The story
In 1940, Alois Hüls founded the company by opening a cabinetmaker’s workshop with 10 employees in Stadtlohn, Münsterland (North Rhine-Westphalia). In 1953 Karl Hüls, son of Alois Hüls, joined the company. The Hüls-Möbelwerke specialized in the production of bedroom furniture. In 1959, the brand name hülsta was established. In 1960, after graduating as a wood engineer, Karl Hüls took over the management of the company. In 1961, the hülsta brand was registered at the Patent Office in Munich.
In 1962, hülsta’s wardrobe system Intermat replaced the thus far conventional upper and lower cupboards by continuous doors.
In 1964, the hülsta brand was protected by international copyright. hülsta opened a second production site in Heek (North Rhine-Westphalia, Münsterland). hülsta launched hülstamat, the first wardrobe featuring the add-on principle.
In 1965, hülsta started to manufacture Rumat, the first base frame for mattresses. In 1967, hülsta opened a third production site in Ottenstein (North Rhine-Westphalia). "Allwand" was the first living room range in the market to feature the endless add-on principle with fronts in different heights. At the same time, the modular living room range "Universa" was designed.
In 1969, the hülsta parent plant moved to the Wenningfeld industrial estate in Stadtlohn. In 1970, hülsta introduced a youth range to the market. Alois Hüls died on 28 April 1970.
The first edition of the interior design book “Vorbildlich Wohnen“ was published in 1975. In 1983, the company established a new training center for sales staff and fitters from the furniture trade at the headquarters in Stadtlohn.
In 1985, according to a Stern magazine brand study, hülsta was the best-known furniture brand in Germany in 1985 with a 58% level of recognition. In 1986, the company launched the home office range. In 1987 Karl Hüls was awarded the Bundesverdienstkreuz First Class.
In 1993, Ludwig Hüls, the third of four sons born to Gertrud and Karl Hüls, joined the hülsta-werke as overall Technical Director.
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In 1994, under the name of now! by hülsta, hülsta were the first to launch furniture in the cash-and-carry sector. For the first time, the company became involved as a co-sponsor for the Gerry Weber Open ATP tennis tournament in Halle, for the first time. According to a Stern magazine brand study, hülsta achieved a recognition level of 49% in 1998.
In 2000, hülsta established the Soft-Technologies for automatic and silent closing of drawers and doors. In 2001, Karl Hüls was awarded the Großes Verdienstkreuz of the Federal Republic of Germany; he died on 5 October that year.
In 2002, by adding dining tables and chairs, hülsta extended its portfolio by the sector “Dining”. In 2003, the “Gerhart-Hauptmann-Straße“ in Stadtlohn was renamed “Karl-Hüls-Straße“. In 2004, hülsta became the first and only furniture manufacturer to be awarded the quality seal "Premium Qualität" by the Bavarian LGA. The company was included in the compendium "Marken des Jahrhunderts" (Brands of the Century).
In 2007 the initiative "Deutschland - Land der Ideen" (Germany – Country of Ideas) under the patronage of President of Germany Horst Köhler awarded hülsta the "Ausgewählter Ort 2007" (Selected Site 2007). The furniture manufacturer was one of 365 organisations, one for every day of the year, which is meant to represent innovative power and sustainability in Germany.
In the course of a period of restructuring in 2008/2009 hülsta merged two factories and, according to company information, outsourced a part of the production, such as veneer production and cutting. During the restructuring program, some suppliers took on hülsta employees. A veneer plant that is part of the group took over the work of several smaller suppliers.
To mark the 70th anniversary of the brand in 2010, an international print and radio campaign was carried out. The hülsta-werke are managed by the third generation of the Hüls family. Ludwig Hüls is responsible as Technical Managing Director.
From Wikipedia’s article on Hülsta, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.4