Gispen BV
Gispen BV is a Dutch circular interior design firm that designs, manufactures and refurbishes furniture for hospitals, universities, schools, offices and government buildings, operating from Culemborg and Arnhem as a subsidiary of Koninklijke Ahrend Groep.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1920
- HeadquartersCulemborg, Netherlands
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Gispen BV does
Gispen BV is a Dutch furniture designer, manufacturer and supplier specialised in circular interior solutions for healthcare, education, office and government clients. The company operates a B2B project-based model, delivering large-scale interior fit-outs (workstations, chairs, tables, soft seating, accessories) together with interior design services, project management and refurbishment through its own Circular Hub facility. Products are engineered for circularity with measured ratings (Triennial 70%, NOMI 68% with 40-90% recycled shell content, Dukdalf 65% with 99.98% recyclability, Asido 64%) and are produced in part at an Arnhem manufacturing site that has been modernised with new welding robotics.
Gispen runs three primary verticals - Healthcare (e.g., Radboudumc, Amsterdam UMC, Princess Máxima Centre), Education (e.g., University of Twente, Fontys, Hogeschool Rotterdam), and Office/Government (e.g., Utrecht City Hall, Triodos, Canon Production Printing) - with project contract values demonstrated by deployments such as the University of Twente ITC project (319 workstations, 188 partition walls, 418 office chairs) and reported CO2 savings of 93% versus a new-furniture baseline. Beyond one-time project sales, the company has built additional revenue lines including a "Revived" refurbished-furniture product line, brand-independent refurbishment via the Circular Hub, and Furniture as a Service (FaaS) subscription arrangements, plus services such as the Circular Quality Scan, Take-Back Service and ongoing Maintenance.
Gispen is a subsidiary brand within Koninklijke Ahrend Groep, the Dutch office furniture conglomerate; the parent relationship provides corporate infrastructure while Gispen retains a distinct circular-identity brand and direct sales team. Founded more than a century ago and headquartered in Culemborg, Gispen operates a Dutch distribution footprint with dedicated enterprise account managers, an in-house interior architecture team, designer partnerships (Richard Hutten, Just Meijer, Peter de Boer, Bernotat&Co), and a webshop for smaller and refurbished orders.
Gispen BV firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Gispen BV
- Legal name
- Gispen Nederland B.V.
- Website
- https://gispen.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1920
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Gispen BV is a Dutch circular interior design firm that designs, manufactures and refurbishes furniture for hospitals, universities, schools, offices and government buildings, operating from Culemborg and Arnhem as a subsidiary of Koninklijke Ahrend Groep.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Gispen BV industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Commercial and Contract Furniture
- NAICS
- Office Furniture (including Fixtures) Manufacturing (3372), Interior Design Services (54141), Institutional Furniture Manufacturing (337127)
- SIC
- Office Furniture (2520)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Corporate, Event & Staging Furniture Rental (Short-Term) (CRAIAOAG)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Office Furniture Moving, Installation & Reconfiguration (Systems Furniture) (HSAKAKAE)
Keywords
Where Gispen BV is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Culemborg
- HQ country
- Netherlands
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Gispen BV business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Furniture Sales: Sale of new circular furniture products including office chairs, desks, tables, seating, and accessories through direct sales and webshop.
- Refurbished Furniture Sales: Sale of refurbished 'Revived' labeled products from the Circular Hub, including cleaned, reupholstered, and revitalised furniture.
- Interior Design Services: Project-based services including interior design, project management, and custom furniture solutions for large-scale projects in healthcare, education, and office sectors.
- Furniture as a Service (FaaS): Flexible furniture arrangement where customers can lease furniture rather than purchase outright, supporting circular economy model.
- Maintenance and Take-Back Services: Ongoing maintenance services and Take-Back service for old furniture, supporting circular lifecycle management.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | B2B Project Pricing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Gispen BV product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Gispen BV designs, manufactures, refurbishes and supplies circular furniture and interior design solutions for healthcare, education, and office environments. The company offers an extensive portfolio of furniture lines (chairs, desks, tables, sofas, poufs), interior design and project management services, and operates a Circular Hub for refurbishment, take-back and resale of used furniture. Furniture as a Service (FaaS) provides a subscription-based leasing alternative to outright purchase.
