Leuchtturm1917 Gmbh

What Leuchtturm1917 Gmbh does

Leuchtturm1917 GmbH is a German stationery manufacturer founded in 1917 and headquartered in Geesthacht, Germany, operating as a privately held GmbH. The company designs, manufactures, and sells premium notebooks, planners, journals, writing instruments and related accessories under its own brand and through named collaborations, most notably the official Bullet Journal line co-developed with Ryder Carroll, the MONOCLE co-branded collection, and author-led journals such as the Finish Journal (Jon Acuff) and the Start-up Journal (Tim Jaudszims).

Its core product is the Notebook Classic, available in five formats (Master A4+, Composition B5, Medium A5, Paperback B6+, Pocket A6), with hardcover and softcover variants, four ruling options, and 30+ colours. Differentiating technical features include 80–120 g/m² acid-free paper with low transparency and high ink compatibility, numbered pages, table of contents, expandable gusseted pockets, page markers, thread-bound construction that lays flat, and 8 perforated sheets. The Drehgriffel writing-instrument platform (Nr. 1 ballpoint/gel and Nr. 2 mechanical pencil) is built from precision-milled aluminium and brass with a spring-loaded twist mechanism, document-proof ISO 15727-2 ink, and a refillable design; the platform has won Red Dot Design Awards in 2020 and 2022.

The business model is predominantly direct-to-consumer e-commerce through country-specific websites (DE, AT, CH, UK, FR, ES, USA, CA) augmented by a global retailer network, a dedicated B2B portal, and an order hotline. Revenue is generated through one-time unit sales (priced €3.95–€69.95), refills and accessories, and value-add personalisation (embossing/engraving). Customer segments span individual consumers, business professionals, entrepreneurs, goal-oriented users, and the global Bullet Journal community, with no disclosed enterprise anchors. Revenue figures are not publicly disclosed.

Name

Leuchtturm1917 Gmbh

Legal name

LEUCHTTURM1917 GmbH

Website

https://leuchtturm1917.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1917

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Leuchtturm1917 GmbH is a privately held German stationery manufacturer (founded 1917, Geesthacht) that designs and sells premium notebooks, planners, journals, writing instruments, and accessories through global D2C websites, retailers, and co-branded collections including the official Bullet Journal and Monocle lines.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Premium Stationery and Paper-Based Productivity Products

NAICS

Stationery Product Manufacturing (32223), Office Supplies and Stationery Retailers (45941)

SIC

Blankbooks, Looseleaf Binders & Bookbindg & Relatd Work (2780), Pens, Pencils & Other Artists' Materials (3950)

akta.pro primary industry

Stationery & Office Paper Products (notebooks, pads, forms) (IMAMAHAG)

Keywords

• Premium notebooks
• Hardcover journals
• Planners and organizers
• Writing instruments
• Paper stationery

Headquarters

HQ city

Geesthacht

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Notebooks and Journals Sales: One-time sale of physical notebooks, journals, and planners. Products are sold at various price points from entry-level to premium editions.
2. Writing Instruments Sales: Sale of Drehgriffel pens and pencils, including refills and accessories.
3. Accessories Sales: Sale of pen loops, card cases, book boxes, springback binders, totes, and planner stickers.
4. Personalization Services: Embossing and engraving services for notebooks and Drehgriffel pens.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Leuchtturm1917 designs, manufactures, and sells premium paper-based productivity products, including hardcover notebooks, guided journals, weekly and daily planners, the Bullet Journal edition, and proprietary writing instruments such as the Drehgriffel Nr. 1 pen and the Nr. 2 pencil, along with accessories such as pen loops and card cases. The portfolio is marketed globally to individual consumers and corporate customers through direct e-commerce, retail partners, and a B2B customization channel.

Product overview

Leuchtturm1917 is a German stationery company offering a comprehensive portfolio of notebooks, planners, journals, and writing instruments. The core product line centers on the Notebook Classic in multiple formats (Master A4+, Composition B5, Medium A5, Paperback B6+, Pocket A6), available with various cover types and rulings (plain, dotted, lined, squared). The company collaborates with Ryder Carroll on the official Bullet Journal Edition 2, and with Monocle magazine on a premium collection. Specialized journals include Start-up Journal (with Tim Jaudszims), Learning Journal, Thesis Journal, Change Journal, Finish Journal (with Jon Acuff), Sketchnote Journal, and New Work Journal. The Drehgriffel writing instruments (Nr. 1 ballpoint/pencil, Nr. 2 mechanical pencil) feature precision-milled aluminum and brass construction with twist mechanisms. Various limited editions include Bauhaus, Monocle, Covered for Sunshine, Luminous, Gradient, and Bullet Journal special editions. Accessories include pen loops, card cases, springback binders, planner stickers, and notepads. The 2027 planner collection includes weekly, daily, monthly, academic, and quarterly formats in multiple sizes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Monocle by LEUCHTTURM1917: A collaboration with international lifestyle magazine MONOCLE featuring premium notebooks, planners, and accessories.
• Bauhaus Edition
• Bullet Journal
• Drehgriffel
• Covered for Sunshine
• Colourful Seasons Edition
• Luminous Edition
• Writers & Thinkers

