Unternehmerforum by Berliner Bank and CREATE BERLIN / Deckbar Photographie, courtesy Berliner Bank
Tom Felber for creative face Magazine
Since a couple of weeks Berliner Bank and CREATE BERLIN have an exclusive partnership to generate synergies in know-how, business competence and network to encourage Berlin and its creative industry. As a joint event by both partners an Unternehmerforum (forum of entrepreneurs) especially for the Creative Industry took place at Berliner Bank in Hardenbergstrasse in Berlin on May 28, 2008. Unternehmerforum is a series of events Berliner Bank established for entrepreneurs some time ago to discuss economical and socio-political topics.
Especially in fashion, design, film, music and games young creative entrepreneurs develop a lot of innovative businesses. But not all creative ideas can be turned into a successful business model. Which factors determine such a successful business model? Under this headline the invited entrepreneurs discussed at the Unternehmerforum. After Jürgen Werner, head of sales corporate-customers Berliner Bank and Ares Kalandides from CREATE BERLIN's board of directors opened the event three companies from Berlin's Creative Industry presented their success-story.
First Timo Röpcke, DJ and one of the founders of the fashion label Look54 explained how they became one of the leading street wear labels in Berlin and how they manage to expand their business successfully without turning into mainstream fashion. Next Petra Raddatz, Director Sales & Marketing of Pixelpark gave an overview how Pixelpark developed successfully in the difficult new media market during the last 17 years. The group of companies belonging to Pixelpark develop creative communications, e-business and technology solutions for their clients worldwide. Finally Tilman Thürmer, managing director of COORDINATION presented his company and gave examples how they expanded their business in Russia. COORDINATION conceives exhibitions, creates design environments and develops products for international clients in the fields of Fashion, Art, Design, Corporate and Culture.
In the second part of the Unternehmerforum, which was hosted by Adalbert Kurkowski, head of corporate-customers creative industry at Berliner Bank, Ulrike Möslinger from Galeries Lafayette, the Creative Industry lawyer Alexander Bretz and the successful fashion designer Anita Keckeis joined the aforementioned speakers at the podium. They discussed with the audience for example different success factors in the Creative Industry from their experience and which are the challenges for the future.
During the following Get Together the audience had the opportunity to talk to the speakers and experts from Berliner Bank and to enjoy food and drinks. The résumé after the first Unternehmerforum was very positive and all participants look forward to the next Unternehmerforum event.
