MAY+SPIES
MAY+SPIES is a German specialty paper manufacturer and B2B e-commerce distributor founded in 1920, selling fine papers, envelopes, labels, mourning stationery, and bespoke paper products to businesses, institutions, and authorities across the DACH region.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1920
- HeadquartersDüren, Germany
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What MAY+SPIES does
MAY+SPIES GmbH is a German specialty paper manufacturer and distributor founded in 1920 in Düren, the historical "paper town" of Germany. The company produces and sells fine papers, envelopes, labels, mourning stationery, digital printing materials, and specialty paper products (including hospital wristbands, fragrance strips, fabric adhesive dots, and bespoke watermarked papers) to B2B customers—businesses, institutions, authorities, and companies—through its own e-commerce platform, mayspies.com. It also operates a separate consumer/SMB office supplies storefront, mayspiesstore.com, listing 17,000 workplace products. The portfolio combines proprietary MAYSPIES® sub-brands (Astralux, Attraction, Edelpost, Powertac, Nawipa, Hatari) with exclusive distribution of premium third-party brands (Conqueror®, Colorplan®, Lunar®, ECO® Black) and an in-house customization capability for bespoke productions.
The business model is predominantly transactional B2B e-commerce with quote-based pricing for custom and large-format orders, supplemented by a dedicated sales team for enterprise accounts. The company is privately held under Managing Director Dr. Heinrich Spies, with no external venture or private equity capital disclosed, and operates as part of "The Paper Family" strategic alliance alongside Reflex and Römerturm—three established German paper companies pooling production, processing, and marketing capabilities. Manufacturing is in-house in Germany and FSC®-certified (FSC C014184) since June 2008, supporting sustainability-mandated procurement. Geographic focus is the DACH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France) with a multi-language storefront (German, English, French). The company employs 101-250 people and offers free shipping within Germany for orders over €300 net, with freight surcharges and tiered handling fees on smaller orders.
MAY+SPIES firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- MAY+SPIES
- Legal name
- MAY+SPIES GMBH
- Website
- https://mayspies.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1920
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- MAY+SPIES is a German specialty paper manufacturer and B2B e-commerce distributor founded in 1920, selling fine papers, envelopes, labels, mourning stationery, and bespoke paper products to businesses, institutions, and authorities across the DACH region.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
MAY+SPIES industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Specialty Paper Manufacturing
- NAICS
- Printing and Related Support Activities (323), Stationery Product Manufacturing (32223)
- SIC
- Papers & Allied Products (2600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Specialty Paper Manufacturing (Coated, Release, Thermal, Filter, Security) (IMAMAEAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Printing & Business Forms (continuous forms, checks, tickets) (IMAMAHAH), Custom Printing & Decoration Services (Screen Print, Embroidery, Laser) (BPAFAMAL)
Keywords
Where MAY+SPIES is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Düren
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
MAY+SPIES business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Paper Products Sales: Direct sales of finest papers, envelopes, labels, mourning papers, and specialty products through B2B e-commerce platform. Products are made in Germany with in-house production capabilities. Pricing is quote-based for many products with some standard prices listed.
- Custom/Bespoke Solutions: Revenue from customized productions including custom labels, custom envelopes, individual watermarks, customized artist papers, customized fragrance strips, and hospital labels. This represents specialized, higher-margin production services.
- Office Supplies E-commerce: Consumer/smb sales through separate store (mayspiesstore.com) offering 17,000 workplace products for order online 24/7.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | B2B E-commerce Pricing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
MAY+SPIES product offering
Product offeringCore offering
MAY+SPIES manufactures and sells premium fine papers, envelopes, labels (including strong-adhesive Powertac and sustainable variants), mourning papers, hospital wristbands, fragrance strips, and digital printing materials through a B2B e-commerce platform targeting businesses, institutions and authorities. The company also operates a separate consumer-facing office-supplies shop (mayspiesstore.com) and offers bespoke custom productions such as individual watermarks, custom envelopes, and a Kyocera-based mourning printing system for funeral directors.
