Thomann (retailer)

Musikhaus Thomann is a German-based retailer of musical instruments, studio, lighting, and pro-audio equipment. Thomann became widely known primarily due to its large online retail operation, Thomann Cyberstore. According to a 2014 article in the largest Upper Franconian newspaper based in Bavaria, the Fränkischer Tag (de), Musikhaus Thomann is the largest online retailer of its category of merchandise, worldwide. Hans Thomann Sr., founded the company sixty-nine years ago (in 1954) as a family business in Treppendorf — part of the village of Burgebrach, in Bavaria, Germany — where the Musikhaus Thomann headquarters endures today (2023). And, as of 2023, the company is still family-owned.[4][5]

Musikhaus Thomann.de
TypeRegistered Merchant
IndustryMusical Instruments
FoundedJanuary 1954
HeadquartersBurgebrach, Bavaria, Germany
Key people
Hans Thomann Jr. CEO
ProductsMusical instruments, Recording equipment, stagelights and accessories
Revenue€ 962M ($ 1.09B) — 2019 [1]
Ownerfamily-owned
Number of employees
1700[2][3]
Websitewww.thomann.de

Company

The company has been managed by Hans Thomann Jr, representative of the second Thomann generation, since 1990. Since 1997, Thomann have been selling products through their own web site. In the first year, online turnover ran to DM 800,000.

Musikhaus Thomann is divided into three business units:

  1. Musikhaus Thomann – music store, warehouse, and logistics-center
  2. Thomann Direktversand and Thomann Cyberstore – distribution unit with about 3.1m customers and the thomann.de online platform; and
  3. Thomann Audio Professionell – installation unit for major projects serving theaters, stadiums and other venues

Between 2004 and 2012, the number of customers has almost tripled and now slightly exceeds 3 million.

In 2004, the company achieved a turnover of EUR 10m.[6] In 2006, the company disclosed a turnover of EUR 129m, making it one of the fifty fastest-growing companies in Bavaria once more.[7]

In September 2010, Musikhaus Thomann received the Versender des Jahres (Mail Order Business of the Year) Award, which the German Association of Mail Order Companies' hands out annually. The panel of judges chose Musikhaus Thomann for its strong growth, commitment to innovation, and high level of customer satisfaction.[8]

In 2011, Musikhaus Thomann was presented with the Global E-Commerce award (Gold) at the Global E-Commerce Summit in Barcelona. Eight national winners competed for the European prize. Thomann was the German nominee, having won the 2010 mail Order Business of the Year Award. The Jury noted that Thomann was "Demonstrating the ability to tap into a market segment that a few years ago nobody believed could be served through internet retail" [9][10]

Store-brands

Thomann sells several store brands,[11] including:

  • Harley Benton (plucked and string instruments, accessories, guitar and bass amplifiers, effect pedals)
  • Fun Generation (lightning effects)
  • Startone (wind instruments, brass instruments, accordions, guitars, music stands)
  • Lead Foot (foot switches)
  • Millenium (drum sets, percussion, stands)
  • Roth & Junius (bowed string instruments, grand pianos)
  • Stairville (lighting effects)
"Stairville" is actually a rough English translation of Treppendorf, which literally translates to "Stairs-Village".
  • Swissonic (audio recorders, studio amplification, MIDI keyboards)
  • the box, the box pro (PA loudspeakers)
  • the sssnake, pro snake (cables, leads)
  • the t.akustik (damping and absorption material)
  • the t.amp (PA amplification)
  • the t.mix (powered mixers, accessories)
  • the t.meter (studio meters, indicators)
  • the t.bone (microphones, headphones)
As part of the t.bone brand, Thomann distributes a wide range of microphones from the two largest producers in China
  • the t.racks (rack equipment, accessories)
  • Thomann (various products)
  • Thon (flight cases, hard cases, racks)
Musikhaus Thomann retail floor views
  • "The Great Wall" in the guitar department
    "The Great Wall" in the guitar department
  • Overview of the guitar department
    Overview of the guitar department

References
  1. "Thomann GmbH". Dun & Bradstreet.
  2. Margolis, Daniel (January 2021). "European Powerhouse: How Thomann Grew Out of its Family Home to Become an International MI Giant". Music Inc. 32 (1): 24–27. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  3. Number of employees data source: Thomann official website accessed 23 May 2018
  4. "Thomann gibt weiter den Ton an," by Matthias Litzlfelder, Fränkischer Tag (de), July 8, 2014, p. 7 (in German)
  5. "Thomann Musikhaus: How A Small-Town Upbringing, Relentless Drive, And A Belief That The Customer Is Always Right (even when he's wrong) Propelled Germany-Based Thomann Musik To The Top Of The European Market; And According To Hans Thomann, He's Just Getting Started," The Music Trades, Vol. 157, No. 8, September 2009, pp. 50–57; ISSN 0027-4488 (accessed 24 April 2012)
  6. "Hans Thomann - Vom Wohnzimmer-Händler zum Branchenführer," by Christoph Galau, Stern August 24, 2004 (accessed 1 July 2012)
  7. "Bayerns Best 50 — Preisträger 2006," de:Bayerisches Staatsministerium für Wirtschaft und Medien, Energie und Technologie, June 28, 2006, (accessed 1 July 2012) Archived December 24, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
  8. "Instrumenten-Versender Thomann erhält Auszeichnung," Bild (online edition), September 29, 2010 (accessed 1 July 2012)
  9. "Thomann.de gewinnt goldenen: European E-Commerce Award in Barcelona," Archived 2012-05-01 at the Wayback Machine e-commercefacts.com, May 27, 2011 (accessed 1 July 2012)
  10. "Thomann.de Wins European E-Commerce Gold Award," fe:Audiofanzine, May 27, 2011 (accessed 1 July 2012)
  11. List of Thomann Store Brands, www.thomann.de/gb/thomannexclusive.html (accessed 1 July 2012)
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