Product overview
Gispen BV operates as a circular project interior design company offering furniture and interior solutions for healthcare, education, and office sectors. The portfolio comprises multiple furniture lines including seating (WIZZ, NOMI, Triennial, ZINN, Bronto), tables (TMNL, TEAM, Dukdalf, IC, KOLM), and soft seating (STEE, SETT, TST, HUGG, Asido). Products are designed with circular economy principles, featuring modularity, interchangeability, and high recyclability ratings. Key circular products include Triennial (70% circularity), Dukdalf (65% circularity, 99.98% recyclable), NOMI (68% circularity with 40-90% recycled shell content), and Asido (64% circularity). The company also offers the Revived label for refurbished furniture and operates a Circular Hub for quality scanning and refurbishment services.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Gispen Circular Roundabout: Circular design initiative focused on sustainable furniture and refurbishment services
- Revived
- Circular Hub
Products and services
- WIZZ School chair line designed for primary, secondary, and higher education environments, offered in various frame options and color configurations.
- MOXX Space concepts collection for flexible workspace design and interior configurations.
- TMNL Desk line featuring sit-stand workstations, round desks, and agile workstations for modern office environments.
- ZINN Office chair line designed for ergonomic comfort, featuring circularity design with PVC-free composition.
- STEE Sofa collection designed for office and healthcare waiting areas.
- TEAM Conference and meeting table series available in various configurations including wood and standard options.
- NOMI Modular seating program with multiple models (Classic, Wood, Comfort, Work, Design) sharing interchangeable components; shell made from 40% to 90% recycled materials.
- SETT Design bank/pouf collection for flexible seating in office and educational settings.
- Triennial Modular chair family with 70% circularity rating, including Classic, Project, and Work variants with interchangeable components.
- Dukdalf Sturdy table collection inspired by mooring dolphins, with 99.98% recyclability and 65% circularity rating featuring interchangeable components.
- IC Table program featuring benches and conference tables for various workspace applications.
- Bronto Playful children's chair made from LDPE plastics; lightweight, indestructible, easy to clean, suitable for schools and children's hospitals. Available in grey, yellow, and light blue.
- Asido Movable pouf available in round, square, and rectangular models with 64% circularity rating and castors for flexibility in workspaces.
- Dombo Unbreakable drinking cup designed by Richard Hutten for teaching children to drink without spilling; dishwasher safe and available in eight colors.
- Furniture as a Service (FaaS) Subscription-based service enabling customers to lease furniture rather than purchase outright, supporting the circular economy model.
- Interior Design Services Project-based interior design, project management, and custom furniture solutions for large-scale projects in healthcare, education, and office sectors.
- Circular Hub Refurbishment Brand-independent refurbishment and revitalisation of returned furniture products at Gispen's Circular Hub facility, making products look and function like new.
- Circular Quality Scan Assessment service evaluating existing furniture to determine what can be reused, reinstalled after reconditioning, or needs replacement.
- Take-Back Service Service for collecting and processing end-of-life customer furniture to support circular lifecycle management and material recovery.
- Maintenance Services Ongoing maintenance services for installed furniture, supporting extended product lifespan.
Quantifiable outcome
- 93% CO2 reduction in University of Twente ITC project compared to new furniture acquisition
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Gispen BV
Customer profileNamed customers13 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Gispen BV technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Gispen BV partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Koninklijke AhrendcoreGispen is part of the Royal Ahrend Group (Koninklijke Ahrend). This parent company relationship provides corporate infrastructure, shared initiatives such as 'Ahrend Vitality' wellness programs, 'Young Ahrend Professionals' network, and the Ahrend Fietsplan (bike scheme). Gispen operates as a distinct brand within the group.
- Circular Hub NetworkcoreGispen operates its Circular Hub as a central facility for refurbishing returned furniture from customers. The hub supports brand-independent refurbishment, meaning they can revitalise products from other manufacturers, not just Gispen products. This creates a network effect in circular furniture management.
- Richard HuttenminorDesigner of Gispen Bronto children's chair and Dombo cup. Richard Hutten is a noted Dutch designer whose playful, colourful designs are manufactured by Gispen.
- Just MeijerminorDesigner of the NOMI chair collection for Gispen. Just Meijer designed the universal shell chair collection with high comfort and sustainable materials.
- Peter de BoerminorDesigner of the Dukdalf table collection. Took inspiration from wooden mooring dolphins (dukdalfs) where boats berth, creating distinctive rugged-looking legs that match well with slender tabletops.
