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1985 |
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Three business studies students establish the company as "Briefmarkenhaus Kuhn" [Kuhn Stamp Company]. Even in their first year they devote plenty of time, energy and ingenuity to developing innovative, high-quality collectables for department stores and stationery & paper shops. |
| 1998 |
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Introduction of the company's product range to almost all branches of the Hertie retail chain, and various other client groups. |
| 1999 |
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Acquisition of the company in second place in this sector, the long-established Otto Helling company in Hamburg, with lots of clients in Karstadt, Hertie, Kaufring retail chains etc. Acquisition of a former barracks building with 3,000 m² of floor space to accommodate the continuing growth of the business. |
| 2000 |
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Introduction of speciality products for zoos. |
| 2001 |
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Restructuring of all inventory control processes resulting in a demand-oriented optimisation of the product range. The aim: to double the revenue per client within the next two years. |
| 2002 |
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The introduction of the euro affects key sections of the product range. The Prophila Webshop enjoys exceptional initial success. In the autumn the department store business is particularly well supplied with euro articles and series items across the country. This means that there is an extensive Prophila product range in practically every significant German department store.
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| 2003 |
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Expansion of internet activities and private client business. Acquisition of new retail clients.
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| 2004 |
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Move to the new company building at Kerkrader Strasse 3-5, with 5,000 m² of office and floor space.
Prophila sponsors the TSV Allendorf football team:
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| 2005 |
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Prophila becomes one of the best-stocked providers of collectables on the internet with more than 1 million items in more than 50,000 product areas. Introduction of a new collection category in all sales channels: the promotional truck.
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| 2006 |
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Sale of the "Reichsbankschatz": historical Reichsbank stocks and bonds from the pre-war era. Prophila acquires the bulk of the historical government securities (more than 6 million items) and offers these important documents from German economic history to its valued clients. |
| 2007 |
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In order to increase its own brand profile, Prophila agrees to a strategic partnership with Leuchtturm, the world leader in accessories. |
| 2008 |
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The economic and financial crises cast a long shadow. Prophila arms itself in several ways so that it is not left exposed to imminent danger without any hope of protection. Costs and stock levels are visibly reduced and revenues spread across a wider basis.
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| 2009 |
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Prophila clients are increasingly turning to the internet. As a result, sales to end clients are expanding greatly. For the first time the Prophila web shop appears in almost all key European countries, as well as in the USA, each with its own shop in the national language
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1986 |
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Extremely successful introduction of the stamp approval card with individual stamps and sets for advanced collectors, for whom the standard retail product ranges of beginner packs and themed packs were neither adequate nor appealing. As a result, the company is listed as the chief supplier for the Karstadt retail chain in the same year, whereupon the revenue including collectables increases in leaps and bounds. |
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1987 |
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Extensive internal EDP and organisational measures are taken to ensure the efficient and relevant specialist production of stamp approval cards. Deliveries are made to the Kaufring retail chain for the first time. |
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1988 |
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The brand name is introduced, and the product range is expanded to include all accessories and coins that collectors find important. This now makes PROPHILA the first supplier with a full competent product range. |
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1989 |
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The product range is expanded with article-specific, promotional merchandise: the PROPHILA COLLECTOR'S SHOP comes into being. A capacity for innovation comes to the fore. This ensures steady revenue growth and the company becomes the market leader for collectables in German retail chains for the first time. |
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1990 |
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The company is a pioneer in introducing telephone cards for collectors to the market. |
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1991 |
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The already established brand name is incorporated into the company name as part of a restructuring process. |
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1992 |
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By using EDP networks from sales reps through to production, the company is able to reduce delivery times to 1 to 3 working days. Inventory controlled observation and checking of despatched stamps leads to demand-driven and price-oriented control of replacement stock. The result: the right stamps for the right price in the right place. It is only by doing this that the company can sell 70,000 different items successfully. |
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1993 |
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The PROPHILA COLLECTOR'S SHOP product range is optimised, and standard modules for different shelving types are developed. PROPHILA introduces new merchandise presentation systems and the futuristic PROPHILA COLLECTOR'S BOXES, and supplies its 500th customer. |
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1994 |
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PROPHILA is the official supplier of the Kaufring retail chain. The early introduction of the Kinder Egg figures as collectables creates a sales boom that continues to the present day. |
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1995 |
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A PROPHILIA COLLECTOR'S SHOP is opened in the KaDeWe department store in Berlin.
Other new clients receive the guarantee that they will achieve a revenue increase including collectables of at least 30% within one year, with a consistent sales floor. |
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1996 |
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Exhibition of the original BLUE MAURITIUS stamp in KaDeWe in Berlin, and at the Karstadt department store in Dresden. |
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1997 |
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Introduction of a "wandering" stamp flea market for use in special display areas for offers, including special offers, low-price product ranges, broad specialist product selections or interesting product ranges e.g. thousands of 0.99 DM items, old inherited collections, antique items or wonder boxes. |
