In 2004, the company's product range was expanded to include machines and tools for metal and woodworking. Even then, the "online" sales channel was used for this new product range and the company's own brand "paulimot" was created. Our company is therefore one of the pioneers of online trading - at least among local retailers. Thanks to the new product range and the innovative sales channel, the company has experienced strong growth since then, which continues to this day. In 2014, we held numerous discussions within the family about what the company succession should look like. My sister Simone Paulitschek had already been working in the company for many years at that time. We were both of the opinion that the business model of paulimot was very promising for the future. As a result, we quickly agreed that we wanted to shape the further growth of the company together. I would like to take this opportunity to thank our parents for building up the company and placing their trust in us to continue to successfully raise their "baby".

A lot! While my sister Simone is responsible for the technology and sales departments within the management team, I cover the entire commercial area. My experience in the areas of finance, law and taxes helps me every day to organise the commercial side of the company and hopefully make as many of the right decisions as possible to lead paulimot successfully into the future. In addition to the technical aspects, during my time as an auditor and manager at Ernst & Young GmbH in Stuttgart I was also able to gain a lot of experience in the areas of project management as well as personnel management and development. I also benefit from this every day.

We have a really great team that gives its all every day to provide our customers with first-class products and outstanding service. Thanks to our dynamic growth in recent years, which continues to this day, the working environment at paulimot has a start-up feel, even though the company has been around for so long. I appreciate our flat hierarchies and our open interaction with each other. I realise that a company that is expanding and constantly changing demands a lot from its employees. You have to show a high degree of flexibility and be prepared to take on new challenges. Although constantly changing workflows and processes are sometimes demanding, they are also enriching, as the work never becomes monotonous or boring. With this in mind, it is very important to me that all colleagues are actively involved in their work and contribute their own ideas and suggestions for improvement. In view of the constantly growing volume of orders, it is necessary to constantly scrutinise established processes and think about how something can be done better or more efficiently. And this is not something that can be imposed from above; the ideas and impetus for this must come to a large extent from the individual teams. Everyone here has internalised this idea and I really like that.

The twin centre of Ulm in Baden-Württemberg and Neu-Ulm in Bavaria is an incredibly dynamic region. The two cities together now have around 180,000 inhabitants, and there are other densely populated towns and municipalities around Ulm and Neu-Ulm. An incredibly strong economy - the unemployment rate in Neu-Ulm was recently at 2.3% - fulfils its responsibility to train young people. At paulimot, for example, you can learn the innovative trades of "e-commerce clerk" and "office management clerk". Three universities - Ulm University, Ulm University of Applied Sciences and Neu-Ulm University of Applied Sciences - attract young people and help us to recruit highly qualified employees. In terms of infrastructure, we are very well connected both by road and rail. The high-speed railway line from Ulm to Wendlingen, which is currently under construction, and the subsequent Stuttgart 21 project will make the location even more attractive in a few years' time. Stuttgart Airport, for example, will then be less than 30 minutes away from Ulm and Frankfurt Airport only an hour and a half. And last but not least, the region has a high recreational value: the Swabian Alb and the beautiful Allgäu are right on the doorstep and you can be in the Alps in an hour. In short, I could hardly imagine a better region to live and work in.

And one last question: What does a typical working day as a managing director actually look like?

There is no such thing as a typical working day. My most important companion throughout the working day is my diary, which helps me to keep track of numerous appointments. I also try to keep a time slot "free of appointments" every day so that I can work through emails and other correspondence at my desk and be available for employees. Otherwise, my daily routine is characterised by many internal and external meetings. The biggest project at the moment is the expansion of our site in Neu-Ulm with a new building and extensive remodelling of our existing buildings. Many meetings with the planners, construction companies and various tradespeople are required to drive a project like this forward. In any case, I never get bored and my list of ideas is long enough for the future.