Boss Junior - The Next Generation Takes Over (Episode 1)
If you want to build a business, you need talent, ambition, support + trust in yourself + your employees. And who better to support this endeavor than your own family. So it's no wonder that there are around 180,000 family-run businesses in Germany. From caterers to bridal fashion stores to declutterers. Germany's family businesses are colorful + diverse. Now is the time to hand over the business that your parents or maybe even grandparents built up with a lot of work and sweat to the next generation. New ideas meet dusty methods, digital trends meet analog work, young meet old.
Brothers Andre + Alexander Zupp from Essen took over their late father's decluttering business as recently as 2015. After his long-term cancer illness, it was immediately clear to the Ruhrpott brothers: the family business will continue. Their father's footsteps are big + the path to becoming a successful small business owner difficult. In the meantime, they have the farm well under control. From old toasters to bulky clothes rails + cabinets in the old "oak rustic" style, they clear out, sort + empty houses, apartments + cellars. In the process, they not only work in piecework time, but also keep an eye out for hidden treasures. Because mother Silke sells them in her own second-hand store, giving the supposed junk a new home. The brothers have enough to do, but the competition never sleeps, because anyone can call themselves a declutterer. They have to prove themselves and fight for their father's company.
Queen for a day - that's the motto of Claudia, her daughter-in-law Carina + her daughter-in-law-to-be Jana. Together, the three women founded their secondhand bridal fashion store "Preloved Bridals NRW" in Arnsberg at the beginning of this year. Mother Claudia already had a store for bridal fashion many years ago + had to learn that around every corner a new challenge is waiting to be overcome. She now passes this knowledge on to her daughters-in-law. They in turn introduce Claudia to the world of digital marketing. By now, Claudia is almost a professional. With their videos and posts, they are gaining more and more followers on their Instagram page. This is also necessary, because the business is still in its infancy + depends on every customer in the highly competitive industry.
Since 2012, the Demirgülle family has been catering events of all kinds in Cologne + the surrounding area with their oriental catering company. Merve is 26 years old + the head of the family business. She takes care of marketing and customer service. Her mother Belgin is the figurehead and the heart of their catering, because she is a passionate cook + delights the customers with her lovingly prepared dishes. Brother Metehan takes care of the logistics. Father Izzet and sister Melike also lend a hand from time to time. Everything stays in the family. But for the future, Izzet and Belgin in particular want their children to stand on their own two feet. And so mother Belgin starts cooking lessons for her two children, because it is time to pass on the long-kept family recipes to the next generation.
"Boss Junior - The Next Generation Takes Over" shows modern family businesses in transition from one generation to the next. Which junior will prevail + ultimately lead the family business to success?
Broadcasting on 19th of November 2022 at 11.35am on WDR/ARD
Music: POPVIRUS Library