Two at a time

 “For us, 30 years of Trixie is a major cause for celebration“, managing director Volker Haak proclaimed when welcoming guests to Trixie’s international house fair in August. For the first time ever, Trixie staged its house fair over two weekends, each with the same main and supporting programme, but catering for national and international guests respectively. Even the supporting programme of events was pretty impressive, featuring a four-hour cruise on the Flensburger sea as well as visits to the Rum Museum and the Flensburger brewery. Four workshops were also held during the house fairs. The national fair attracted more than 1,100 visitors, over 400 of them registered customers.
Trixie’s premises cover 50,000 m². The buildings circled in red were added this year.
Just a week later, Trixie entertained its international guests: importers and representatives of partner companies travelled from 15 countries, including Russia, Estonia, Poland, Sweden and Austria. Trixie operates in nearly 50 countries. “Our company occupies the number two slot in most countries in the dog and cat segment and with regard to toys and accessories”, says export manager Boy Tadsen. According to Tadsen, the company’s exports are currently increasing by almost 20 per cent a year. In particular, the expansion of the EU eastwards this year has made a considerable contribution to this. “Our next major objective is to become involved in Canada and the USA”, Tadsen continues. Although the UK is regarded as Trixie’s biggest export sales market, Slovenia tops the list when it comes to sales relative to the total population, and there Trixie has found a competent partner in Hobby-Program in Maribor. “Sales abroad are showing steady growth”, says Volker Haak, “while those in Germany remain at a high level.” In a few years’ time international sales are expected to be on a par with national sales. The current ratio is 30 to 70.
The large fair stand featuring the complete range of products formed the focal point of the two anniversary fairs at Trixie.
The motto for both house fairs was “30 years of Trixie”. The company’s founder, Bonnik Hansen, has described the last 30 years as “an unprecedented success story”. Hansen started out with his wife in 1974 in a retail area of just 60 m². Within two years the company had to move premises and its staff complement increased to seven, including a field sales team of three. Trixie remained at this location for ten years, before deciding in 1986 on a new…