Tim only opened his first store at the end of 2019, but has turned his passion into a profession with Tim’s Klemmbausteinladen. He sells the colorful bricks very successfully not only in Hanover’s city center, but also online since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic in spring 2020. Giving up or throwing in the towel? That was never an option for Tim! With lots of creative ideas and a reliable combination of products from JTL and SumUp, he has made his way into omnichannel retail. In this interview, he explains how he achieved this and what his plans are for the future.
Interview with Tim Brunke, owner of Tims Klemmbausteinladen
JTL: Hello Tim! It’s great that you’re taking the time for an interview. Especially now that retail is open again without restrictions, you must have your hands full.
Tim: That’s right! But I’m still pleased about the interview.
JTL: Then why don’t you introduce yourself and your business?
Tim: Sure, with pleasure! My name is Tim Brunke and I opened my store “Tims Klemmbausteinladen” in the city center of Hanover in October 2019. There, I mainly offer my customers building block sets from manufacturers other than LEGO, such as Q-Bricks, Cobi and Biobuddi.
JTL: How did you decide to start your own business with clamping blocks?
Tim: I just love building and regularly watch videos on YouTube. When I was sorting through my LEGO collection from my childhood, I came up with the idea for my store: I wanted to introduce other lovers of the colorful bricks to the world of other manufacturers. The still vague idea matured after a start-up seminar and the creation of a business plan. I was unhappy in my previous job, so becoming self-employed was a way out of a deep valley.
JTL: Do you only sell stationary?
Tim: In the beginning, I only sold my products over the counter, but then occasionally sent out orders on request. In March 2020, I officially launched my own online shop.
JTL: You have opted for several JTL products. Which ones are you using?
Tim: I have been using your merchandise management system JTL-Wawi to manage my stock since I opened my store. An acquaintance recommended it to me as a particularly powerful yet cost-effective solution. After taking the time to find my way around the software, I quickly found a good way to get started. The JTL guide and the videos on your YouTube channel were also very helpful.
Because I am so satisfied with the merchandise management system, I also wanted to rely on JTL for the POS solution and opted for JTL-POS. At the time, I was still in the beta phase and benefited from JTL’s intensive support during this time. However, I have to say that the app was installed and set up very quickly. It’s exactly what you need if, like me, you’re a beginner in retail.
I also use JTL-Track&Trace and JTL-ShippingLabels for my shipping. As soon as my warehouse grows, I would also like to use JTL Packing Table+.
JTL: That sounds like a great setup for successful omnichannel. Why don’t you tell us exactly how you implement this concept?
Tim: My omnichannel business really took off thanks to coronavirus, of course. When I had to close my store, I quickly opened the online store as a “digital shop window”. Click&Collect and Click&Reserve were then the ideal way for many of my regular customers to get their beloved clamping blocks even during the lockdown. By linking JTL-POS and my online store via JTL-Wawi, I was able to keep an eye on my stock at all times and could be sure that I wouldn’t miss any orders.
JTL: Which solution did you choose when it came to payment?
Tim: Cashless payments have become more popular, especially due to the pandemic. I’ve also noticed this with my customers. That’s why I wanted a payment system that I could connect to JTL-POS without much effort and that also enables different payment methods. After all, my younger customers in particular no longer pay by card so often, but rather by smartphone. I quickly found what I was looking for with your payment partners: With SumUp, I installed a very beginner-friendly solution – both in terms of setup and fees.
The setup of JTL-POS and my SumUp Air card terminal went absolutely smoothly and I am very happy with the setup. The ability to even collect my online orders on site is a perfect fit for me and my store!
JTL: What other hardware do you use in addition to the SumUp Air card terminal?
Tim: I’m currently using the Chromebox with an Epson receipt printer, an ASUS touchscreen and a cash drawer. I have now replaced the wireless barcode scanner supplied with the Chromebox with a wired version, as this is less prone to errors.
JTL: You said that corona has changed both the shopping and payment behavior of your customers. But what has changed for you as a retailer as a result of the pandemic?
Tim: As a start-up, I was only entitled to coronavirus aid during the first lockdown, so I had to think about how I could generate sales despite my closed store. The step into online retail was an adventure for me, but one that I have not regretted to this day. To achieve even more reach, I also launched my own YouTube channel, where I present my store and my product range as well as various clamping block manufacturers and models.
As a retailer, I can always complain that sales are not enough, especially due to the current restrictions – or do something about it!
During the lockdown, my everyday life as a retailer also changed: Due to the increase in online orders, I quickly converted the sales area into a warehouse for goods and shipping.
JTL: What are your plans for the future?
Tim: For me, “back to reality” means that I want to continue to be successful as an omnichannel retailer in the future. To achieve this, I would like to get into dropshipping in order to offer more construction toys online and expand my product range bit by bit. No matter what the future holds: together with JTL and SumUp, I’m looking forward to all the changes!
JTL: We look forward to accompanying you. All the best for you, Tim. And thank you for the interview!
