Working at REFLECTS®
What is means to be part of the REFLECTS® family
Of course, we certainly haven’t reinvented the concept of work. And we are not immune to having routine tasks occasionally, or some days that are a little less exciting than others. But rest assured, these days really are the exception. If you’re looking to work in the advertising material sector, there’s one thing you should know: generally, no two days are alike – not least because every customer is different and has their own unique requirements. And this is exactly what makes our work so full of variety.
Our customers include dealers and agencies that are looking for very special promotional items for their customers. And that prefer tailor-made products to standard cookie-cutter solutions. For this reason, our Sales, Purchasing, Marketing, Enhancement and Dispatch departments have to be particularly flexible, creative and inventive. After all, our work centers on the customer – not forgetting our workforce or partners either.
Our aim is to offer our customers a memorable experience. To make this possible, we take great care to ensure that our employees are a perfect match for our company, that they take great pleasure in serving our customers and that they share our passion for what we do and the services we offer.
What drives us?
Fun, curiosity and a passion for promotional material.
We’ll come out and say it: we absolutely love to discover new things. And have done since REFLECTS® was launched in 1988 by Meinhard Mombauer. Of course, a lot has happened since then and many things have changed. But our passion for promotional material has remained the same. It’s what drives us, because we are certain that there is no better advertising medium, and no more effective platform for advertiser companies to express their message personally, agreeably and memorably.
The other factors that spur us on? Having fun working in a team, with someone always ready to crack a joke. Having the courage to take risks and to make quick decisions. Enjoying the friendliness of a family business – and of our boss. He loves and lives for our company. And this is something you can see and feel.
Our sector:
Colourful, diverse and ever-changing.
The advertising material sector is one of the top sectors in the advertising industry. It generates a revenue of over €3.5 billion per year in Germany. It is estimated that there are 3,000 dealers and resellers of promotional items and advertising material in Germany alone – from the small “one-man shop” to the international company group. According to official figures, more than 30,000 people are active in the sector.
Our sector is united and guided by the umbrella organisation GWW (Gesamtverband Werbeartikel-Wirtschaft e. V. - Association of Advertising and Business). With regard to sales, nearly all classic and digital sales channels are represented.
Our customers:
Demanding, enthusiastic and always different.
When we talk about customers, we differentiate between direct and indirect customers:
Direct customers: These customer are resellers or dealers. The latter are split up into classic dealers, mail-order dealers and online dealers. Agencies work with promotional items too.
Indirect customers: These customers are behind the dealers and are generally referred to as end-customers or industrial customers. In Germany alone there are more than one million of them. They range from DAX companies to micro-entities.
But who ultimately decides what promotional items are selected? This is partly dependent on the size and structure of the particular company. For industrial customers, the owner may make the decision. For a listed company, it may be the trading manager who has the say.
Our departments:
From general administration to customs clearance.
REFLECTS® is a trading company with connected production. This means that we buy in products on a large scale but also produce and finish promotional items in-house. We have the following departments:
- Finance, General Administration
- Sales and Export
- Purchasing
- Administrative Office
- Marketing, Graphics
- Enhancement (Work Preparation)
- IT
- Production
- Warehousing and Logistics
- Import, Customs Clearance
Our apprenticeships:
We train!
We are a company that is not only committed to the personal and professional development of our employees, but also to the promotion of young talents within the framework of training. Whether you are at the beginning of your career or looking for a new challenge, you will find a variety of opportunities to fully develop your potential with us.
With an apprenticeship at REFLECTS® , many doors will open for you. It's not just about pure technical knowledge. We actively support you. Not only professionally, but also personally, so that you are optimally equipped for your future professional life. Immerse yourself in different areas, take on responsible tasks and realise your potential in exciting trainee projects. Your future has so much to offer - start it with us!
Topics taught and qualifications:
Multi-layered, varied and interlinked.
Since we’re on the subject, we will address a question that is important for potential applicants: what qualifications do I need to have if I want to work for REFLECTS®? There is no set answer to this question. The qualifications can vary depending on the area in which we are recruiting.
Generally speaking, team skills and multi-layered and interconnected thinking are extremely important. A certain tenacity paired with ambition and perseverance is also an advantage. People who work at REFLECTS® tend to be generalists – people with more multifaceted skills and interests. Of course, people who are complete specialists also have their place, for example in IT or finance.
This leaves the question of what you can actually learn at REFLECTS®. The answer? A whole lot. As a medium-sized, owner-operated company, we deal with new challenges every day. For example, the market conditions change faster than we would prefer. As all of our divisions work hand in hand in close collaboration, they work well as an interlinked, coordinated team. It is always a matter of not losing sight of the big picture, bringing the right people on board and working even in the face of uncertainty.
If this is something that appeals to you, you could be a future employee. And we do, of course, ensure that you receive further training and offer corresponding positions, where necessary and advisable.
Day-to-day work
Community, group work, sharing ideas
Our working day generally starts between 8 and 9 a.m. depending on what department you work in. And, of course, there are always occasional exceptions. We are rarely open to the public. We normally communicate with our customers by phone or e-mail. Most of our offices are team offices. You will struggle to find any open-plan offices in our company.
Together for success
Image of an office with several people showing that we have electrically adjustable desks.
Group work in a team and open, creative exchange of ideas are highly important for us. We provide appropriate equipment for this in our meetings and strategy talks.
Our staff generally spend their work breaks together in the unstaffed lounge or use the infrastructure outside the building.
REFLECTS® at trade fairs
A strong presence with strong products
Our main trade fair is PSI in Düsseldorf, the leading European trade show for the promotional product industry. As one of the sector’s leading companies, we exhibit there with a stand. In this environment we make contact with our customers and strengthen our friendly relationships with them – a very special event every year.
Also on the road internationally
As well as PSI, we exhibit at other national and international trade fairs, for example in the Netherlands, France and the UK. We also take part in various in-house exhibitions and roadshows.
Our location:
From the Rhine to the whole world
Our headquarters are based in Marsdorf, in the far West of the popular business hub Cologne, perfectly positioned for travel into the city. We are easy to get to by train or car. From the city centre, Line 7 will take you to the nearby station Köln Marsdorf. We also have a direct link to Autobahn 1 and 4.