Corporate Management
Steer the publishing group. Think visionarily. Identify opportunities. Act decisively. Bear responsibility.
Steer the publishing group. Think visionarily. Identify opportunities. Act decisively. Bear responsibility.
For over 70 years, we’ve witnessed the power that stories have. The enduring power to captivate and fascinate readers, and the power to ensure the growth of a company like Bastei Lübbe which exists to publish these stories. We believe this power is universal – and that it can be renewed and rekindled over and over again. We call it ‘the power of passion’.
The appeal of a good story transcends all borders. There’s a theory that all the stories humanity has ever come up with are essentially based on five fundamental narratives. As human beings, our passion for a good story is almost always inspired by the way we identify with that story. We want to understand the characters’ motivations, to empathise with their challenges and accompany them on their journeys. The passion we feel for good stories is reinforced by digitalisation, which has fundamentally changed the way we interact with stories and elevated it to a new level. Today, stories are told via many different platforms, and communities have emerged on social media that are full of lively discussion about books and their protagonists. This makes passion tangible, and gives us valuable insights into the lives and needs of target audiences.
The power of passion has a wide-ranging impact. In our daily operations it serves us as a source of motivation to keep developing new formats and stories for our target audiences, thereby setting new trends. We see how our passion for good stories is shared by all of our staff here at Bastei Lübbe, and how this makes them feel truly invested in the company. And we are happy to report that it is also reflected in the financial markets, as shown by the positive developments in our share price over the last few years.
In other words: the power of stories is irresistible. And so is passion.
Our story. In five stories
Why our story almost began with a bankruptcy
In 1950, Gustav Lübbe invested in the small Bastei Verlag, founded by Ilse Tormin. However, when bankruptcy loomed three years later, he had to make a difficult decision.
When Bastei Lübbe found not only a new home but a new identity.
It was a somewhat wistful piece of news that appeared in the Bergisch Gladbach citizens' portal in December 2009, announcing the impending relocation of Bastei Verlag—a publisher that had been based locally for over 50 years. With that, an era came to an end. And a new one began.
The day book value became really important
Seven euros and fifty-three cents. The so-called initial listing—which appeared on the display of the Stuttgart Stock Exchange on a gray October day twelve years ago—held out hope for more.
Even big names need a home
Their books reach print runs in the millions; translators work on their new works under the strictest secrecy, with no contact to the outside world. Yet great authors often have very simple needs as well.
The joy of finding new target audiences, and the art of appealing to them
How often have we heard it: People are reading less and less! Yet just as one is about to believe this, a story comes along—time and again—that proves exactly the opposite. May we introduce: LYX.
Holding the company accountable. Making sustainability part of everyday life. Putting equality into practice. Protecting employees.