Tennis through and through - that's what Sandra Kirschbaum , owner of Kirschbaum Sportartikel GmbH, has lived by since she was a child. In a really interesting interview with Marc Raffel, tennis entrepreneur and long-time business partner of the Kirschbaum company, she explains why and how she has been connected to tennis, the players and the tennis scene for over 30 years. Among other things, Kirschbaum will also be the title sponsor of the ITF men's tennis tournament in the Rhine district of Neuss in 2021. From April 13th, 2021 to April 18th, 2021 the tournament will again be called “Kirschbaum International” - the ATP Talent Show. The game is played in Teremeer, the sports and tennis resort in Meerbusch. And TennisTraveller will be taking part as an official tournament partner for the first time.
Company owner Sandra Kirschbaum talks to Marc Raffel about the tradition of Kirschbaum tennis strings, the special challenge of the tennis industry in Corona times and the current state of the German tennis tournament landscape.
Marc Raffel:
Sandra, you've been working at Kirschbaum Sportartikel GmbH for almost 30 years, a company you took over from your father years ago. Would you make the same decision again today?
Sandra Kirschbaum:
Of course! It's great to spread your own name all over the world.
Marc Raffel:
Kirschbaum strings can look back on a long tradition. What distinguishes the strings from your company?
Sandra Kirschbaum:
For decades, we have guaranteed consistent quality, a wide product range, and long-term availability of our various strings. Furthermore, as a family business, we stand for top-notch customer service.
Marc Raffel:
In the past, people played with wooden rackets; today, they use state-of-the-art rackets made with materials from the aerospace industry. Has the significance of a tennis string changed in recent years and decades?
Sandra Kirschbaum:
The importance of the string remains extremely high in professional tennis. In contrast to the past, we are observing that more and more team and recreational athletes are also placing great value on the right string and are taking advantage of our consulting services in this regard.
Marc Raffel:
Where and how are your Kirschbaum tennis strings produced?
Sandra Kirschbaum:
We primarily manufacture in Germany. This applies to our entire polyester product range. Surface modifications and custom profiles are developed and implemented directly on-site in Witten. All worldwide sales of Kirschbaum products are managed from Witten.
Marc Raffel:
Many tennis players often wonder which string is right for them. What types of strings are there and what are the differences between them?
Sandra Kirschbaum:
Choosing a string type is highly individual and depends on many factors such as racket model, string tension, playing style, age, fitness level, etc. The trend is towards thinner strings and lower string tensions. Again, I would like to encourage every player—regardless of skill level—to take advantage of the consultation form on our website for individual and personal advice.
Marc Raffel:
Natural gut strings used to be the gold standard. Is that still the case?
Sandra Kirschbaum:
No. Due to advancements in racket and string materials, gut strings have lost their importance.
Marc Raffel:
How tightly should a string be strung? What tension do the professionals prefer?
Sandra Kirschbaum: In professional tennis, it depends on the surface and the temperature. What is certain is that fewer and fewer top players are stringing their rackets very tightly.
Marc Raffel:
We are all living in strange times due to the coronavirus crisis. What impact are these developments having on your company?
Sandra Kirschbaum:
The lockdown last spring hit us hard and quickly. Without sports activities, there was no demand for equipment. With the reopening of clubs in mid-May, demand quickly picked up again, which allowed us to mitigate the losses.
Marc Raffel:
Tennis is primarily played in tournaments. There are many formats and possibilities. How do you see the developments in the tournament landscape?
Sandra Kirschbaum:
The global tennis circuit has been severely impacted by the coronavirus, and with it, the tournament organizers and promoters. However, the player base, consisting of juniors, teams, and players with a ranking, seems to me to be extremely stable and resilient. Most of them play tennis out of passion.
Marc Raffel:
Kirschbaum strings have been and are still being used by many tournament players and tennis professionals. Which contracted players do you remember most fondly? Who currently relies on your products?
Sandra Kirschbaum:
Former Kirschbaum players include French Open champion Gaston Gaudio, Carlos Moya, Karol Kucera, Patty Schnyder, and Angelique Kerber. Today, we primarily focus on developing young talent and projects for young players.
Company headquarters: Witten
Company established: 1987
Owner: Sandra Kirschbaum
Founder: Horst Kirschbaum
Employees: 13
Products: Strings & Accessories
Company philosophy: Family, Tennis, Service, Passion
Marc Raffel is the owner of MARA Sport-Consulting and a tennis entrepreneur with various fields of activity.
Whether as a tournament organizer of major ATP and ITF tournaments as well as DTB ranking and LK tournaments, operator of the YONEX tennis base in the Teremeer tennis and sports resort Meerbusch or organizer of tennis camps at home and abroad. The field of activity is broad and Marc is known throughout Germany as a tennis great.
Which string is right for me? This is a question that's certainly very difficult for most of us to answer. While the wide range of racket options might be somewhat manageable, the selection of strings is a different story. At least, that's how it is for me.
That's why I find Kirschbaum Strings' consultation service so great; they ask about various aspects. Afterwards, they provide individual advice and corresponding suggestions.
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