Trade Connection

What Trade Connection does

Trade Connection Krebs GmbH (dba TC Krebs) is a German family-owned manufacturer of point-of-sale (POS) marketing materials and visual merchandising solutions, founded in 1993 in Niddatal and headquartered in Rosbach v. d. Höhe. The company operates a full-service model covering consulting and conception, design and layout, production and printing, logistics, and on-site assembly, targeting leading retail chains in Germany with secondary exposure to brand manufacturers. Its portfolio spans 12 distinct product categories — including ceiling hangers, 3D lettering, films and stickers, shelf-talkers, signs and plates, wrappings, displays and stands, frames, digital displays (E-Ink, LED, scanner bars), product dividers, flags, and mounting materials — with CNC milling employed for precision 3D branding and AI-supported systems used to accelerate campaign motif adaptation across formats.

The company sells via a sales-led, enterprise field-sales motion with dedicated project managers overseeing complex nationwide rollouts across hundreds of store locations. Revenue is generated through project-based custom orders and ongoing contracts with retail chains (one-time license plus professional services), with no publicly disclosed pricing. A central warehouse and logistics facility in Rosbach v. d. Höhe supports a nationwide installation network, and the company holds ISO 9001, FSC, and PEFC certifications. Trade Connection is privately held with no institutional investors, has completed no funding rounds, and as of 2025 is undergoing a generational succession with Christian Theurer and Constantin Mang entering the leadership alongside the founder generation.

The business carries a moderate-to-high customer concentration profile, with Rewe Group (a major German retail conglomerate) being the only named enterprise customer and a long-standing partner since 2008. Geographic exposure is exclusively domestic (Germany), with no disclosed international operations. The competitive position rests on integrated full-service execution, 30+ years of operating history, quality and sustainability certifications, and a proprietary AI-assisted adaptation workflow that shortens time-to-market for promotional campaigns.

Name

Trade Connection

Legal name

Trade Connection Krebs GmbH

Website

https://tc-krebs.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Trade Connection Krebs GmbH (TC Krebs) is a German family-owned full-service manufacturer of POS marketing materials and visual merchandising — spanning print, 3D, and digital displays — serving leading German retail chains with end-to-end design, production, logistics, and on-site installation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Rosbach

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. POS Materials Production and Sales: Production and sale of custom POS marketing materials including displays, signage, promotional items, and visual merchandising solutions for retail environments. Revenue generated through project-based orders and ongoing contracts with retail chains.
2. Full-Service POS Project Management: Comprehensive project management services covering consulting, design adaptation, logistics coordination, and on-site installation. Includes bundling of products into ready-to-install market packages.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Trade Connection Krebs (TC Krebs) manufactures and supplies a full range of POS (Point of Sale) marketing materials and visual sales promotion products — including ceiling hangers, 3D letters, films and stickers, shelf-talkers, signs, wrappings, displays, frames, digital displays, dividers, flags, and mounting materials — for retail chains and brand manufacturers. The company delivers end-to-end service from consulting and design through production, logistics, and on-site installation, executing complex nationwide POS campaigns across hundreds of stores.

