tricks

What tricks does

tricks GmbH is a Bielefeld-based full-service digital agency founded in 2008, operating with a 19-person in-house team and serving primarily German small and medium-sized enterprises (KMU/Mittelstand). The firm's service portfolio spans custom web design and development, e-commerce/online shop builds (notably on Shopify), brand identity and corporate design, print and outdoor advertising, and AI-assisted individual software development. Technically, the agency operates with a selectively chosen modern stack — Webflow, Statamic, headless CMS architectures, and Shopify — and has integrated AI-assisted development methodologies (Agentic Coding, Vibe Coding) into its build pipeline, with human developers retaining architectural and creative oversight. The agency has completed 134 projects across verticals including industry/manufacturing, healthcare, fashion/lifestyle, and trade, and holds 5.0/5.0 ratings on Google, ProvenExpert, and Facebook alongside a 4.9 Kununu rating.

The business model is project-based professional services with recurring managed services. Project fees are quote-based and span €1,500 for landing pages up to €85,000 for enterprise web apps, with mid-sized business websites typically €3,500–€12,000 and webshops €8,000–€32,000. A published 2026 pricing guide represents an unusual transparency move for the DACH agency market. Recurring revenue comes from hosting (~€5–€15/month), domain fees, maintenance packages, and update flatrates. Go-to-market is consultative and direct: prospects enter via website form, email, phone, or Calendly, then progress through introductory workshops (Brand, Targeting, Website) delivered either in-person at the Bielefeld office or via video call. Customer acquisition is supported by content marketing (blog, SEO, social media), client testimonials, and reviews; there are no channel partners or marketplace listings.

The agency also operates its own product brand, stomptrap® — a registered trademark for guitar effect pedal holders sold through a Shopify webshop — and has developed a standalone PWA puzzle game (Pipeorama) using AI-assisted methods to demonstrate full-cycle product capability. The company is privately held by the founding family (Mark Leewe as Geschäftsführer; Sarah Leewe as co-founder), with no external investors, no funding rounds, and no M&A history. Operationally the firm is regionally anchored in Ostwestfalen-Lippe / Bielefeld, with remote consulting extending reach modestly beyond the home region.

Name

tricks

Legal name

tricks GmbH

Website

https://tricks.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

tricks GmbH is a Bielefeld-based digital agency with 19 employees serving German SMEs and Mittelstand firms with custom web design, e-commerce, brand identity, and AI-assisted software development, having completed 134 projects since 2008.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Digital Agency Services

NAICS

Graphic Design Services (541430), Graphic Design Services (54143), Custom Computer Programming Services (541511)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming Services (7371)

akta.pro primary industry

Shopper/Commerce Creative Agencies (Retail & Marketplace Creative) (MPAAAAAH)

Keywords

• Web design services
• Custom web development
• E-commerce development
• Brand identity design
• Digital agency services

Headquarters

HQ city

Bielefeld

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Web Design & Development Services: The primary revenue stream is project-based professional services for custom web design and web development. Projects range from compact business websites (6–8 weeks) to complex web applications and e-commerce platforms. Pricing is individualized based on project scope and requirements, with no standard package prices. Ongoing services include hosting, domain fees, maintenance packages, and update flatrates.
2. Brand Development & Corporate Identity: Services include brand workshops, logo design, corporate identity development, and marketing collateral (print and outdoor advertising). Often bundled with web design projects as part of holistic brand development engagements.
3. E-commerce / Online Shops: Design and development of online shops (e.g., OPUS fashion, Ritzenhoff & Breker, stomptrap) on platforms such as Shopify. May include ongoing shop maintenance and optimization.
4. Individual Software Development with AI: The agency offers custom software development leveraging AI (Agentic Coding), including service apps, helpdesks, configurators, internal tools, dashboards, and data management applications. Revenue is project-based, with AI reducing development costs and timelines for smaller applications.
5. Maintenance & Hosting Services: Ongoing revenue from hosting and domain fees, maintenance packages, and flatrate update services (backups, security, updates) offered to clients post-launch for ongoing website operation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

tricks GmbH is a Bielefeld-based digital agency that designs and develops custom websites, e-commerce shops (on Shopify and other platforms), corporate identities, and print advertising for business clients. Projects span compact business websites through to complex web applications, with services that include brand workshops, SEO and GEO optimization, accessibility-compliant (BFSG/WCAG) builds, and ongoing maintenance and hosting. The agency also runs its own branded product, stomptrap, a Shopify-based line of guitar effect pedal holders developed as an in-house startup project.

