Mrs Prinz, Telekom has introduced a quota for women for its executives. Is this a good idea from your point of view?

I think it's a good idea. Although I find the phrase "women's quota" terrible. It has a negative undertone because it makes you think that women with lower qualifications are, under certain circumstances, promoted to a position merely to fulfil a certain quota. One thing is for sure, at least 50% of university graduates are women. Many of these women cannot advance to the highest positions because men quite obviously form much better networks. In principle, it is therefore mechanisms which mean no harm but are nonetheless influential which prevent qualified women from reaching appropriate positions. The fact that the women's quota can successfully counteract this problem can be observed in Scandinavia, for example. There, considerably more women work in top positions.

Reinhard Mey once wrote the words "Man in the DIY store, while outside his wife parks the car." Who parks in your family? You or your husband?

Unfortunately I don't know that interesting song. After all, I'm a very busy woman (laughs). Which one of us parks the car depends on which car we are using. And I believe it’s self-evident that I don't miss the chance to do the shopping together with my husband.

As a managing director of Carl Prinz GmbH, you head a company with a long family tradition. Is this over 100-year history more of a curse or a blessing for your everyday work?

I find it is a blessing. But a long family tradition must never mean that you are always looking back. I think it is outstanding that a company has existed for so long. And the decision to join Carl Prinz GmbH und Co. KG and to reconsider my choice of career was taken in the year of the company's 100th jubilee – because I would have deeply regretted it if a company with a long tradition had no longer been kept in the family. But the important thing is that you always look ahead for tradition alone does not keep a company alive! I intend to build on what was created over many years and – this is particularly important to me – I want to shape the future!

What gives you more pleasure? Keeping your feet on the ground with experience or reaching for the stars hungry for innovation?

It is a joy for me to perpetuate and shape the Prinz company at the same time. "Perpetuate" means living the values which are rooted in a company which has survived in the market for more than 119 years. With "shape" I mean shaping the future. We have to continually re-invent ourselves and gear ourselves to the changing needs of our customers. Prinz is an innovation leader by tradition. We deal with new trends and requirements placed on products very intensively and systematically in order to offer our customers innovative solutions to problems. The customer also expects that from Prinz.

One interesting aspect is that the very company I head has, in recent times, very frequently become a victim of copies. Both our products and our product design are being copied.

What does it mean to you to produce at the Goch site?

I grew up in Goch and feel connected to the Lower Rhine and its inhabitants. We have a highly motivated, experienced and innovative team in Goch. That is the basic requirement for the company's success. And Goch is close to the Ruhr area, the Rhineland and our neighbours, Holland and Belgium. Therefore, the town and the surrounding area are the ideal location for Prinz.

Was there ever any serious thought given to changing the location?

We once changed location in 1956. Back then, we moved from Werdohl in the Sauerland to the Lower Rhine. It would therefore not be a problem for me to change location again. But there is not the slightest reason why we should.

In your opinion, what do you like most about your occupation and what do you like least of all?

I decided in favour of my work as a managing director at Prinz because I wanted to work independently and not to be bound by instructions.

What I like most about my occupation is that you can be creative every day, that there is so much to change and get moving. That gives me a lot of pleasure! I also like being under way a lot. I love travelling, that is a great advantage of my profession. And if you ask me what I like least of all – I simply can't think of anything on the spur of the moment!

What do you like doing the most when you treat yourself to some time-out from everyday business?

I am a family person. That means, all the family members, some of whom also work at the company, have a very close relationship and also meet privately at regular intervals. As my husband is also self-employed and his career keeps him very busy, we have very little free time together during thee week. We therefore very much enjoy getting away from everyday business at the weekend and playing golf together. Being in nature, being able to talk together in peace and quiet and, at the same time, doing some sport – that gives us great pleasure.

Would you reveal your secret recipe to us: How does Carl Prinz GmbH manage to still enjoy healthy growth contrary to the general market development?

Prinz is fundamentally geared towards thinking from the customer's point of view. I have already stressed that we are an innovative company and that for this reason we also have innovative articles in our product portfolio. That is a very important "ingredient" in our recipe for success. And we have a very good, highly qualified and motivated team.

What's more, I am a salesperson by nature and selling is my passion in a manner of speaking. I communicate that and set an example for our team in the field. Not just because of that but also because we have 14 dedicated sales people who see themselves as advisers to our customers.

Moreover, Prinz has good and innovative products as well as a high-quality service, such as punctuality and fast deliveries. That together is an important part of our recipe for success.

What's your opinion, how will the branch develop? And can Prinz overcome the challenges ahead of us?

We see a trend where the consumer is focusing more than before on the home. That is often the consequence of times of crisis. You withdraw into your own four walls, back into the house where you want to have it nice and appealing. For this group of consumers we mainly have our premium products.

In addition, there are ever more people on low incomes who can only afford products from the discount sector. Prinz also has products for this target group.

Finally, there is the property sector, which again imposes other requirements. We have developed professional products for this group.

Therefore, Prinz is in a strategically good position and can continue to grow. In my opinion, growth will be generated more through the width of the range in the near future than due to growing demand for our products.

Where do you see Carl Prinz GmbH in the future? What long-term objectives have to be reached?

I see Prinz as a family company in the future, too. We will expand our range further in order to increasingly become an all-round supplier in the floor sector. In our 7-year plan we have stipulated an annual growth rate and so far we are doing better than planned.

We want to and will extend our market share in the Federal Republic of Germany and we will concentrate even more than before on exports, above all in Europe.

In order to be able to cope with this growth, we are currently investing in the expansion of our warehousing and logistics. This summer, the starting gun is being fired for the construction of an extension to our logistics shop with which the capacities available at the moment will be more than doubled.

And finally, to put it all in a nutshell: If you had to decide quickly, what would you choose: A hammer or a handbag?

A hammer!

Mrs Prinz, thank you for the interview.