Some traditions can be summed up in a single word. When Seraphine Kustermann was given her name 26 years ago, it was with a family history in mind. Franz Seraph Kustermann played a key role in founding the hardware store in 1798, from which today’s specialty store of the same name emerged.
But that’s not all: as part of Franz Seraph, the name is derived from the nickname Pater Seraphicus of Saint Francis of Assisi, who advocated the coexistence of all creatures. In all animals, even in the most dangerous wolf, the seraph ancestor was able to recognize his “brothers”. Susanne Linn-Kustermann doesn’t go that far. But she says: “It shows our closeness to nature. The Kustermanns were always hunters, riders, fishermen, sailors.” And it’s not far from being close to nature to sustainability. And so to business. Because that is also what the name Kustermann stands for.
The company has now been in existence for 225 years. She was always in the family. The generation counter is currently at number seven. And he will keep walking. Seraphine Kustermann promises: “There are three others in the family my age. We have already agreed that we want to continue the business.” The details are not spelled out yet. There is still time for that. Her mother and her son-in-law Caspar-Friedrich Brauckmann are currently still in charge – and in a way that gives no indication of official fatigue.
“Of course stationary retail has a future,” said Susanne Linn-Kustermann on Tuesday morning in front of a select group of people invited to breakfast in the store’s historic rooms with a view of the Viktualienmarkt at the start of its anniversary: ”As long as there are people who want a home, there will also be a place for Kustermann.” And Caspar-Friedrich Brauckmann explained: “We see our customers as guests. And we want to make life at home nicer and easier for our guests.”
The name Kustermann has long had a formative effect in downtown Munich: Here is the view from the company premises as it used to be.
(Photo: Repro: Stephan Rumpf)
Current management team: Caspar-Friedrich Brauckmann, Susanne Linn-Kustermann, Seraphine Kustermann and Managing Director André Garcia (from left).
(Photo: Stephan Rumpf)
Seraphine Kustermann did not give a speech on the occasion. And yet their presence alone was probably the clearest signal that can be sent towards the future. After all, birthday parties are good opportunities to pave the way for entry into society. A face that can be connected to it has a stronger effect than any word about tomorrow.
Seraphine Kustermann has been completing a trainee program at the company for six months. There had never been anything like it there before. Purchasing, sales, human resources: she has already gone through the classic areas. Project work is currently pending: target group analysis, strategic orientation. There are still four months left before she wants to do a second master’s degree: Marketing and Finance. She has already acquired her first degree – in international business – at the University of Boston, and before that she did a bachelor’s degree in economics in Munich.
Is she following her passion or is it more of an idea to complete her portfolio? The former, says Seraphine Kustermann, “international business would have been sufficient for entry into the company”. There is no doubt that assuming responsibility will not fail due to determination. Nor does Seraphine Kustermann give the impression that tradition is a corset or a burden.
FS Kustermann wants to celebrate its 225th birthday throughout the year. A larger festival is planned for the summer. So there will still be a few opportunities to present the future of the traditional company.