| Musikhaus Kirstein | |
| Type: | GmbH[1] |
| Foundation: | 1987[2] |
| Founder: | Klaus Kirstein |
| Location: | Schongau, Germany |
| Key People: | Andreas Kirstein Roman Thomas (managing directors) |
| Num Employees: | 165 (Annual Report 2022-2023) |
| Revenue: | ca. €30 million (2020) |
| Industry: | Musical instruments |
| Homepage: | kirstein.de |
Musikhaus Kirstein is a German company that sells musical instruments as well as studio, lighting, and sound equipment online and in music stores. Kirstein sells products from other manufacturers as well as its own brands.
Musikhaus Kirstein was founded in 1987 by Klaus Kirstein, who had previously worked as a professional musician himself. By 2000, it had become the largest music store in the Allgäu region.[3] In 2005, Musikhaus Kirstein entered the online retail market and set up an online store, as a result of which the company grew significantly.[4] In 2020, in-store sales only accounted for around 20 percent and the majority of business was generated online.[5] By 2017, it was considered to be one of the largest music stores in Germany. To mark the 30th anniversary of the company, a music festival was organized in Schongau under the name "Musiconnect". Musikhaus Kirstein has since organized further concerts.[6]
The managing directors of Kirstein are Roman Thomas and, since 2023, Klaus Kirstein's son Andreas Kirstein,[7] while Klaus Kirstein retired from the management in 2023.[8] [9] As of 2020, Musikhaus Kirstein was third in size among German music store companies. The storage area for the products is around 17,000 square meters.
Musikhaus Kirstein trades in instruments such as guitars, wind instruments, electric pianos, pianos, and percussion instruments throughout Europe.[10] In addition to selling instruments from other manufacturers, the company has also been selling products under its own brands such as "Classic Cantabile" since 2005. In China and South Korea, business partners produce wind instruments, guitars, violins, electric pianos, drums, loudspeakers, lighting, and sound equipment and a range of music accessories on behalf of Kirstein. In addition to its own website, Kirstein's own products are also sold via other platforms such as Amazon.
In 2020, Musikhaus Kirstein received the "Bavaria's Best 50" award from the Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs, which recognizes the 50 fastest-growing medium-sized companies in Bavaria.[11]