The Munich-based startup materialrest24.de recognized a real need in the trades and created an online platform for buying and selling leftover materials. We asked founder Simon Schlögl how it all came about.
1. Who are you and what do you do? Please briefly introduce yourself and your platform!
We are Simon Schlögl, 34 years old, responsible for marketing and design, and Bastian Schlögl, 36 years old, responsible for sales and marketing. Under the motto "Yesterday dusty – tomorrow installed“ meets on materialrest24.de A community of tradespeople who share unused building materials with each other. With our motto "From tradespeople for tradespeople," our goal is to strengthen the entire industry, including the building materials trade.
A use case that illustrates our idea very well: 10 square meters of a rare material are needed, but only 100 square meters can be ordered from a retailer. A colleague has had exactly these 10 square meters in good condition in his warehouse for ages. On our online platform materialrest24.de, both sides are to be matched.
In addition to the resulting financial benefits for everyone involved, we want to work together in a sustainable and environmentally friendly manner. Because there are a huge number of new materials left over that are no longer used in follow-up orders due to the wide variety of materials used in the trade.
materialrest24.de is now a household name in the trade
2. But that's been around for a long time!
About one in ten tradespeople actually had the same idea. But so far, no one has had the nerve to implement such a project permanently. Besides, tradespeople should actually be pursuing their chosen profession; there are hardly any left.
3. What has been your biggest challenge so far?
The first 5 months after market launch.
4. Let’s get down to business: How is business going?
After one year, over 350 tradespeople are already participating. We've since expanded the service to organize pickup and shipping of items upon request. Recently, we've also seen an increase in registrations from other EU countries. Building materials dealers also use the platform for remaining stock, returns, and slow-moving items. Our memorable name is already a household name in the trades thanks to several articles in trade magazines.
Great support from the Chamber of Crafts and the Carpenters’ Guild
5. What does Munich mean to you?
We are represented nationwide, but we have a close relationship with Germany’s largest Chamber of Crafts, the Chamber of Crafts for Munich and Upper Bavaria, and the Carpenters' Guild in Munich are excellent contacts. The building materials dealers from the Upper Bavaria region also provide excellent support. Unlike in the past, beer is hardly consumed on construction sites anymore – but a fresh half-liter in our beer gardens still tastes particularly good after work.
6. How will your startup become the next unicorn? Or will we see you soon at Epic Fail Night?
At the Epic Fail Night, I could at least talk about how it felt to be honored twice within three weeks by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy and to receive prize money for each of them.
7. Bavaria or '60?
Already Bavaria, but we also have some lions with us – the lions from VOX will have to be patient, though.
