The Prague Post
September 8th, 2008
Endowment Fund     Business Listings ONLINE      Reservations      Classifieds    Subscriptions
Prague Center Hotel
Prague Real Estate

Home » Archives » Real Estate

Moser still going strong after 150 years

Luxury Czech glass company continues thriving in markets both at home and abroad

By Adam Daniel Mezei
For The Prague Post
March 21st, 2007 issue

Jan Přerovský/THE PRAGUE POST
Moser's Josef Slunečko says the company plans to host a few summer celebrations.
The Moser glass company has come a long way since its founding by Ludwig Moser in Karlovy Vary back in 1857, when Bohemia was still a part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. This year marks the venerable firm’s 150th anniversary, and, according to Moser’s marketing director, Josef Slunečko, the company proudly sits atop a sprawling international network of key clients, boutique retailers and satisfied customers that stretches all the way from New York City to Vladivostok, Russia.
As part of Moser’s jubilee, the company will host a series of anniversary-themed events locally and at Moser boutiques abroad. At its central glassworks factory in the west Bohemian spa town, Moser will organize a summer anniversary event, which will showcase a selection of classic Moser products from the past 15 years. The event will be followed up by a special exhibit at Prague’s Museum of Applied Art, which will kick off its fall sales season.
The Prague Post recently sat down with Slunečko to talk about some of the changes his company has experienced since the turn of the millennium and what innovations Moser plans on introducing to the market during 2007.
The Prague Post: How exactly does a Moser product differ from that of the competition?
Josef Slunečko: Well, Moser’s slogan is “150 years of perfection.” That means that our expertise, our precision manufacturing process and our glass engraving techniques are unique to the global industry. Sure, while we have competitors across Europe and in other parts of the world, to my knowledge there exists not a single one who comes anywhere close to matching Moser’s reputation for quality, timely delivery and classic design.

TPP: What has essentially changed about the manner in which Moser conducts business in the 21st century? Are things radically different from the founder’s era, or …

JS: … are things the same as they were in the past, is what you wanted to ask? No, other than the ability to showcase our catalog of products online … I’d have to say that the things customers [knew] about Moser in the past is exactly what they receive today. Of course, we’ve innovated in terms of our technical expertise, from sandblasting to glazing and our engraving. But if you’re asking about major changes, then I’d have to say it’s mainly in terms of customer demand, which has become much more sophisticated over the past seven years.
TPP: How do you mean exactly?
JS: Well, Moser guarantees quick delivery of our products, of course. We also have one of the widest ranges of glass colors on the market and our selection is the biggest in the sector — the luxury glass sector, I mean. But customers have taken a more active role in contributing to the types of products we produce these days. Our “key” clients have become more knowledgeable about the glassmaking process; that’s just natural, and as a result, their requests have become more exacting. Our reputation as a high-quality, high-value producer has contributed to this, of course, but I suppose it’s also got something to do with technology.
Moser, a.s.

Kpt. Jaroše 46/19
Karlovy Vary
Tel.: 800 166 737, 353 449 455
Web: www.moser-glass.com
E-mail: customerservice@moser-glass.com
Founded: 1892

TPP: What’s the risk the company faces from counterfeiters who produce cheaper-quality knockoffs of Moser-like products, potentially applying the Moser name to their forgeries as they do to other prestigious brands?
JS: Actually, that’s a nonissue at the level of the market where we function. As far as department store glass is concerned, or cheaper versions of what we call our standard collections — like our “contemporary designs” — that might certainly be the case. But if you’re asking if it affects our market share: hardly.

TPP: Your corporate literature suggests Moser conducts a thriving business in “personalized” glassmaking. How much of this contributes to your overall sales activity?

