Klartext Verlag

What Klartext Verlag does

Klartext Verlag is a regional book publishing house headquartered in Essen, Germany, operating as a subsidiary of the FUNKE Mediengruppe via the legal entity Jakob Funke Medien Beteiligungs GmbH & Co. KG. Founded in 1983, the publisher focuses on regional content centered on the Ruhr area, North Rhine-Westphalia, and adjacent German-speaking regions. Its catalog spans fiction (Belletristik), non-fiction (Sachbuch), academic titles (Fachbuch), and a portfolio of themed sub-brands including the popular myth-debunking series "Irrtümer & Wahrheiten" (Myths & Truths), the active-lifestyle imprint "Klartext Aktiv" (hiking and cycling guides with downloadable GPX route data), the children's line "Klartext Junior," and the aerial photography series "Von Oben." The company also publishes regional wall calendars, academic journals on industrial and regional history (Geschichte im Westen, Forum Geschichtskultur Ruhr, Industriekultur, Moving the Social), and small non-book items such as branded lunch boxes.

The publisher's technology footprint is intentionally lean: a direct-to-consumer e-commerce storefront at klartext-verlag.de, PayPal payment processing routed through fulfillment partner Germinal Medienhandlung GmbH, Google Analytics with IP anonymization and User-ID cross-device tracking, Facebook Custom Audiences for remarketing, and downloadable GPX data files for outdoor guidebooks. No proprietary platform, mobile app, or API surface is disclosed. Klartext Verlag's business model is a one-time-purchase model: it sells physical books, calendars, and guidebooks directly to consumers at price points ranging from approximately €9.95 to €50.00, with free shipping within Germany and tiered international shipping across the EU and select non-EU countries. Order fulfillment and payment processing are outsourced to Germinal Medienhandlung GmbH, while physical bookstore distribution is maintained through the traditional book trade (Buchhandel). The publishing directorate is jointly led by Kathrin Butt and Achim Nöllenheidt, with day-to-day operations managed by Simone Kasik and Christoph Rüth. Revenue is not publicly disclosed, and no venture capital, private equity, or public-market activity is associated with the company.

Name

Klartext Verlag

Legal name

Klartext Verlag / Jakob Funke Medien Beteiligungs GmbH & Co. KG

Website

https://klartext-verlag.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Klartext Verlag is a regional German book publisher based in Essen and a subsidiary of FUNKE Mediengruppe, producing fiction, non-fiction, hiking/cycling guides, children's books, regional calendars, and academic journals focused on the Ruhr area and North Rhine-Westphalia, sold primarily direct-to-consumer via its own e-commerce site.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Book Publishing

NAICS

Book Publishers (513130), Periodical Publishers (513120)

SIC

Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731), Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721)

akta.pro primary industry

General Trade Publishing (Adult Fiction & Nonfiction) (MPAJAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Children’s Nonfiction Educational (Science, History, Nature) (EDAGAIAC)

Keywords

• Regional book publishing
• Children's books
• Hiking guidebooks
• Regional calendars
• Fiction nonfiction

Headquarters

HQ city

Essen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Book and Publication Sales: The company generates revenue through direct sales of books, calendars, guidebooks, and non-book products via its own e-commerce storefront. Pricing ranges from approximately €9.95 to €50.00 per item. Free shipping is offered within Germany, with international shipping fees applied.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Klartext Verlag is a regional book publishing house based in Essen, Germany, that publishes and sells books, calendars, and journals focused on the Ruhr region and North Rhine-Westphalia. The catalog spans fiction, non-fiction, academic titles, children's books, regional wall calendars, hiking and cycling guidebooks (with downloadable GPX data), aerial photography books, and specialized history journals. The publisher operates its own direct-to-consumer e-commerce shop with free domestic shipping within Germany, and distributes through the traditional book trade.

