History

We were one of the first to start selling garden furniture made from plantation-grown teak on the German market almost twenty years ago. Here is a brief overview of our achievements:
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Harald Ploß discovers teak garden furniture for the first time at an acquaintance’s house at the start of the nineties. It was a rarity in German gardens until then.
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Harald Ploß travels to Indonesia to find out about the origins and production of this furniture. The first consignment of plantation-grown teak garden furniture arrives at the port of Hamburg soon afterwards. The first warehouse is built. From the beginning, the golden rule was that only 100% plantation-grown wood would be used.
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As the sole provider, Ploß & Co. exhibits garden furniture made from plantation-grown teak at a specialist furniture trade show...the products catch dealers’ attention for the first time.
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During the mid-nineties, demand for teak garden furniture is much higher than expected. Delivery vehicles are bought and a new, larger warehouse is opened.
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In 1999, the company moves to its current headquarters in Barsbüttel, in the state of Schleswig-Holstein. The new warehouse comprises an area of 16,000 m2 and has modern logistics equipment. Soon, Ploß & Co. takes on its first major orders for distributors and chain stores. A selection of fine colonial furniture is added to the product range.
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Following an in-depth accreditation process, Ploß & Co. is now FSC-certified (no.: SGS-COC-0676) and offers many items of furniture with this environmental seal – subject to availability. The company quickly becomes one of the biggest FSC suppliers in Germany.
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Ploß & Co. opens a branch with a German representative in Semarang, Indonesia.
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Ploß & Co. launches its jumbo garden furniture catalogue for the first time in 2001. The “Benchmark of the garden furniture market” is then updated yearly.
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Ploß & Co. carefully begins to expand its collection with many items of furniture made from beautiful hardwoods, plastic wicker and various material combinations in 2004.
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Deeply moved by the dreadful tsunami catastrophe in South-East Asia, Ploß & Co. holds two highly successful stock clearance sales in 2005, the proceeds of which are to help rebuild Aceh. A total of EUR 305,000 is donated. The campaign is overseen by the Minister-President of Schleswig-Holstein and the Indonesian Ambassador. In the months that follow, Ploß & Co. uses the donation funds to build schools and houses, to buy over 1,000 children’s bicycles and in many other projects.
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In July 2006, Ploß & Co. opens a 12,000 m2 production site and warehouse in Semarang, Indonesia, in the presence of the Deputy Governor of Central Java. Over 100 employees work in production and quality control, under German management. The investment was the biggest German investment in Indonesia in 2005/2006.
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Peter-Harry Carstensen, Minister-President of Schleswig-Holstein, will visit the company on 2 November 2006 to find out about garden furniture retail.