- Bernotat&CominorDesigner of the Triennial chair collection for Gispen, creating a modular family of chairs.
- EGM ArchitectenminorArchitectural firm that designed the Radboudumc project, working with Gispen for interior design and furnishing.
- Suzanne Holz StudiominorInterior design studio that created the interior concept for Radboudumc, collaborating with Gispen for furnishing implementation.
- Olivier + Partners ArchitectsminorArchitectural firm led by René Olivier that designed the AMC Amsterdam Emergency Room renovation. Gispen was awarded the furnishing contract after a European tender process.
- Studio Groen + SchildminorInterior design studio that produced the interior design for Fontys University De Rondom project across five floors. Gispen translated the design into a furnishing plan with new and reused furniture.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights7 records
Gispen BV competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Vitra: European designer-led office and home furniture manufacturer with strong project interiors practice. Comparable in design-led, premium-positioned institutional furnishing, though more residential-leaning.
- Koninklijke Ahrend: Gispen's parent company and sister brand. Ahrend is the largest Dutch office furniture manufacturer with overlapping healthcare, education, and office segments and its own circular and FaaS offerings, making it the closest like-for-like comparable.
- Kinnarps: Swedish-headquartered European office and education furniture manufacturer with comparable project-based delivery model and growing sustainability/circular program. Serves many of the same institutional segments as Gispen.
- Bene GmbH: Austrian premium office furniture and interiors specialist with strong project focus across European institutions. Comparable as a design-led, mid-sized European contract furniture competitor.
- Vepa: Dutch office and project furniture manufacturer with a strong circular economy positioning and own refurbishment/factory operations. Directly comparable in geography, customer base, and circular product strategy.
- Sedus: German office and contract furniture manufacturer with a focused presence in healthcare, education, and public-sector interiors. Comparable in product range, institutional customer base, and DACH-region project delivery.
Regional players
- Nowy Styl Group: Central European office and contract furniture group with growing healthcare, education, and public-sector presence. Comparable in product breadth and project-based delivery, though primarily active in CEE rather than Benelux.
Broad incumbents
- MillerKnoll: Herman Miller / MillerKnoll portfolio includes Herman Miller, Knoll, and Geiger — overlapping with Gispen in premium office, healthcare, and education interiors, and increasingly active in circular/lifecycle services.
- Steelcase: Global leader in office furniture with a broad portfolio including workplace, healthcare, and education. Comparable in customer base and product breadth, though much larger and less circular-specialized than Gispen.
- Haworth: Privately held global office furniture manufacturer with significant healthcare, education, and contract interiors presence. Overlaps with Gispen in segments and channel model, and is expanding take-back/circular services.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Gispen BV social profiles
Digital presenceGispen BV financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Gispen BV leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Gispen BV funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Gispen BV 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 Gispen BV
What does Gispen BV do?
Gispen BV designs, manufactures, refurbishes and supplies circular furniture and interior design solutions for healthcare, education, and office environments. The company offers an extensive portfolio of furniture lines (chairs, desks, tables, sofas, poufs), interior design and project management services, and operates a Circular Hub for refurbishment, take-back and resale of used furniture. Furniture as a Service (FaaS) provides a subscription-based leasing alternative to outright purchase.
Is Gispen BV a public or private company?
Gispen BV is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Gispen BV founded?
Gispen BV was founded in 1920. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Gispen BV based?
Gispen BV is headquartered in Culemborg, Netherlands, in the Europe region.
How does Gispen BV make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Furniture Sales are the primary driver. The others are refurbished Furniture Sales, interior Design Services, furniture as a Service (FaaS) and maintenance and Take-Back Services.
Who are Gispen BV's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Vitra, Koninklijke Ahrend, Kinnarps, Bene GmbH, Vepa and Sedus. Nowy Styl Group is listed as a regional player. Broad incumbents are MillerKnoll, Steelcase and Haworth.
Does Gispen BV have an API?
No public API is recorded for Gispen BV.
What industry is Gispen BV in?
Gispen BV's product category is Commercial and Contract Furniture. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAIAOAG, Corporate, Event & Staging Furniture Rental (Short-Term), with a secondary code of HSAKAKAE, Office Furniture Moving, Installation & Reconfiguration (Systems Furniture). Its NAICS code is 3372 and its SIC code is 2520.