Wuppertal, Germany, June 17--In the year 2004 carpet and household appliance maker Vorwerk continued the very good growth development of the past years. The volume of business reached 2.074 billion euro, a gain of 27 per cent over the previous year. Without the special effect of an extended financial year with akf the increase amounted to 21 per cent.
Internal growth of 6 per cent in direct selling of household appliances and approximately 7 per cent at the remaining subsidiary companies accounted for a portion of the growth. In addition growth comes by the acquisition of Jafra Cosmetics in the USA, which was bought by Vorwerk on June 1, 2004.
The foreign portion of the volume of business amounts to 50 per cent. Related to the core business direct sale there is 70 per cent. The Vorwerk group has changed in the last few years from a strongly German coined/shaped, European enterprise to a global enterprise.
Also in Germany reached Vorwerk clear increases in sales. Within the range Kobold of system grew the German marketing company by approximately 1 per cent on 315 million euro. The market share of Vorwerk vacuum cleaners in Germany is with approximately 11 per cent.
The carpet works achieved a positive result despite the difficult market. With 11 per cent and/or 12 per cent to the Vorwerk the HECTAS of building services belonging grew group clearly and akf financial services.
The Vorwerk installation kitchens belonging to Kobold of system obtained a turnover plus of approximately 10 per cent on 35 million euro after one year of the stagnation. The German thermal mix selling obtained likewise a plus of 10 per cent (27 million euro conversion). The handle system Feelina continued to continue the systematic structure in Germany.
Vorwerk could successfully pursue its qualitative and quantitative strategic goals. By the combination of personal consultation and selling Vorwerk overcomes the purchase restraint, which makes to create the retail trade and the manufacturers of household appliances today in such a way. While all about lowest prices and cheap production talk, Vorwerk remains with its strategy to set on quality and longevity of the products.
