At Stolzle, we love our customers and it shows. Of course, its easy to love them when they’re like Draeger’s Market in San Mateo, California!

“I love the both the concept and the people at Draeger’s,” says Mark Roland, VP Sales for Retail & Consumer. “When you walk in, you know immediately it’s a special type of store. Gourmet foods, high-quality home goods and even upscale casual clothing. All targeted at their knowledgeable and sophisticated customer base”
​
In operation for over 90 years, Draeger's remains family-owned and operated to this day. As the fourth generation begins to take the reins, the company remains committed to providing its Bay Area customers with a food experience unlike any other. Founded by Gustave Draeger in 1925 as "Draeger's Delicatessen" in San Francisco, Draeger's has transformed through the years to become not just a supermarket, but a "marketplace" where customers can find the highest quality specialty and gourmet items, produce, meat, wine, liquor, prepared bakery and deli foods, flowers, housewares – and, of course – great Stolzle glassware. 

​Next time your in the bay area, be sure to check out one of the four Draeger’s Market locations in San Mateo, Los Altos, Menlo Park and Blackhawk. And, while you’re there, be sure to check out the great lineup of Stolzle glassware!
#LoveOurCustomers

Why Should Retailers Consider Stolzle as Their Premier Glassware Partner?
From time to time, I get asked why should retailers consider Stolzle as their premier glassware partner? It’s a question that I love to answer and completely understand why people ask it. After all, sometimes glassware and glassware companies can all look alike. But. in fact, there are several great – and unique - reasons for retailers to carry, promote and sell Stolzle Glassware.

First of all, with Stolzle there is a wide diversity of products and collections. Our U.S. catalog has great products for nearly every type of setting and design, all at a wide variety of great price points. From classic to contemporary, from everyday use to those special celebratory collections, Stolzle has something to offer nearly everyone. And, in addition, we have additional products that can be ordered on a factory-direct basis, adding even more collections to consider.
Another great reason for retailers to work with Stolzle is our flexibility. From the factory, we can create special gift sets for a retailer. That way, retailers can create their own, custom gift sets that meet their customer’s tastes and preferences. Inaddition, here in the U.S. we can drop ship our inventoried collections directly to the shopper’s home. That’s an added service that we offer.

But, probably the best reason for retailers to work closely with Stolzle is that we are a real factory. What do I mean by that? Stolzle actually is the manufacturer of the product, so we are not like other “importers” who simply buy their products from various factories and then re-sell those products here in the States. Those who import and then market glassware like that are then totally reliant on those factories for timeliness of shipments, overall product quality, consistency and much more. As a 130-year old producer of world class crystal and glassware, we don’t just represent the factory – we are the factory.

And one more great reason for retailers to consider Stolzle as their premier glassware partner is that Stolzle is part of a €1.8 Billion company which gives us the strength and resources to keep our manufacturing capabilities at best-in-class levels. Stolzle has always been at the forefront of glassware production technology, helping ensure that we bring to market the very best products at the very best prices. There’s no question that Stolzle looks to continue to grow its leadership position within the glassware and crystal glassware category and we are committed to the U.S. consumer market.

If you have any questions, reach to me and let’s discuss them: mark.roland@stoelzle-usa.com

​Mark Roland
Vice President Sales – Retail & Consumer

​By Mark Roland, Vice President Sales – Retail & Consumer

As we start to come out of the coronavirus pandemic, we are emerging back into a different retail landscape here in America and around the world. For sure, restaurants have been disrupted, but right alongside them are America’s retailers. Our estimation is that the brick and mortar retailers will shrink by 25% or so in terms of numbers of locations.

​And, with consumers currently leery of going back into retail shops, that number could grow as we begin to see that many cannot survive the time it takes for the full recovery to happen. So, we are definitely looking at a shrinking overall marketplace.
​
That said, we’ve seen a strong uptick in online shopping. Retailers and catalog houses are skyrocketing upwards in terms of where consumers have gone to buy their glassware. And, of course, as that business model changes it puts different pressures on us in terms of warehousing, logistics and even how we tell the Stolzle story.
​
That’s the great thing about being the actual manufacturer versus an importer or someone is simply sourcing glassware from a factory somewhere in the world. Stolzle can continue to adjust and ensure that the consumer continues to get a great customer experience whether they shop in a gourmet or kitchen store or they buy their Stolzle glassware online.

Today, Stolzle still has its roots in the small, independent retailers and gourmet & kitchen stores. However, with the growth of online shopping we have been able to expand the assortment that we offer to today’s consumer. Manufacturing in Germany and warehousing here in America allows us to expand and increase our inventories, making sure that our consumer customers get exactly the product they want – when they want it. Providing world-class customer service has always been a top priority for Stolzle.

​A great example of that quality and attention to detail is the new, proprietary “pulled stem” technology that our factory has developed. Now, many of our machine-made wine glasses, like our STARlight stemware collection, that has a thinner, more elegant - and more durable – stem. The new STARlight stemware collection is classic at first sight, but trend setting at first touch. The special feature of the new series is the thickness - specifically the fineness of the glass. For example, the stem has a diameter that is about ten percent smaller than that of conventional machine-made glasses. And the goblet also has a noticeably thinner wall thickness compared to other glasses from machine production. In this way the STARlight series combines lightness with extraordinary elegance.
​
All of these attributes give our new STARlight a look and feel that reminds users of mouth-blown crystal that would cost several times the price of a machine made product. This collection is another great example of Stolzle’s innovation, skill and knowledge at the factory level provides customers of all types with a much-improved, better performing overall product.