Product overview

Klartext Verlag is a regional book publisher based in Essen, Germany, and part of the FUNKE Mediengruppe. The company operates as an online shop offering a diverse portfolio of books and calendars focused on regional content about the Ruhr area and German regions. The core product line includes fiction (Belletristik), non-fiction (Sachbuch), and academic titles (Fachbuch), supplemented by themed sub-brands such as the popular 'Irrtümer & Wahrheiten' (myths debunking) series, 'Klartext Aktiv' outdoor activity guides with GPX downloads, 'Klartext Junior' children's books, and 'Von Oben' aerial photography books. The company also publishes regional calendars, journals/magazines (Zeitschriften), and non-book items. Digital offerings include GPX data downloads for hiking and cycling routes and a monthly newsletter. The publisher serves customers across Germany and neighboring countries through its e-commerce platform, with shipping available throughout Europe.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Belletristik (Fiction) Fiction books including novels and literary works from regional authors, published under the Klartext Verlag fiction line.
• Sachbuch (Non-Fiction) Non-fiction books covering topics such as regional history, culture, and current affairs of the Ruhr area and German regions.
• Irrtümer & Wahrheiten (Myths & Truths Series) A popular series debunking common myths and revealing hidden truths about topics including football clubs, music, regional history, and cultural phenomena.
• Fachbuch (Academic/Professional) Academic and professional books including historical research, particularly focused on regional history of the Ruhr area and Essen.
• Kalender (Regional Calendars) Regional wall calendars featuring themes such as the Ruhr area, Sauerland, Niederrhein, forests, football teams (VfL Bochum, Borussia Dortmund, Schalke 04), and World in Pictures.
• Klartext Aktiv (Active Lifestyle Guidebooks) Active lifestyle guidebooks including hiking guides, cycling routes, and outdoor adventure books with GPX data downloads, with sub-series covering family hiking, fairy-tale hiking, gourmet hiking, e-bike tours, and regional treasures.
• Klartext Junior (Children's Books) Children's books and young adult literature focused on regional themes, including the 'Zeitreise durch Schalke' series.
• Von Oben (Aerial Photography Books) Aerial photography books featuring bird's-eye views of regions including Sauerland, Ruhr area, and North Rhine-Westphalia, by photographer Hans Blossey.
• Zeitschriften (Magazines/Journals) Regional history and culture journals including 'Geschichte im Westen', 'Forum Geschichtskultur Ruhr', 'Industriekultur', and 'Moving the Social'.
• GPX-Daten (Digital GPS Route Downloads) Digital GPS route data files available for download as supplements to hiking and cycling guidebooks, compatible with GPS devices and apps.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Germinal Medienhandlung GmbHcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGerminal Medienhandlung GmbH serves as the primary order fulfillment and distribution partner for Klartext Verlag. When customers place orders on klartext-verlag.de, the purchase contract is with Germinal Medienhandlung GmbH. Germinal handles payment processing, shipping logistics, and customer service for the web shop orders. The partnership is explicitly defined in the AGB (General Terms and Conditions) section of the website.

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Sutton Verlag: Publisher specializing in regional German history, local culture, and image-based regional books. Comparable product mix to Klartext's non-fiction and photo book segments, with the same regional/local history positioning.
• Emons Verlag: Cologne-based regional publisher of crime fiction, local-interest guides, and regional non-fiction. Comparable regional German publisher model with similar editorial focus on local themes and regional author rosters.
• Kompass (KOMPASS-Karten GmbH): Established German outdoor guide and map publisher producing hiking and cycling guides with digital route data. Directly comparable in the Klartext Aktiv category, with national scale and similar GPX-enabled product positioning.
• Basalt Verlag: Regional German publisher focused on Rhineland and Lower Rhine area content. Operates a comparable niche regional model in adjacent geography to Klartext's Niederrhein/Ruhr focus, with similar book formats and gift-oriented products.
• Wartberg Verlag: German regional publisher focused on local history, regional trivia, and small-format booklets covering German cities and regions. Highly comparable to Klartext Verlag's regional content strategy and product formats (e.g., 'Irrtümer & Wahrheiten'-style trivia and local-interest books).
• Grupello Verlag: Independent German publisher of regional interest, travel, and cultural titles with strong regional focus. Comparable independent/regional publishing model targeting gift and enthusiast buyers of regionally themed books.
• Conrad Stein Verlag: German outdoor publisher specializing in walking and hiking guidebooks with practical route information. Comparable to Klartext Aktiv in product type, format, and target buyer (active leisure consumers seeking regional route guidance).
• Esterbauer Verlag: Austrian/German publisher of hiking and cycling guidebooks (Rother/Esterbauer 'hikeline' and ' bikeline' series) with detailed route maps and GPX data. Direct competitor in the Klartext Aktiv outdoor guidebook category and on the GPX-download differentiation.

Broad incumbents

• Bruckmann Verlag: Long-established German publisher with a broad portfolio in travel, outdoor, and regional photo books. Operates at national scale with overlapping capabilities in hiking guides and regional interest titles (e.g., 'Von Oben' aerial photography).
• DUMONT Buchverlag: Major German travel and guidebook publisher (Dumont Reisebuchverlag) with national reach and outdoor guidebooks. Broader incumbent that overlaps with Klartext Aktiv but operates across many categories beyond regional publishing.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/klartextverlag
• Facebookfacebook.com/Klartext.Verlag
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/klartext-verlag

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Klartext Verlag