Product overview
MAY+SPIES is a German paper products company (passion for paper since 1920) operating as a B2B e-commerce platform. The product portfolio consists of multiple distinct product lines: (1) Finest papers - premium stationery papers including MAYSPIES® branded papers (Astralux, Attraction, Edelpost) and distributed brands (Colorplan®, Lunar®, Conqueror®, ECO® Black); (2) Envelopes - various envelope types matching paper lines; (3) Labels - comprehensive label portfolio including adhesive paper, Color Laser labels (Premium Color Laser Top/Gloss/PET), Offset labels, shipping labels, round labels, and specialty labels like Powertac (strong adhesive) and Powertac Recycling (sustainable); (4) Mourning papers - specialized funeral stationery with matching envelopes; (5) Digital printing materials; (6) Specialities - niche products including hospital wristbands, fragrance strips, fabric adhesive dots, and hospital wristband printers; (7) Customized productions - bespoke solutions including custom labels, custom envelopes, individual watermarks, and customized artist papers. The company also participates in The Paper Family alliance with Reflex and Römerturm. The platform is a single e-commerce storefront with no modular architecture.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- MAYSPIES® Astralux: Premium paper brand in the finest papers collection
- MAYSPIES® Attraction
- MAYSPIES® Edelpost
- MAYSPIES® Nawipa
- MAYSPIES® Powertac
- MAYSPIES® Hatari
- MAYSPIES® CopyLaser Plano
- MAYSPIES® CopyLaser
- MAYSPIES® Premium Color Laser Top
- MAYSPIES® Premium Color Laser Gloss
- MAYSPIES® Premium Color Laser PET
- MAYSPIES® digital
- MAYSPIES® Fabric adhesive dots
- ECO® Black
- The Paper Family
Products and services
- Finest papers Premium fine paper collection including MAYSPIES®-branded papers (Edelpost, Astralux, Attraction, Nawipa) and distributed brands (Colorplan®, Lunar®, Conqueror®, ECO® Black, Zeta®), offered in card, A4, digital and large formats across matt, smooth, transparent, glossy, textured, metallic and pearlescent surfaces for businesses, institutions and authorities requiring high-quality printing substrates.
- Envelopes Premium envelopes in DL, C6, C5, B6, C4, ladies' format, square and business card sizes, available with or without windows, inside printing, tissue lining, peel-and-seal, moistenable glue, pointed or straight flap sealing, in matt, smooth, transparent, textured, metallic and various color finishes. Brands include Conqueror®, Colorplan, MAYSPIES® Edelpost, MAYSPIES® Hatari, JUPP®, Marmor, and Heinrich Spies luxury papers.
- Labels Comprehensive label range including laser/photocopy/inkjet labels, color laser labels (Premium Color Laser Top, Gloss and PET), offset labels, adhesive paper (incl. MAYSPIES® CopyLaser Plano), shipping labels, round labels, digital printing labels, continuous labels, textile labels and the strongly adhesive MAYSPIES® Powertac family (Vellum, MC White, High Gloss White, Recycling) suited to rough, uneven and dusty surfaces.
- Mourning printing system for undertakers Kyocera-based in-house printing system targeted at funeral directors and morticians, enabling them to print MAYSPIES mourning stationery (including mourning papers) independently while maintaining consistent quality.
- Hospital wristbands and printers Patient identification wristbands in variants for adults and children, with adhesive or clip fastening, antimicrobial and safety clip options, paired with dedicated direct thermal and thermal transfer printers for healthcare facilities.
- Fragrance strips Custom-manufactured perfume test strips made from odourless and sustainable cardboard, available with printing, embossing or special formats per customer specification for fragrance and cosmetics marketing applications.
- Fabric adhesive dots Adhesive dots designed for textile labeling applications, sold under the MAYSPIES® brand.
- Office supplies shop (mayspiesstore.com) Separate online storefront (mayspiesstore.com) offering 17,000 workplace and office supply products orderable online 24/7 for consumers and small businesses.
- The Paper Family alliance Strategic alliance with Reflex and Römerturm providing customers with combined paper production, processing and marketing expertise and customized paper solutions of the highest quality.
Companies that use MAY+SPIES
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles4 records
MAY+SPIES technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
MAY+SPIES partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- The Paper Family (Reflex, MAY+SPIES, Römerturm)coreThe Paper Family is a strategic alliance combining the strengths of Reflex, MAY+SPIES, and Römerturm - three established paper companies with decades of experience and innovation spirit. Together they offer combined expertise in paper production, processing, and marketing, providing customised paper solutions of the highest quality. The alliance emphasizes being 'more flexible together, faster together, stronger together.'
