An interview with Stephan Rotthaus, Managing Director of rotthaus.com

Although you operate in all German-speaking countries, rotthaus.com is one of Germany’s smaller agencies ...

Yes, and that’s something our clients really appreciate. We have a total staff of 12. I want to be able to give each client my personal attention. We only take on assignments we can identify with. That’s the reason for what has been a series of extraordinary successes.

What exactly do your mean by ‘personal attention’?

Being there for the client. Listening. Identifying with their goals. Taking the initiative, being familiar with their market, bringing in our own ideas, not just administering budgets.

What makes rotthaus.com special?

The combination of strategic thinking and a mastery of every aspect of communication. Also our specific expertise.

Do you see yourselves as a creative agency?

Yes. But we don’t do art for art’s sake. Our creativity is not a matter of eccentric layouting or chatty advertising copy. In this respect we tend to be more conservative. Our key strength is our ability to achieve our clients’ communication goals within a limited budget. For example, improving a hospital’s occupancy rate, increasing customer loyalty, raising capital, carrying out an image or fund-raising campaign. These are areas where we have an extraordinary depth of experience.

Your own training was in banking?

Banking, journalism and political science. My work has always been concerned with aspects of communication but with a clear sense of the economic realities. Before I founded the company I had been for many years the press spokesman of a bank.

What is the secret of successful communication?

I would say there are four secrets. Firstly, there is nothing better than meeting someone face-to-face. Professional communication therefore has to get as close to that as possible. Secondly, for the same outlay you can achieve significantly more by cultivating customer loyalty than by winning new customers. Not only that, satisfied customers are also your best form of advertising. Thirdly, staff communication is often undervalued. Many projects fail because not enough is invested in understanding and overcoming internal resistance. Fourthly, less is more. Especially with a smaller budget it is important to concentrate on a few activities but make them really effective.

Stephan Rotthaus is the Managing Director of rotthaus.com. Each assignment for every client receives his personal attention.