Desire for the Better
Interview with Michael Mayer, Managing Director of AHA GmbH
When passion, courage, know-how, creativity, professionalism, and a strong sense of community come together, something extraordinary can emerge. As with AHA GmbH from Gersthofen. Planners, designers, carpenters, and visionaries there develop store construction concepts that set new standards, give people space, and provide brand worlds with emotional depth. And that 360 degrees.
Wirtschaftsforum: Mr. Mayer, AHA-GmbH is always in demand when it comes to special interior fittings; this is illustrated by references such as Confiserie Oberweis in Luxembourg, BrotHaus Café in Rothenburg ob der Tauber, das Restaurant der Stern in Schwabach, Feinkost Kahn in Augsburg and many others. How did it come about that for AHA the special is standard?
Michael Mayer: The desire for excellence, the wish to do things differently than others runs like a red thread through the company's history. We had highs and lows, learned from crises and have emerged stronger from them.
Wirtschaftsforum: Were there particular turning points?
Michael Mayer: I founded the company in 1997 with six carpenters. Things went very well for two years until, within three months, our two main customers went bankrupt and we faced massive problems; the company was essentially at its end. That difficult time was very educational for us: We gathered important experiences, repositioned ourselves, and with an outstanding team, we overcame the crisis. It took us two years to recover, after which we went our way and stand today, not least because of this experience, in an excellent economic position.
Wirtschaftsforum: What did the repositioning look like?
Michael Mayer: We've learned that one must focus on oneself and one's strengths. We found a new bank, looked at various markets, and then specialized in the food sector where we want to offer value to our customers. Today, we employ 120 staff, turn over 25 million EUR, and have a top rating. More important than economic success, however, are the people behind it. We have a unique culture with extraordinary people; that's why we can handle the Champions League, the best of the best. We've invested a lot, always looked forward, established various branches such as store construction and our own lighting company, and carry out around 150 projects a year. Many of our clients also take advantage of our consulting expertise as an additional service – a USP that sets us apart from the competition. The fact that we handle projects from Vienna to Luxembourg and from Italy all the way up north is because there was always a desire to do it better.
Wirtschaftsforum: Has this desire for improvement also carried AHA through crises?
Michael Mayer: Yes. We have committed people and high flexibility; this helped us during the Corona crisis. Consequently, we were able to gain a foothold in new markets, focusing on the food sector, supermarkets, banks, and creating cinemas and new experiential worlds. We could only implement these high-end solutions with a flexible team. A greater challenge was the energy crisis. Yet, we always had good results, never short-time work, and were able to continue our culture. Thanks to our setup, we are comparable to a speedboat that always has a goal in sight but can also make course changes.
Wirtschaftsforum: AHA services the Champions League, the best of the best. How is this achieved?
Michael Mayer: An important strategic decision was to switch production to one-piece and focus on individuality. This makes us the most individual player on the market, allowing us to find new ways beyond traditional store construction. Today, we plan entire building complexes and offer location consulting; customers work with us long-term and trust us, allowing valuable friendships to form. The mix of flexibility, speed, and exceptional human relationships, characterized by mutual appreciation, is a unique selling point.
Wirtschaftsforum: And the key to success?
Michael Mayer: Our projects are more successful because we see the people behind them, because we want to make our customers more successful. It's not about realizing ourselves; we want to create successful 360-degree concepts for our customers.
Wirtschaftsforum: You are an expert in the industry. How do you assess the future?
Michael Mayer: 2024 will be successful for us. I am grateful that we have the best team ever. I critically view the political development in Germany; there is a lack of support for small and medium-sized enterprises. But it is resilient and won't be easily subdued.