BRENNERS ALTHOLZ - THE HISTORY
What’s behind it?
We – Jürgen Wohleser & Marion Glanz – were still working as quite “normal” employees back in 2011
We – Jürgen Wohleser & Marion Glanz – were still working as quite “normal” employees back in 2011
The Dream:
Marion was the executive assistant of a fashion boutique, Jürgen was a purchaser at a large corporation, responsible for acquiring IT systems.
So there was actually no reason to change anything – the working conditions were good and the income was fine.
Nevertheless, the desire to start our own company and shape it according to our values grew steadily.
Marion was the executive assistant of a fashion boutique, Jürgen was a purchaser at a large corporation, responsible for acquiring IT systems.
So there was actually no reason to change anything – the working conditions were good and the income was fine.
Nevertheless, the desire to start our own company and shape it according to our values grew steadily.
The Trigger:
I still clearly remember a day in July 2011 when I once again told my colleague and friend Manfred about our dreams.
The next day he told me about his uncle who was selling old wood from his old cowshed.
That very same day we drove to his uncle – and just like that, we had our first reclaimed wood!
I still clearly remember a day in July 2011 when I once again told my colleague and friend Manfred about our dreams.
The next day he told me about his uncle who was selling old wood from his old cowshed.
That very same day we drove to his uncle – and just like that, we had our first reclaimed wood!
The First Hurdle:
At that time, and even a little while longer 😉, we didn’t really know much about
reclaimed wood or wood in general.
But we immediately felt a connection to reclaimed wood! We liked it very much, and we also enjoyed the smell of the wood – what more could you want?
Right after the purchase, the first hurdle appeared – we didn’t yet have a warehouse, so where to put the wood?
To the surprise of our neighbors, we had no choice but to store it in our garden at home.
At that time, and even a little while longer 😉, we didn’t really know much about
reclaimed wood or wood in general.
But we immediately felt a connection to reclaimed wood! We liked it very much, and we also enjoyed the smell of the wood – what more could you want?
Right after the purchase, the first hurdle appeared – we didn’t yet have a warehouse, so where to put the wood?
To the surprise of our neighbors, we had no choice but to store it in our garden at home.
But: We Had a Company!
What was still missing was the company name – how it became "Brenners Altholz" you will soon be able to read here.
In the following months, we spent most of our free time searching for storage space, creating a website, and doing online research on the topic of reclaimed wood.
What was still missing was the company name – how it became "Brenners Altholz" you will soon be able to read here.
In the following months, we spent most of our free time searching for storage space, creating a website, and doing online research on the topic of reclaimed wood.
Our First “Real” Storage Space:
Shortly after the wood was moved out of our garden, we rented our first storage space at a sawmill nearby – with 6x6m!
Shortly after the wood was moved out of our garden, we rented our first storage space at a sawmill nearby – with 6x6m!
The First Years:
In the early years, we could only work on our company in the evenings and on weekends, which is why most of the photos from that time were taken after sunset. That period mainly consisted of learning, dealing with wrong decisions, and trying not to repeat them.
In the early years, we could only work on our company in the evenings and on weekends, which is why most of the photos from that time were taken after sunset. That period mainly consisted of learning, dealing with wrong decisions, and trying not to repeat them.
Step by step things went slightly uphill, but we didn’t make any big leaps. Every now and then, we even took a few steps back, and there was more than one situation where giving up seemed dangerously close.
But we had set our minds on building a reclaimed wood company and we didn’t let ourselves be defeated – not even in sleet and snow!.
But we had set our minds on building a reclaimed wood company and we didn’t let ourselves be defeated – not even in sleet and snow!.
Small and Big Steps:
In 2014, Marion reduced her job to part-time and was thus able, for the first time, to answer calls during the day, receive deliveries, welcome customers, sort reclaimed wood, pack it, and ship it.
The 36m² storage space quickly became too small, so in 2015 we moved to our current location with a 500m² hall (yay, we finally had a roof over our heads!) and 2500m² of open space..
In 2014, Marion reduced her job to part-time and was thus able, for the first time, to answer calls during the day, receive deliveries, welcome customers, sort reclaimed wood, pack it, and ship it.
The 36m² storage space quickly became too small, so in 2015 we moved to our current location with a 500m² hall (yay, we finally had a roof over our heads!) and 2500m² of open space..
Our first earned funds were invested in machines and infrastructure without external capital, and from then on we were able to process reclaimed wood..
In 2015, our first employee joined us – Michi!
With that, the responsibility grew a bit larger. We were no longer only responsible for ourselves – but we were no longer alone either!.
In 2016, Marion resigned, and after much back and forth, I followed in 2017.
By 2017, we were already a team of six.
Today, we are very proud of our employees (here’s the link to our team), all of whom give their best so that you can enjoy our reclaimed wood to the fullest..
By 2017, we were already a team of six.
Today, we are very proud of our employees (here’s the link to our team), all of whom give their best so that you can enjoy our reclaimed wood to the fullest..
