DER KREIS: Küchenspezialisten
DER KREIS is a leading alliance of medium-sized specialist kitchen retailers with over 3,800 members across Europe. For the member companies, the title “kitchen specialist” was created and, through the initiative of the group, introduced as an official vocational qualification at the turn of the millennium.
Acceptance and visibility for kitchen specialists in digital competition
Development of a lead portal with modern tools for kitchen planning
Successful referral of numerous buyers of high‑quality kitchens
TARGET GROUP CONTACT FOR KITCHEN PLANNING PURCHASES ON THE INTERNET
“Strong together” is the credo of the association. It unites the predominantly family-run member companies, which, with their high quality standards in kitchen planning, have often been successfully established in their regions for generations.
With digital transformation, however, the target group’s initial orientation for kitchen purchases increasingly moved to the internet, where independently operating kitchen studios received less and less attention. The association therefore needed to develop a joint positioning to reach the B2C target group online with a strong, unified presence.
Development of the online platform with TYPO3
Integration of a 3D kitchen planner and additional tools for lead generation
Dealer search with microsites for kitchen specialists
Setup of a dashboard for lead management
Content management for kitchen specialists in the CRM system
Implementation of a sales portal for display kitchens
Digital marketing and web analytics
LEAD PORTAL FOR BRAND COMMUNICATION AND KITCHEN PLANNING
To ensure a consistent brand presence, the “Küchenspezialisten” brand with the claim “Herz drauf” was repositioned. The modern online portal is precisely tailored to the needs of people buying kitchens.
An innovative 3D kitchen planner and additional tools enable simple, customer-specific planning. Qualified leads are forwarded via a CRM system to suitable partners. A geo-search guides users directly to the nearest kitchen studio and its landing page.
The modern online portal was developed on the basis of the TYPO3 enterprise content management system. It provides a scalable, user-friendly solution that allows editors to manage content flexibly. Relevant data is supplied automatically via interfaces to DER KREIS and various web services.
Particular focus was placed on the strategic design of the user experience, aligned closely with the brand design and the planned customer journey. The regional positioning of the kitchen specialists is presented via microsites, which can be accessed through a geo search.
The goal of the customer journey is to generate qualified leads. To achieve this, the portal offers target‑group‑specific tools such as a kitchen configurator, kitchen cost calculator, and 3D kitchen planner – from individual design through to transparent cost overviews.
The combination of digital planning and personal consultation increases user satisfaction and ensures an effective handover to specialist retailers.
An individual dashboard was developed for lead management, allowing leads to be administered and activated. A call center supports lead nurturing, while kitchen specialists have access to functions such as reputation management, content maintenance, and their own advertising placements.
With kuechenboerse24.de, an exclusive platform was created for selling display kitchens. High‑quality presentations with images, descriptions, and filtering options increase sales potential. If no suitable kitchen is available, interested users are routed to additional communication channels.
A holistic digital marketing and web analytics concept – including social media, Mail2Many, and server‑side tracking – enables automated customer outreach, data‑driven optimization, and a sustainable increase in reach and efficiency.
LEAD PORTAL FOR BRAND COMMUNICATION AND KITCHEN PLANNING
The online portal sustainably strengthens brand perception, increases customer loyalty, and boosts visibility – for both kitchen specialists and renowned manufacturers.
Thanks to its cross‑country setup, reach is continuously growing. In addition to Germany, the website is also available for Austria, while the kitchen marketplace brings together Germany, Austria, and Switzerland (in both German and French). The internationally scalable concept makes it possible to expand market presence and tap into new target groups.
FREQUENTLY ASKED – CLEARLY ANSWERED
The portal is a central platform for brand communication, kitchen planning, and lead generation. It combines microsites for regional kitchen specialists, a geo search for location finding, and various planning tools. The goal is to guide end customers optimally through the customer journey while simultaneously strengthening brand presence.
Users can design their dream kitchen individually using a kitchen configurator, kitchen cost calculator, and 3D kitchen planner. These tools provide visual planning and a transparent cost overview. Qualified inquiries are captured in a structured way and forwarded to suitable specialist retailers – enabling efficient, high‑quality lead generation.
A customized dashboard enables the management and activation of incoming leads. In addition, a call center supports the lead nurturing process. Kitchen specialists also have access to features such as reputation management, content maintenance, and the ability to run their own online advertising.
A holistic digital marketing and web analytics concept ensures continuous optimization. This includes social media integration, email marketing (e.g., Mail2Many), server‑side tracking, and data‑driven analysis. In addition, the Küchenbörse24 sales platform increases digital reach and opens up further target groups.
FROM OUR PRACTICE