JS: A large share, in fact. We’re known around the world as being suppliers to kings and royalty. In my 22 years with the company, I remember the Thai parliament once commissioned an 80-centimeter [31.5-inch tall] vase for the King of Thailand’s 50th anniversary on his throne back in 1996–97. Their parliament appointed a special representative to the company who worked very closely with our blowers and engravers in Karlovy Vary to [agree] with their exact specifications. Overall, it was a project that took almost two years to finish, with each and every step of the way needing to be approved by Thailand’s parliament. That is just one example of the sorts of requests we field every day.
TPP: Your literature also suggests you work very closely with your key customers in perfecting the sales process. Perhaps you might explain this in more detail?
JS: Our seller education is very important. We generally like to have our sellers stress at least five to 10 “key arguments” when introducing Moser products to their customers among a selection of luxury offerings. We treat our sellers as colleagues and collaborators and have what we call a “product development structure,” whereby we encourage their active feedback on what works best, what’s selling best and perhaps the design of a new product. Site visits to the Czech Republic … marketing support and frequent contact between our international boutiques … ensure a consistent standard of quality to support our overall brand image. We want our sellers to stress the fact that, while there are a handful of luxury glass designers and manufacturers, Moser is truly top of the class. Not only do we have the longest-standing expertise, but we also have one of the fastest distribution networks. There is not a single competitor that we know of who can wrap up an order within six months, from the time an order is received in the field to ultimate arrival at a client’s doorstep.
TPP: In terms of foreign sales, which country accounts for the highest figure?
JS: Russia.

TPP: To what can you attribute this?

JS: Well, you’re aware of the Russian presence in Karlovy Vary, and the large amounts of investment from Russia there. As our glassworks are located there, and as we often conduct on-site tours to our clients, word travels quickly. However, our Japanese and Taiwanese business has been steadily growing, and we also maintain two Moser boutiques in Greece and three in Istanbul.
TPP: Describe some of the company’s growth plans. Given the expansion of the European Union eastward, does Moser plan to build any factories outside of the Czech Republic?
JS: While some of our best blowers come from Romania, Moser doesn’t have any present plans to expand operations elsewhere. Let’s just say we’re going to continue to improve upon the techniques and processes … we’ve implemented since our split in 1993 from the state glass exporting company Crystalex, which was the chief body responsible for sales abroad of Czech glass products during communism. Moser realized that it was better for our brand to stand alone, since we had different ideas about how to distribute our products. And, besides, Moser was the smallest component of this state organization and getting the least exposure. Given our reputation among our distinguished clientele, and the fact that we were the longest-standing of all the companies under the state umbrella, let’s just say this was another good example of “velvet divorce.”
TPP: At the end of the day, what’s the most pleasurable thing about your job?
JS: Well, I just got back from the Ambiente 2007 trade fair in Frankfurt, and, I have to say, even after 22 years in this business and the many different places I’ve traveled, it’s like visiting with family each and every time. It’s great to be a part of something truly professional, to be able to say that I’m a part of something which is the best. Our staff are the very best in their craft. Our engravers are world-renowned. Not only does a Moser product increase in value over the years, but if you go into any Prague antiques shop and purchase a Moser piece of glass, it will generally be worth three times more than what it originally cost to manufacture. My travel schedule gets tiring, but then, I’m always reminded at the end that I work for one of the most professional organizations in the industry. When I think about that, all the effort is totally worthwhile.

Adam Daniel Mezei can be reached at specialsection@praguepost.com


Other articles in Real Estate (21/03/2007):

Browse the Current Issue

If you enjoyed this article, why don't you subscribe to the print version!
We accept secure online transactions provided by PayPal and Moneybookers

Be the first to add a comment!


Full Name: *
City: *
E-mail: **
This comment can be published in the print version of The Prague Post
Enter the text on the right:
 visual captcha
Comment: *
* Required field. In order to be approved for display, comments must have a first and last name and a city.
** E-mails are required and will only be used for internal purposes.

Most visited in Business Listings

Hotel booking
The Prague Post Online contains a selection of articles that have been printed in
The Prague Post, a weekly newspaper published in the Czech Republic.
To subscribe to the print paper, click here.
Unauthorized reproduction is strictly prohibited.