- Shipping PartnersminorFast and secure delivery provided in cooperation with shipping partners.
- Euler Hermes Collections GmbHminorAuthorized debt collection agency (Zeppelinstr. 48, 14471 Potsdam, Germany) engaged for unpaid invoices after prior reminder.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
MAY+SPIES competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Lyreco: European distributor of workplace and office supplies including paper products. Comparable in serving B2B customers with bundled office and printing supplies, though broader in scope than MAY+SPIES' specialty focus.
Broad incumbents
- Neenah Coldenhove: Specialty paper manufacturer focused on premium fine papers, packaging substrates, and technical papers. Comparable in serving design and print professionals with high-end paper products.
- Antalis: Major European paper and packaging distributor carrying many of the same premium paper brands as MAY+SPIES. Overlaps in distribution of fine papers, envelopes, and visual communication substrates to B2B customers.
- Fedrigoni: Large Italian specialty paper producer with extensive fine paper, label, and security print portfolios. A broader incumbent competing with MAY+SPIES in premium fine papers across European markets.
- Papyrus (Sylvamo): European paper merchant distributing office, fine, and specialty papers to businesses. Comparable B2B distribution model and product overlap in commercial and printing papers across Europe.
- Mohawk Fine Papers: North American specialty fine paper manufacturer offering premium envelopes, text and cover papers. Comparable positioning in branded specialty papers for design, print, and corporate communications.
Regional players
- Durable Hunke & Jochheim: German office supplies and labeling solutions manufacturer. Overlaps with MAY+SPIES in labels and office/specialty supplies for B2B customers, primarily within the German market.
Direct peers
- Römerturm: German fine paper manufacturer and direct co-member of 'The Paper Family' alliance alongside MAY+SPIES. Comparable product portfolio in premium stationery papers and a shared B2B go-to-market, making it the closest strategic peer.
- Reflex Premium Paper: German specialty paper company and the third member of 'The Paper Family' with MAY+SPIES. Comparable in fine papers, envelopes, and creative paper solutions for B2B customers across Europe.
- Arjowiggins (Conqueror brand owner): Owner of the Conqueror® premium paper brand which MAY+SPIES distributes. Directly comparable in fine business papers, envelopes, and creative print substrates serving the same B2B and creative agency segments.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
MAY+SPIES social profiles
Digital presenceMAY+SPIES compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
MAY+SPIES financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
MAY+SPIES leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
MAY+SPIES funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
MAY+SPIES M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about MAY+SPIES
What does MAY+SPIES do?
MAY+SPIES manufactures and sells premium fine papers, envelopes, labels (including strong-adhesive Powertac and sustainable variants), mourning papers, hospital wristbands, fragrance strips, and digital printing materials through a B2B e-commerce platform targeting businesses, institutions and authorities. The company also operates a separate consumer-facing office-supplies shop (mayspiesstore.com) and offers bespoke custom productions such as individual watermarks, custom envelopes, and a Kyocera-based mourning printing system for funeral directors.
Is MAY+SPIES a public or private company?
MAY+SPIES is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was MAY+SPIES founded?
MAY+SPIES was founded in 1920. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is MAY+SPIES based?
MAY+SPIES is headquartered in Düren, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does MAY+SPIES make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Paper Products Sales are the primary driver. The others are custom/Bespoke Solutions and office Supplies E-commerce.
Who are MAY+SPIES's main competitors?
Lyreco is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Neenah Coldenhove, Antalis, Fedrigoni, Papyrus (Sylvamo) and Mohawk Fine Papers. Durable Hunke & Jochheim is listed as a regional player. Direct peers are Römerturm, Reflex Premium Paper and Arjowiggins (Conqueror brand owner).
Does MAY+SPIES have an API?
No public API is recorded for MAY+SPIES.
What industry is MAY+SPIES in?
MAY+SPIES's product category is Specialty Paper Manufacturing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAMAEAC, Specialty Paper Manufacturing (Coated, Release, Thermal, Filter, Security), with a secondary code of IMAMAHAH, Printing & Business Forms (continuous forms, checks, tickets). Its NAICS code is 323 and its SIC code is 2600.