exclusive wholesale partners, and the aim is to extend this to up to 70 countries. Staff at the headquarters in Bielefeld speak affectionately of the company's large international family when referring to its many export partners.
At the moment Hunter is working on securing partners in Brazil, India and Mexico. Nadine Trautwein believes that the trend demonstrates that premium ultimately prevails and that even dog leads are increasingly becoming a fashion accessory.
Growing at a slower pace
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Brand stores worldwide
Around four years ago, Hunter's Czech export partner approached the company with a really smart idea. The partner wanted to open a brand store in Prague, a premium boutique in a prominent location selling exclusively Hunter products along similar lines to fashion stores and high-end…