Better organized together
Christiane Ritschel has played a major role in MöbelFirst's growth as a company. And that doesn't mean that she, as Christoph Ritschel's mother, brought the founder of the furniture marketplace into the world. Far more than that. Christiane Ritschel is a coach with more than 30 years of consulting experience. She is on hand wherever help is needed for organizational and personnel changes. She develops managers, supports stress-free generational changes and is available as a mediator in conflict situations. She has been part of the MöbelFirst team for four years, although initially the focus was less on conflicts and more on the structure and development of the start-up.
After the excitement surrounding the financing issues had died down, it was time to think about the next steps and optimize the self-management of the then still very young managing directors Christoph Ritschel and Dennis Franken. This is how the two founders approached Christiane Ritschel. What can I get away from? How do I structure my work and how do I divide my resources? The two have obviously answered these questions well for themselves, because today MöbelFirst is one of the largest marketplaces for affordable designer furniture. More than 500 stationary specialist retailers now use the platform's reach to sell individual items and display pieces nationwide. The focus of her advisory services at MöbelFirst has now completely shifted. Today, Christiane Ritschel primarily provides support in organizational development and HR topics such as personnel recruitment and hiring as well as the further qualification of employees.
Even though she works in different sectors - retail, banking, industry, trade - the furniture industry is her home. This is where she started her career and where she knows the special challenges. Ultimately, however, the core topics are universal. Accordingly, her company motto is: "Winning with people". "That says it all, what I'm all about. I really enjoy my work and it gives me great satisfaction because a lot of trust is built up between me and my clients. That is the basis for being able to get things moving together."
A commitment lasts a minimum of two years. That's how much time is needed to bring about a succession or organizational change. Her longest engagement has even lasted twelve years. As a rule, she meets with her clients every six to eight weeks, with video calls in between. Quarterly, however, it should also be two days in a row to work together intensively. "A video call is no substitute for a face-to-face meeting," says Christiane Ritschel.
Is it a particular challenge when your own son is in the company you are coaching? "The family level is completely ignored, it works because I have a lot of experience as a coach. If a surgeon were to operate on her son, she would also have to concentrate on her work." The clear separation of relationships has worked excellently for four years. The spatial organization also helps. Meetings always take place in the MöbelFirst office.
And where does Christiane Ritschel see MöbelFirst as an organization six years after its launch? "For me, MöbelFirst is no longer a start-up because the company has long since reached a higher level of maturity. Now it's all about structuring further growth and retaining the right employees in the long term."
Regardless of Corona, MöbelFirst is a remote-first company, and has been from the very beginning. The aim is to develop a different way of organizing work. Onboarding in particular is therefore a very important process, because on the scale of MöbelFirst, it is particularly important that employees perform at their best right from the start and at the same time do not feel isolated in the home office. However, everyone involved has also built up a lot of experience in this area. So things are moving forward at MöbelFirst in a spirit of cooperation and by joining forces.
