BUSINESS

"Economic Oscar" for schattdecor

On 29th January 2000 a decorative printing house in Thansau near Rosenheim received the European Milestones award in the field of the economy. The award was conferred at a gala, in the presence of 800 guests. The Prime Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia, Wolfgang Clement, presented the owner of the group of schattdecor companies, Walter Schatt, with a prestigious metal sculpture. The prize was awarded in the category of human resource management for the great importance ascribed by the entrepreneur to the human being as the creator of the company's success. Amongst the initiators of the award is the federal state North Rhine-Westphalia, the "Handelsblatt" magazine and a consulting company The Boston Consulting Group. Three hundred firms competed for the prize, 18 of which were nominated in seven categories. Only seven were granted the award. The 15-strong jury included among others dr. Olaf Henkel, president of the Federal Union of the German Industry, an entrepreneur Britta Steilmann and Luxembourg's Prime Minister, Jean-Paul Juncker.

The jury highly valued the fact that Walter Schatt understood very early that employees constitute the greatest asset. His success lies in the philosophy of the company and, above all, in the unique atmosphere prevailing in the company. In the schattdecor group everybody is treated on an equal footing, be it a client, a deliverer or an employee. Thanks to an exemplary co-operation and a specific culture of the company, the schattdecor group has gained a market lead, which resulted in the company reaching the leading position on the international markets within a mere 12 years.