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Thomas Schneider is a numbers person. The business graduate from Remscheid rarely makes decisions based on gut instinct—especially when it comes to professional matters. But sometimes life has surprises in store. “My wife Karin and I saw the sales listing for the hair salon chain on the succession portal DUB.de and knew right away: This is the business we’re going to buy,” he says. “Our first family business venture.”
Naturally, they immediately reviewed the company’s financials. When these lived up to the positive impression created by the sales listing, the entrepreneurial couple wasted no time: the process from the initial idea to signing the purchase agreement took less than a year. Since July 2017, the couple has owned the 19-location Vandéll hair salon chain in Berlin’s Pankow district. An unusually quick process for a mid-sized business acquisition. “The Schneider family knew exactly what they were looking for,” says Reiner Grönig.
The managing director of UnternehmensBörse Grönig und Kollegen—which was commissioned by the former owner to sell the business and placed the listing on DUB.de—recalls: “It had to be a service company with good scalability in the lifestyle, cosmetics, and beauty sectors.” The business was an excellent fit, so it wasn’t difficult for them to decide to buy the hair salon. Not least because Karin Schneider already owns a cosmetics and hair salon in Remscheid and, as a professional in the field, was well-positioned to assess the business’s potential.
Scoring Points with Process Expertise
The size of the business was also a decisive factor. “We wanted a larger project because that’s a very appealing strategic and business management challenge,” says Thomas Schneider, explaining his otherwise fairly open search criteria. The Schneiders weren’t tied to a specific location or region. Munich or Hamburg would also have been viable options.
The fact that Thomas Schneider himself works as a consultant specializing in mid-market business acquisitions proved to be another plus when it came to purchasing their own company. “It certainly has to do with my professional background that we wanted to continue operating an existing business,” he says. His expertise in the process—from the initial contact to the notary appointment—was also an advantage. “Through us, the buyer and seller quickly got in touch,” recalls Grönig, the broker. “We facilitated the discussions, were involved in drafting the contracts, and accompanied both parties to the signing.” For Thomas Schneider, this was a familiar procedure—with the sole difference that he was now sitting on the other side of the table—not advising, but buying.
The first contacts between the Schneiders and the seller took place in November 2016. “We traveled to Berlin several times for discussions,” says Thomas Schneider, “to have in-depth exchanges.” On the agenda: Do the expectations of both parties align? What expectations are on the table? Are the plans compatible with one another? Once the chemistry and plans aligned, the seller granted exclusivity for the financing phase. “That way, no competitor could derail our intention to buy,” says Karin Schneider.
Digitally into the Future
For about a month after the acquisition, the Schneiders remained in contact with the previous owner, who was selling due to her age. Since then, they have been working on their own to gently modernize the hair salon chain. Communication with employees plays a central role in this process, according to Thomas Schneider. “We’re proceeding with great humility, holding regular informational meetings with the salon managers and visiting the locations with our 110 employees on a regular basis.” The entrepreneurial couple—who are on site in Pankow four days a week—are pleased that the team supports the new owners and welcomes the spirit of renewal.
Hairdressing will remain the core business. However, plans are in place to expand the range of services. “We want to open customer consultation centers at suitable locations where all hair-related issues can be addressed and resolved,” announces Karin Schneider. She knows the beauty business and has a clear vision: “Vandéll is set to grow into a high-quality brand with strong brand recognition in Berlin.”
To that end, the focus will also be on the website, social media, and the digitization of processes such as online appointment booking and a payment app. The goal is to gradually adapt to the spirit of the times and meet modern customer needs. For Karin Schneider, this also includes expanding into the anti-aging sector and offering customers a holistic beauty concept. “This is how we’re making Vandéll salons ready for the future.”
