Almost 800 million euros in turnover. More than 5,200 employees. 38 sites around the world. Schwan-STABILO is one of the most successful family firms in Germany today.
Gustav Adam Schwanhäusser laid the foundations for the company’s success back in 1865. He quickly recognised the opportunities offered by the burgeoning Industrial Revolution, obtained a loan of 32,000 guilder from his father, and purchased a pencil factory founded 1855 in Nuremberg. More than 170 years and six generations later, this has become an international group with three independent divisions: Cosmetics, Writing Instruments and Outdoor.
Today, as in the past, entrepreneurial courage, foresight and knowledge of what is feasible form the mainstays of the company’s success.
„Staying on course and providing a new impetus“
Heroldsberg/May 2025. A significant leadership change is underway at the globally active family-owned business Schwan-STABILO. With operations spanning Writing Instruments, Cosmetics, Outdoor, and revenues of approximately €800 million, the Group employs more than 5,200 people in 38 locations worldwide. After nearly three decades in various leadership roles, Sebastian Schwanhäußer (61) will step down from his operational responsibilities at the end of the current fiscal year and assume the position of Chairman of the Advisory Board on July 1, 2025.
As of October 1, 2025, Michele Molon (48) will take over as Group CEO of Schwan-STABILO. During the transition period, CFO Anke Buttler will lead the Group’s operations. This generational shift has been deliberately prepared to ensure stability while welcoming new momentum and perspectives. As a sixth-generation family-owned company, Schwan-STABILO continues to believe that early, well-planned transitions are a sign of strength — especially in an increasingly volatile business environment.
„We don't think in years, we think in generations“
Heroldsberg/April 2025. When 25-year-old Gustav Adam Schwanhäußer took over a pencil factory founded ten years earlier in 1865, nobody could have imagined that it would grow into a globally successful company. Today, the Schwan-STABILO group of companies is managed by the sixth generation - and generates an annual turnover of around 800 million euros with around 5,300 employees worldwide. (As of 30.06.2024). This makes Schwan-STABILO one of Germany's leading family businesses, which together secure around 60 percent of private sector jobs.
"We are and will remain a family business," emphasizes Sebastian Schwanhäußer, CEO and executive shareholder of Schwan-STABILO. "No matter what challenges we face - we think in terms of generations, not years."
Heroldsberg, November 20, 2024. Developments in the consumer goods market have shown a mixed economic situation in Germany, Europe and on a global level for some time now. Thus geopolitical uncertainties and a cautious social mood have significantly slowed down private consumption. In the retail sector, full warehouses after coronavirus and higher interest rates led to fewer orders. In terms of the economy, innovation remains the key driver of growth and stability, and customer awareness of sustainable products is still growing noticeably.
Heroldsberg, November 23, 2023. Volatile markets, war, inflation and cautious consumers: the Schwan-STABILO Group, with its three business segments of cosmetics, pens and outdoor, once again faced considerable challenges. Nevertheless, the upward trend of the previous year continued - also because of the different positioning. In the past financial year 2021/22 (30.06.2022) the family-owned company generated sales of EUR 850.3 million (previous year: EUR 745.3 million) and thus once again grew strongly by around 14%. All three divisions contributed to this sales growth.
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