Product overview

tricks GmbH is a full-service digital agency based in Bielefeld, Germany, founded in 2008. The company operates as a custom web design and development firm rather than a SaaS product platform. Their core offerings include web design and development, e-commerce/online shop development, brand identity (logos and corporate identity), print and outdoor advertising, brand development workshops, and online marketing services. The company also maintains its own product brand called stomptrap, featuring guitar effect pedal holders sold through a Shopify-based webshop. tricks positions itself as combining user-centered design, modern web technologies, and brand strategy to create tailored digital experiences for clients across various industries including industry, healthcare, fashion, and trade.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• stomptrap: In-house product brand for guitar effect device holders, launched as a startup project by tricks GmbH.

Products and services

• E-Commerce & Onlineshops Design, development, and ongoing maintenance of e-commerce websites and online shops for business clients, typically built on Shopify and showcased with examples such as OPUS fashion and Ritzenhoff & Breker (approximately 4,500 products).
• Webdesign & Webentwicklung Custom web design and development with user-centered design, responsive layouts, and modern web technology implementation, ranging from compact business websites (typically 6–8 weeks) to complex web applications.
• Logos & Corporate Identity Brand identity development including logo design, brand concepts, and full corporate identity systems for new and existing brands.
• Print & Außenwerbung Print design and outdoor advertising services including promotional materials, business cards, signage, and vehicle branding for business clients.
• Markenentwicklung & Workshops Brand workshops, targeting workshops, and website workshops conducted in-person at the Bielefeld office or via video call, helping clients develop effective web design concepts.
• Online-Marketing Sustainable online marketing services that leverage brand knowledge to create effective digital marketing strategies for client businesses.
• stomptrap In-house product line of holders for guitar effect pedals, sold through a Shopify-based webshop at stomptrap.de. Launched as an in-house startup project to test and learn marketing strategies.
• Maintenance & Hosting Flatrate Ongoing maintenance packages and update flatrate subscriptions covering backups, security updates, hosting (approximately EUR 5–15/month), and domain fees (approximately EUR 1/month) for clients post-launch.

Quantifiable outcome

• Websites can typically be completed in 6–8 weeks for compact projects, with larger projects taking proportionally longer based on scope and complexity.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers20 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Nickels DesignminorStrategic or Co-development Partnertricks collaborated with Nickels Design on the website project for Steuerberater (tax advisory firm) Wortmann & Partner from Rheda-Wiedenbrück, contributing to the timely and professional realization of the project.
• Designbüro PaschetagminorStrategic or Co-development Partnertricks collaborated with Designbüro Paschetag on the website for TNL GmbH (video mapping specialist) and for Zahnarztpraxis Dr. Passinger, Dr. Glatzel & Schäfer, combining design and technical development expertise.
• Thorsten Doerk PhotographyminorOthersThorsten Doerk Photography provides professional photography services for the agency's projects and client work, as noted in the impressum/legal notice.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Scholz & Volkmer: Wiesbaden-based digital agency specializing in brand experiences, web platforms, and corporate communications for enterprise clients — directly comparable in scope of creative/technical services.
• dkd Internet Service GmbH: Frankfurt-based full-service digital agency offering web design, development, and e-commerce solutions for brands — directly comparable in service mix and DACH Mittelstand target market.
• UEBERBIT: Mannheim-based digital agency focused on web design, brand communication, and digital marketing for B2B clients — comparable in offering structure and Mittelstand focus.
• denkwerk: Cologne-based digital agency providing web design, e-commerce, and online marketing — comparable in service portfolio and German Mittelstand/enterprise client base.
• Elbmarketing: Hamburg-based digital agency offering web design, e-commerce, and online marketing for SMEs — comparable in target customer (German Mittelstand) and service breadth.
• FLUID Design & Code: German digital agency combining design and custom web development for brands — comparable in combining creative design with custom code delivery and Mittelstand/enterprise focus.

Broad incumbents

• nexum: Larger Cologne-based full-service digital agency covering strategy, design, development, and marketing — overlaps with tricks' offerings but operates at greater scale across multiple offices.
• HEIMAT: Berlin-based creative/digital agency offering advertising, branding, and digital experiences — comparable as a full-service creative competitor, though typically serving larger national accounts.
• Neofonie: Berlin-based digital agency offering web development, e-commerce, and content management solutions — comparable in technical services and German enterprise client base, but at larger scale.

Regional players

• Pixum / Digimondo Group digital agency ecosystem: German digital agency ecosystem offering web/e-commerce/brand services — relevant adjacent reference point for the DACH regional digital agency landscape though operating different verticals.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/tricks.bielefeld
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tricks-gmbh
• Instagraminstagram.com/tricks.bielefeld

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 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 tricks