Products and services

• Notebook Classic Hardcover notebook with numbered pages, table of contents, and index, aimed at individual consumers and professionals for general journaling and note-taking.
• Notebook 411 Compact hardcover variant of the Classic notebook with the same numbered page system, suited for portable everyday carry.
• Edition 120G Anniversary hardcover notebook with heavier paper weight and enhanced cover design, positioned as a premium collector edition.
• Bauhaus Edition Co-branded hardcover notebook referencing the Bauhaus design movement, targeted at design-conscious consumers and collectors.
• Monocle Edition Collaboration notebook with Monocle magazine, featuring the publication's editorial design language and content cues.
• Bullet Journal Edition Official co-branded notebook of the Bullet Journal methodology, laid out with dot-grid pages and a key for rapid logging, task tracking, and migration.
• Guided Journal — Change Structured journal with prompts designed to help individuals reflect on and manage personal change.
• Guided Journal — Start-up Structured journal with prompts aimed at entrepreneurs and founders for planning and developing new business ideas.
• Guided Journal — Learning Prompted journal that guides users through structured learning and self-education.
• Guided Journal — Sketchnote Guided journal for visual note-taking, combining written prompts with space for sketches and diagrams.
• Guided Journal — Thesis Notebook designed for academic thesis writing, with layout features to support long-form research and citation work.
• Guided Journal — New Work Prompted journal for individuals exploring new ways of working, self-management, and modern career development.
• Guided Journal — Finish Guided journal focused on completion, accountability, and finishing outstanding projects or goals.
• Guided Journal — Some Lines A Day Multi-year diary structured for brief, one-line-per-day entries, supporting long-term personal journaling.
• Weekly Planner Hardcover planner laid out one week per spread, used for personal and professional scheduling.
• Daily Planner Hardcover planner with one page per day, designed for detailed time-blocking and task tracking.
• Monthly Planner Hardcover planner with a monthly layout, used for higher-level overview of appointments and milestones.
• Drehgriffel Nr. 1 Ballpoint/Gel Pen Proprietary twist-mechanism writing instrument in ballpoint and gel variants, designed as a complement to Leuchtturm1917 notebooks.
• Drehgriffel Nr. 2 Pencil Mechanical pencil in the Drehgriffel line, designed to match the visual design of the Nr. 1 pen.
• Stationery Accessories Accessories such as pen loops, card cases, and related items that complement notebooks and writing instruments.

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• MONOCLEflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerExclusive design collaboration with international lifestyle magazine MONOCLE creating a premium stationery collection featuring coordinating notebooks, planners, and accessories. The collection bears the joint signature of LEUCHTTURM1917 and MONOCLE, featuring clean functional design with subtle details.
• Ryder CarrollcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-development partnership with New York product designer Ryder Carroll, inventor of the Bullet Journal method. LEUCHTTURM1917 is the official licensee producing the Original Bullet Journal. Joint development of Bullet Journal Edition 2 with additional features and community input.
• Tim JaudszimscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-development of Start-up Journal with Tim Jaudszims, author and business angel. The journal guides entrepreneurs through 15 steps to launching a business with practical templates and helpful methods.
• Jon AcuffcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-development of Finish Journal with Jon Acuff, New York Times bestselling author. The journal helps users plan, track, and accomplish goals by combining workbook and notebook functionality.
• CleverminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Clever for Learning Journal, applying the belief that writing by hand aids learning and memory retention.
• BethgeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Bethge for Drehgriffel Nr. 1 Luminous Edition celebrating Pop Art movement and design excellence.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Moleskine: Italian-founded premium notebook and planner brand. Closest direct peer to Leuchtturm1917 — same target customer (creatives, professionals, Bullet Journal-style users), same premium pricing band, and overlapping D2C + retail distribution globally.
• Paperblanks: Decorative journal and notebook publisher. Direct peer in hardcover journals with art/design-led covers, sold through similar specialty stationery and gift retail channels globally.
• Rhodia (Clairefontaine): French premium paper/notebook brand known for Clairefontaine paper quality. Direct peer on premium writing substrate, dotted/grid notebooks, and pad-style stationery used by fountain-pen and fountain-ink customers.
• Filofax: Iconic British personal organizer brand. Direct peer in the planners/organizers category with comparable leather/cover-bound hardware, refillable systems, and premium consumer positioning.
• Midori (Designphil Inc.): Japanese premium stationery maker (MD Paper, Travelers Notebook). Comparable on premium paper notebooks, refillable covers, and design-led limited editions targeting the same analog-lifestyle demographic.
• Hobonichi (Shogakukan Creative / Hobo Nikkan Itoi Shinbun): Japanese planner and notebook brand with strong cult following among analog productivity enthusiasts. Comparable on premium paper quality, dotted-grid layouts, and dedicated planner/notebook hybrid SKUs targeting the same Bullet Journal-adjacent consumer.

Emerging players

• Baron Fig: Smaller US-based premium notebook brand focused on the 'Confidant' notebook and 'Squire' planner. Emerging peer with overlapping target customer and similar minimalist premium design language, though with smaller scale and narrower product range.
• Field Notes: US pocket-sized notebook brand with a strong analog enthusiast following. Emerging peer in the dotted/grid pocket notebook category, though positioned at lower price points and lacking the planner ecosystem of Leuchtturm1917.

Broad incumbents

• Clairefontaine: Large French paper and stationery manufacturer (parent of Rhodia). Broad incumbent with overlapping premium paper expertise but a much wider portfolio (school, office, art) and distribution scale beyond Leuchtturm1917's specialist focus.
• Smythson: British luxury stationery and leather goods house. Broad incumbent at a higher luxury tier than Leuchtturm1917, with overlapping diaries, notebooks, and writing instruments sold in department stores and own boutiques.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Leuchtturm1917
• Instagraminstagram.com/leuchtturm1917
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/leuchtturm1917

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Leuchtturm1917 Gmbh