International Readers

Aus Zunft[wissen]

Inhaltsverzeichnis

1 What is the Zunft[wissen]-Portal about?
2 The "Die Zunft AG"
3 Other Languages?
4 Contact us
5 Responsibilities

What is the Zunft[wissen]-Portal about?

The Zunft[wissen]-Portal - english translation: Guild[knowledge] - is an encyclopaedia for the good things.

We offer an accessible and expandable open platform for the development of networks for products, significant produced lastingly services, for small and middle enterprises and actual "quiet tips" as a part of the movement against the worthlessness. As open platform - based on Wiki software and with a similar concept to Wikipedia - we would like to develop these together with you.

Zunft[orte] ("guild[places]") will support this grouping integrally. They arise full-coveragely in industry monuments within the coming years and revive these places of our industry history. The occupation then will take place quite really with the good things at these genuine places, too. Some more information find here.

Zunft[wissen] is, because many indications for products and production methods and their procedural knowledge is archived, also a kind of lexicon.

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The "Die Zunft AG"

From: "organic-and-wellness-news" - The market takes for its theme “Zunfts”, the German word for guilds. In Medieval times, guilds were groups of artisans who gathered to sell their works. These organizations also sought to regulate the price and quality of products such as weaving and ironwork. “In the old days, consumers would visit guilds to order their goods, exchange views with the manufacturer and get a unique pair of shoes, a piece of crystal or a freshly baked bread”, says Christoph Hinderfeld, from Die Zunft AG. Die Zunft’s vision is inspired by a hope to free manufacturers and consumers from the noisy, sometimes mindless, over-promotion that makes the engine of the modern retail world roar. “This will not be a Disneyworld”, says Hinderfeld. “People will be carefully selected because the place has to be able to develop a real community feeling. “We want to bring back the connection between manufacturers and direct end-users”, he explains. “Today, you do not know if the goods you buy were made by kids or hungry people working under terrible conditions. Consumers have lost the sense of value for quality and good craftsmanship. We are buying lots of cheap-quality things that we do not need -they soon end up in the garbage”.

As for Die Zunft’s list of vendors, the relevant criteria for admission are not what vendors produce, but rather how they produce it. In general, companies in sustainable business will be welcome to present their goods at the guild. Businesses will include an organic bakery, an organic supermarket, ateliers and boutiques with handcrafted goods like shoes, clothing, painted porcelain and glass-blown objects.

At Die Zunft’s workshops, consumers will be able learn about the production of goods, like woven textiles, dresses and embroidery. Consumers will be able to take instruction in the skills they see on display, including cooking lessons. Die Zunft will also have a TV studio for its own programming. Perhaps the biggest reason that Die Zunft could succeed is that it will cut costs for consumers and manufacturers, Hinderfeld says. Some companies may operate like conventional contracts, but Die Zunft will be an opportunity for small entrepreneurs to offer goods - in a showroom or depot - to consumers.

“We want to offer a small high-end shirtmaker in Italy the possibility to sell his goods in Germany without meeting the demands of the conventional boutiques that would expect him to send all goods on consignment and wait 180 days for payment”, says Hinderfeld.

“This is today’s scenario. The poor taylor has to absorb the cost of the high rent in Kdamm and the expensive interior design of the place and marble floors and high cost in utilities. At the end he also gets all merchandise not sold during that period. (Editor’s note: the Kdamm is the Fifth Avenue of Berlin.)

“Now the great designer brands charge high, but they are also producing in China, perhaps next to a factory of the cheap goods”, says Hinderfeld, whose career in the textiles business fell casualty to globalisation and price-driven markets. “People are paying high prices, but not for the goods and craftsmanship. Instead they are paying for costs that are not related to the real value of the goods”.

While Die Zunft offers a novel retail concept that targets discerning consumers, its very location gives a glimpse into the spirit of the project, too. Many German landmarks require renovation, a cost that the government sometimes finds too expensive. In this case, business has taken on that cost.

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Other Languages?

We plan to realize and offer this Zunft[wissen]-platform also in other languages. If you like to support our efforts and projects, please do not hesitate to contact us.

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