The 50th anniversary of the Trio sofa and the sales and communication campaign to flank it at the beginning of 2023 paved the way for a series of corporate achievements for COR over the course of the year. The successful market launch of the Nook sofa (design: Jehs+Laub) at the Milan Design Week was honoured at the end of the year with the German Design Award 2024 and the Best of Year Award 2023. This was followed by further international trade fair appearances at Workspace Paris, Design District Rotterdam and imm cologne Spring Edition.
In the second half of the year, the COR Space concept for retail partners was introduced and the first COR Spaces opened at Knittelfelder in Gleisdorf/Graz and Wohnidee in Lucerne. Five further Spaces are scheduled to open this year.
The German Sustainability Award 2024 finalist was able to implement a wide range of projects as part of its sustainability strategy, including EPD (Environmental Product Declaration) applications for significant items of contract furniture. The CORever furniture take-back system, which gives old COR furniture a new lease of life through repair and refurbishment, got off to a very successful start. The Sustainability Report 2022/23 will be published in April 2024.
“We were able to strengthen our market position in a challenging environment and in a segment that is strongly affected by economic developments,” commented Leo Lübke, Managing Partner, on the past year. “The Trio anniversary campaign made a significant contribution to our performance and orders for Trio increased by 49 per cent last year,” he added.
2023 was a year of investments
COR has invested a total of around EUR 7.3 million in the Rheda-Wiedenbrück production facility. The bulk of that investment went towards the construction of a new materials warehouse with a photovoltaic system on the basis of the most sustainable energy efficiency class currently available, EE 40. It is a key component of the “Lean Factory” project, which was launched back in 2015. The warehouse offers the key advantages of efficient and requirement-based deliveries of individual components to the production bays and the elimination of all intermediate storage areas. Doubling the company’s previous storage capacity, the new warehouse increases materials availability in a time of supply chain insecurity. Investments were also made in new machinery and a new powder coating system.
Continuing the digitalisation drive was another priority. In 2024, a new CRM system will be rolled out and the PIM system, which combines all data in one data source, will be finalised. Both systems will simplify future communications and work processes with partners and suppliers.
The COR team has grown to 234 employees. Ten of them are technical/industrial (upholstery, sewing) and commercial (industrial business management) apprentices. COR’s young talents are regularly among the best in their field. In 2023, apprentice Jule Billen was named the best upholstery and decorative seamstress in the East Westphalia-Lippe region, the state of North Rhine-Westphalia and Germany.
Nothing is more constant than change
Despite the precarious economic situation and global political uncertainties, COR has an optimistic outlook. The new financial year begins with an exhibitor presence at imm cologne and the presentation of the new products Echo (design: Lukas Heintschel) and Ipa (design: kräling_lübke) there. A comprehensive package of marketing and communication measures is being launched in connection with this year’s 60th anniversary of the classic sofa Conseta (design: Friedrich W. Möller) and COR’s 70th anniversary.
The premium brand has not stood still since the year it was founded. Always changing with the times and keeping a watchful and critical eye on itself, the now second-generation family-run company has remained true to its values and set precedents in the industry. Reason enough to celebrate this year’s anniversary in an appropriately modest style, reflecting the company’s East Westphalian roots.