We have been driving innovation for almost 50 years

It all began in a garage in 1973, when our founder Dieter Schwarz developed new product ideas. Today, the DS group of companies has an annual turnover of 270 million euros as well as 550 employees.

Discover how we make products successful

Dieter Schwarz, founder of DS Produkte, continuously developed new product ideas...

...such as inflatable coat hangers, a splash guard for your frying pan on the stove, or pendants to keep your tablecloth in place. It was not long before he became known for his innovative problem solvers.

The novelty: He had his products manufactured in the Far East, at a time when there was no Internet and long-distance calls were costly. The mail-order business became aware of his innovations and, ever since, DS Produkte has been growing year after year.

At present, we do not sell table pendants or the WasserMaxx. But we do sell more than 4,000 other products.

Our key concept is still the same: We lend a hand when it comes to the customers. However, unpacking, shipping, and many other tasks are nowadays in the hands of our logistics team in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, northern Germany, on more than 30,000 pallet spaces. By the way: This storage capacity corresponds to 3,000 shipping containers.

Almost 50 years ago, there was no Internet…

…and our partner Ralf Dümmel was still a teenager. Thanks to lucky circumstances, Ralf and Dieter got to know each other which, in retrospect, was a magic moment for DS Produkte. Today, our brands include the oldest German barbecue manufacturer LANDMANN, the coffee maker specialist BEEM, and many others.

Since 2016, DS Group is well-known all over Germany – that was when Ralf Dümmel established himself as one of the lion investors on the German startup show “Die Höhle der Löwen” (“Lion’s Den”). Ever since, we have even more work to do: Jointly with the inventors, we brought more than 300 products to the shelves.

Our German sites in Stapelfeld and Gallin grow brick by brick.

In Stapelfeld, the new extension of our facilities was completed in 2019. It became necessary because our company is steadily growing, as is our team. In Gallin, we just finalized our LANDMANN hall and will double our logistics capacity with three new storage facilities by 2024.

The carefree package

From customized product development to legal reviews, manufacturing, quality assurance, marketing, PR, logistics, and any other success factor, we take care of everything a product needs to make it big.

With verve and strong nerves

DS Insights

A particular highlight to us came to pass in March 2012, shortly before the European soccer championships were held in Poland. In May, our head of sales Lars Stegelmann spotted Germany’s coach Joachim Löw wearing a luck bracelet in the colors of the German national flag, as depicted by the German tabloid newspaper BILD. In the product team, we all knew right away: Millions of Germans will want to have a similar one in June.

Hence, we immediately took the phone, looked for suppliers, ordered containers full of goods, and kept our fingers crossed – that Germany would be among the top teams. And then: Goooooooal!! Germany made it to the semi-finals and we were sold out!

I WISH TO SPEAK TO THE SALES DEPARTMENT!

DS Future

At the end of 2021, DS Group became part of Social Chain AG. With our strong brands we are jointly reinventing the future of commerce in the “House of Entrepreneurs”. In addition to our retail sales power, our affiliated companies of Social Chain AG deliver our private brands and trend products directly to customers’ homes.

The brands become known and popular through social media. Influencers, digital marketing, and direct sales complete the customer journey circle: from a customer’s request to the courier ringing at the door.

Moreover, everyone can be part of this success, as our stock is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.

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Almost 50 years of DS Group 
1973 to date

With proprietary developments and innovative products as well as new retail concepts, DS Group uses its network, its know-how, and its experience to grant people what they need.

1973

Dieter Schwarz founds the mail-order business DS Produkte

1994

DS receives its first action order in the six-digit range

1996

Entry into the teleshopping market as one of the first suppliers of QVC Germany

1997

Inauguration of our logistics center and first direct shipment to end customers

1999

First time our soda maker Wassermaxx is supplied to large food retail corporations

2005

We bring the brand TRi TOP back into the stores and become market leader in syrup products within one year

2010

First shop-in-shop system at one of the largest German corporations with more than 4,000 retail stores 2011

2011

In cooperation with e-commerce expert IN-TRADING, DS Group begins to conquer online marketplaces

2013

Inauguration of the first foreign offices to carry out quality controls on manufacturing sites

2016

Ralf Dümmel becomes an investor on the startup show “Die Höhle der Löwen” and DS Group begins investing in startups

2018

DS Group establishes its first private labels, and coffee and tea specialist BEEM moves under the company umbrella

2019

Manufacturing of merchandising material begins, among others for FC Bayern Munich

2020

During the pandemic, DS Group supplies essential medical products, such as rapid tests and masks

2020

Germany's oldest barbecue manufacturer LANDMANN moves under the umbrella of DS Group

2021

DS Group becomes part of Social Chain AG. On 12 November, its stock is listed in the Prime Standard segment of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.