Business Speak

One of my Christmas gifts this year was a lemon LEUCHTTURM 1917 A5 Notebook. I’ve had one before so I knew what to expect, and I’ll say right off that I like them. The quality feels good, as does the paper inside. I use a notebook when I travel. It helps me put rolls of film in order and reminds me what days came in what order etc! I can’t say I use one daily – I’m not that sort of person. I do however look forward to recording some adventures in this one! I’d buy another too – however…

I took a little time while surfing to check out the company, the 1917 part interested me. “Write down what you want to give up – and discover inner peace” says their 8 point manifesto. When I got to “Even the smallest to-do list lifts the weight and creates great lightness” my BS detector woke up!

I did have a read of the history of the company – to save you searching you can look here. In short, the original company was indeed started in 1917 – Kabe Publishing House, founded by Paul Koch. After he “had to sell the company to the partner” in 1937, a statement that is not explained by Wiki, he re-established again in 1948 after the war. In the 60’s and 70’s the business expanded, subsidiaries were created in Canada and the US, Lighthouse Publications Inc (Leuchtturm translates to Lighthouse). Much is made of the people and the fact that it is a traditional German Family company. Indeed in 2019 they won a family business award. Great expansion (buy outs), mean that today the Leuchtturm Gruppe now have all manner of goods to sell. Head Quaters and office in Germany, production sites in Czechia, Hungary, oh and China. Leather production in Tunisia. Distributors in the US, Canada oh and China. Indeed- it’s a big family!

In their FAQ, they quote “We currently employ a staff of around 500 people at five sites worldwide (Germany, USA, Canada, Sweden and China). Over 300 of these are based at our headquarters in Geesthacht, Germany”.

After all that, it was something of a surprise/disappointment to discover that according to Wiki “The Leuchtturm1917 brand was launched in 2005” and that the product on the last page states “made in Taiwan”! Umm – so much for tradition! Seems my BS (Business Speak) detector is working fine! Did you think I meant something else by BS? Both seem interchangeable!