50 years of yacht sales: Deutsche Yachten member Drettmann Yachts from Bremen celebrates a big anniversary.
The history of Drettmann Yachts began relatively unspectacularly and, like so many companies, in a garage. Traute and Dierk Drettmann started there in 1970 with the sale of used boats, then four years later they took over the representation for Neptunus and sold a total of 750 of the Dutch yachts.
The current managing directors, Claudia and Albert Drettmann, took over the company in 1989 and gradually developed it into a strong brand. With the construction of Elegance and Bandido yachts, the family business achieved a worldwide sales success – a total of 350 yachts up to 54 metres in length found an owner – and Drettmann became one of the largest exhibitors at boot Düsseldorf. In 2006 the company moved into a new, representative company building with direct access to the river Weser, a showroom of several hundred square metres and the company’s own quay.
Albert Drettmann: “With the new building a very well functioning overall package was created. Horizon manufactured according to our plans in Taiwan, and we were able to advise customers on site in Bremen with regard to design and equipment. In addition, there was enough space for brokerage yachts and the possibility to do seatrials directly in front of the office”.
In 2017, Drettmann finally reoriented itself, took over the European representation for the Arabic Gulf Craft shipyard to strengthen its position and now cooperates with numerous Dutch and Italian shipyards in the newbuild sector. Claudia Drettmann says: “Our strategy is to be a one-stop shop for yacht owners and those who want to become one. We want to respond completely to the individual needs of our customers and to find the right product for them on the market, whether new or pre-owned”.
In its 50-year company history, Drettmann Yachts has already sold over 10,000 boats and yachts and managed a total of 1500 newbuilds. This success story from Bremen is unparalleled in the yacht industry.
Claus-Ehlert Meyer, managing director of Deutsche Yachten, is also pleased about the anniversary: “With Drettmann Yachts, we have a very active and innovative member in our group. Over the past decades, the yacht industry and the clientele have changed constantly. To adapt to this again and again and to remain successful in the process, one must show respect. The quality of the companies that are organized within Deutsche Yachten is extraordinary”.