Product overview

Trade Connection Krebs (TC Krebs) is a full-service provider of POS (Point of Sale) marketing materials and visual sales promotion solutions. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of 12 distinct product categories including Deckenhänger (ceiling hangers/banners), 3D-Buchstaben (3D lettering), Folien & Beklebungen (films and stickers), Shelf-Talker & Wobbler, Schilder & Platten (signs and plates), Ummantelungen (wrappings), Displays & Aufsteller (displays and stands), Rahmen (frames), Digitale Displays (digital displays), Warentrenner (product dividers), Fahnen (flags), and Montagematerial (mounting materials). These products are complemented by services spanning consulting and conception, design and layout, production and printing, and logistics and assembly. The company utilizes AI-supported adaptation of campaign motifs for rapid deployment across various POS formats.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Deckenhänger (Ceiling Hangers) Large-format hanging systems and banners for ceiling areas and promotional zones, available in PVC, textile, and mesh variants, designed for retail chains and brand manufacturers needing attention-grabbing above-aisle installations.
• 3D-Buchstaben (3D Letters) Freestanding or mounted profile and relief letters made from acrylic, PVC, or Dibond for brand segmentation and visual impact, manufactured with CNC milling for precise contours and individual material thicknesses per CI specifications.
• Folien & Beklebungen (Films & Stickers) Slip-resistant, color-stable stickers with optional laminate or protective coating, including wall films, window graphics, floor stickers, and vehicle wrapping for retail and brand environment applications.
• Shelf-Talker & Wobbler Insert cards, wobblers, shelf talkers, and plug-in elements for shelves, grid tables, and promotional furniture designed for product highlighting at retail shelves.
• Schilder & Platten (Signs & Plates) Dibond, PVC, and acrylic signs in all formats for permanent segmentation or temporary promotions, including orientation systems and directional signage for retail environments.
• Ummantelungen (Wrappings) Grid table and shelf wrappings for changing promotional merchandise or as permanent advertising, tailored for standard pallets and custom refrigeration units.
• Displays & Aufsteller (Displays & Stands) Cardboard displays and mobile counters for promotional actions, tastings, and product launches, including pallet displays and box wrappings for retail and brand campaigns.
• Rahmen (Frames) Change frames, click systems, and tension frames for advertising motifs that need frequent changing, including aluminum tension frames with optional LED backlighting for retail signage.
• Digitale Displays (Digital Displays) E-Ink displays, LED panels, scanner bars, and hybrid displays with static or animated content for digital signage solutions at retail locations.
• Warentrenner (Product Dividers) Product dividers and stands at the checkout zone that serve as final touchpoints for impulse purchase promotion during customer waiting time.
• Fahnen (Flags) Facade and outdoor banners, mast flags, and beach flags for attention both indoors and outdoors, made from weather-resistant mesh, PVC, or flag fabric.
• Montagematerial (Mounting Materials) Spacers, clamping systems, and fastening elements for durable POS installations, including specialized adhesive systems and weather-resistant components.
• Full-Service POS Project Management Comprehensive project management services covering consulting, design adaptation, logistics coordination, and on-site installation, including bundling of products into ready-to-install market packages for retail chains and brand manufacturers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Campaign adaptation in record time through AI-supported processes
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Rewe GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2008Major customer partnership established in 2008 involving first large-scale projects for this retail conglomerate. The collaboration demanded full expertise in logistics, quality, and deadline reliability. Successful execution of these demanding campaigns solidified TC Krebs' reputation as a performance partner for large-scale retail operations and proved the company's ability to deliver excellent results under highest pressure.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• KNAPP AG: Austrian-headquartered intralogistics and retail automation specialist that also touches in-store fulfilment and merchandising technology. Comparable as a DACH-based B2B retail solutions provider, though focused on logistics/automation rather than POS marketing materials.
• Siegwerk Druckfarben AG & Co. KGaA: Large German-headquartered supplier of printing inks and coatings for packaging and graphics applications. Adjacent to TC Krebs as a German-based supplier serving print production for retail-facing materials, though focused on inks rather than finished POS products.

Emerging players

• Dassault Systèmes (3DEXCITE / Visual Marketing): Provides digital twin and 3D visualization technology increasingly used for retail planning and in-store marketing content. Relevant as a technology-enabled peer pushing digital substitution of physical POS materials, which is a strategic competitor to TC Krebs' print-based POS materials.

Direct peers

• Umdasch Shopfitting (Umdasch Group): Austrian/German shopfitting specialist serving major retail chains with store concepts, fixtures, and visual merchandising. Comparable to TC Krebs as a DACH-based full-service provider of physical retail presentation solutions.
• POS Tuning GmbH: German POS optimization specialist producing shelf management systems, pushers, dividers, and in-store merchandising accessories. Comparable to TC Krebs as a German-based B2B supplier of POS hardware and merchandising materials to retail chains.
• Wanzl GmbH & Co. KGaA: German-headquartered manufacturer of retail equipment, shop fittings, and in-store merchandising solutions. Directly comparable to TC Krebs as a German-based B2B provider of physical retail presentation and merchandising products to large retail chains.
• Rocholl GmbH: German visual merchandising and POS display manufacturer producing signage, displays, and shop decoration for retail chains. Comparable to TC Krebs as a German-based B2B provider of POS marketing materials and visual merchandising.
• K+D AG: Swiss POS and visual merchandising solutions provider serving retail chains with display, signage, and shopfitting products. Comparable to TC Krebs as a DACH-region B2B provider of POS marketing materials and visual merchandising solutions.
• Kesseböhmer GmbH: German manufacturer of shopfitting and merchandising systems including shelf accessories, display systems, and POS presentation solutions. Comparable to TC Krebs as a mid-sized German B2B supplier of in-store merchandising hardware to retail customers.

Regional players

• Displaypoint Ltd: UK-based POS display and signage manufacturer serving retail and brand customers across multiple formats. Comparable to TC Krebs as a B2B POS display and signage provider, but operating primarily in the UK rather than Germany.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/trade-connection-krebs-gmbh
• Facebookfacebook.com/tckrebs

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Trade Connection