50th anniversary of Thomas Selter

However, this does not mean that he will now say goodbye to the company.... neben seinem neuen Job im eigenen Garten, ist er noch täglich im Unternehmen zu finden und wer weiß, vielleicht liest man im Newsletter „addiGeflüster“ 2031 von einem 60-jährigen Jubiläum.

Zu diesem tollen Anlass hat „The Knitter“ in der Ausgabe 55/2021 ein tolles Portrait erstellt, den wir veröffentlichen dürfen.

„The Knitter“ Artikel lesen

ISSUE 55/2021

50th Service Anniversary

However, this does not mean that he will now say goodbye to the company.... neben seinem neuen Job im eigenen Garten, ist er noch täglich im Unternehmen zu finden und wer weiß, vielleicht liest man im Newsletter „addiGeflüster“ 2031 von einem 60-jährigen Jubiläum.

Zu diesem tollen Anlass hat „The Knitter“ in der Ausgabe 55/2021 ein tolles Portrait erstellt, den wir veröffentlichen dürfen.

„The Knitter“ Artikel lesen

ISSUE 55/2021

50th Service Anniversary

The story of Thomas Selter

The story began 50 years ago. On 1 December 1971, a young, long-haired man of 23 stormed up the narrow stairs of the old Selter building, determined to lead the company into the future with his father.

His father, Gustav Adolf Selter, however, had other plans and moved to Bavaria just 9 months later. So the fate rested on the shoulders of the young Thomas Selter, fresh out of university.

Although he had already got to know the company as a small child and had to earn his pocket money in it as a teenager, managing a company was something else. Obviously, he had inherited the entrepreneurial gene, because the company began to flourish under his leadership.

In addition to the production of crochet hooks and single as well as double pointed needles, the share of circular knitting needles grew due to good advertising. And success did not fail to come. In 1979 it became too cramped at the old production site and so Thomas Selter moved with his employees from the town centre of Altena to the district of Dahle and bought a building of about 4,500 square metres.

Move to Dahle 1979

The story of Thomas Selter

The story began 50 years ago. On 1 December 1971, a young, long-haired man of 23 stormed up the narrow stairs of the old Selter building, determined to lead the company into the future with his father.

His father, Gustav Adolf Selter, however, had other plans and moved to Bavaria just 9 months later. So the fate rested on the shoulders of the young Thomas Selter, fresh out of university.

Although he had already got to know the company as a small child and had to earn his pocket money in it as a teenager, managing a company was something else. Obviously, he had inherited the entrepreneurial gene, because the company began to flourish under his leadership.

In addition to the production of crochet hooks and single as well as double pointed needles, the share of circular knitting needles grew due to good advertising. And success did not fail to come. In 1979 it became too cramped at the old production site and so Thomas Selter moved with his employees from the town centre of Altena to the district of Dahle and bought a building of about 4,500 square metres.

Move to Dahle 1979

That should be enough for now and, according to his belief, for the rest of his term of office. From then on he only signed his letters with “Friendly greetings from the nicer part of Altena”because at that time there was also the company IMRA in Altena’s town centre, Johann Moritz Rump with the INOX needles.

Success continued upwards for a few more years. The Greens entered the government and knitted for all they were worth, and in Germany people proudly wore home-made knitwear.

That should be enough for now and, according to his belief, for the rest of his term of office. From then on he only signed his letters with “Friendly greetings from the nicer part of Altena”because at that time there was also the company IMRA in Altena’s town centre, Johann Moritz Rump with the INOX needles.

Success continued upwards for a few more years. The Greens entered the government and knitted for all they were worth, and in Germany people proudly wore home-made knitwear.

And then came the crash. Knitting and crocheting were out, people wore blouses and blazers and only the “leftovers” hid their home-knitted socks under their trousers.

Of the 14 or so manufacturers in Europe, the Selter company with a full range of products remained in the end as the only producer with the production facility in Germany. Hard times, also for the family and all the employees. But under the leadership of Thomas Selter, the company fought its way through the deep valley and even increased its market share during the bad times.

The beginning of the partnership with the company Skacel in the USA also helped during this time. Together they built up the addi brand there and the success came back to Germany. Here, too, things picked up again at the end of the 1990s and around the turn of the millennium. In contrast to the past, Thomas Selter significantly increased export activities and positioned the company internationally.

And then came the crash. Knitting and crocheting were out, people wore blouses and blazers and only the “leftovers” hid their home-knitted socks under their trousers.

Of the 14 or so manufacturers in Europe, the Selter company with a full range of products remained in the end as the only producer with the production facility in Germany. Hard times, also for the family and all the employees. But under the leadership of Thomas Selter, the company fought its way through the deep valley and even increased its market share during the bad times.

The beginning of the partnership with the company Skacel in the USA also helped during this time. Together they built up the addi brand there and the success came back to Germany. Here, too, things picked up again at the end of the 1990s and around the turn of the millennium. In contrast to the past, Thomas Selter significantly increased export activities and positioned the company internationally.

TS in front of globe Anniversary Thomas Selter

Mr. addi is in demand all over the world

Today, the addi brand stands for a promise of quality and for Made in Germany. It stands for premium needles and a guarantee promise. And after 50 years, “Mr. addi” still stands behind it. For a long time now, the young man from back then has no longer been called Thomas Selter, but he is known as Mr. addi, and as such he signs autographs on the packaging in the USA, China, Russia and Japan.

Autographing Beijing 2014 Anniversary Thomas Selter

Today, the addi brand stands for a promise of quality and for Made in Germany. It stands for premium needles and a guarantee promise. And after 50 years, “Mr. addi” still stands behind it. For a long time now, the young man from back then has no longer been called Thomas Selter, but he is known as Mr. addi, and as such he signs autographs on the packaging in the USA, China, Russia and Japan.

Mr. addi is in demand all over the world

One ear to the customer, the other to his employees. Thomas Selter always has the door open and even today he knows most of the team members personally, takes breaks with them, puts his hands on their shoulders and also likes to get involved in the technology. Although he has a degree in business administration, all the technicians in the company and on the supplier side treat him with great respect because he has always been very committed to innovations and new technologies.

In the meantime, Thomas Selter, i.e. Mr. addi, has handed over the majority of his shares to his wife, Claudia Malcus. She has been working with him for more than 30 years and knows the company almost as well.

Together with the addi team, she is now also moving digitally into the future, setting up the company sustainably and wanting to “preserve the good and dare the new”. Mr. addi can still be found in the company every day and together with his team he will rightly celebrate his 50th anniversary on 1 December 2021 in a suitable setting.

TS at the Talksofa hh Anniversary Thomas Selter

TS at the desk current 1 Anniversary Thomas Selter

IMG 9316 Staff Anniversary Thomas Selter

One ear to the customer, the other to his employees. Thomas Selter always has the door open and even today he knows most of the team members personally, takes breaks with them, puts his hands on their shoulders and also likes to get involved in the technology. Although he has a degree in business administration, all the technicians in the company and on the supplier side treat him with great respect because he has always been very committed to innovations and new technologies.

In the meantime, Thomas Selter, i.e. Mr. addi, has handed over the majority of his shares to his wife, Claudia Malcus. She has been working with him for more than 30 years and knows the company almost as well.

Together with the addi team, she is now also moving digitally into the future, setting up the company sustainably and wanting to “preserve the good and dare the new”. Mr. addi can still be found in the company every day and together with his team he will rightly celebrate his 50th anniversary on 1 December 2021 in a suitable setting.

Anniversary Thomas Selter

The story of Thomas Selter

The story of Thomas Selter