Kämpflein the painter: creative and always ready for a challenge

Photos: Daniel Elke

This article appeared in MarktImpulse 3/20

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Thomas Kämpflein set up his own business in 1998 with just 400 Deutschmarks in his account. Today he runs a workshop in Montabaur. Customers from Cologne to Frankfurt appreciate his attention to detail.

A solid bronze figure stands in the office of the "Maler Kämpflein" master painting company. It is a Roman warrior. He holds a sword in his hand. Thomas Kämpflein lifts the figure by the marble base and looks at it proudly. "There's a nice story about this," says the 49-year-old. About 15 years ago, Kämpflein had just finished a job in Koblenz when his customer gave him the figure as he said goodbye. "The man thought I deserved it because I was so ambitious," remembers Kämpflein. When the master painter learned that he had just received an old family heirloom, he had to swallow hard. At that moment, Kämpflein thought about how it all began. With very little money but lots of courage. When he held his master's certificate in his hands, he was almost broke. With his last bit of money, he bought a ladder and a footstool – and got started. In 1998, he founded his first business in Daubach, Rhineland-Palatinate. Kämpflein drove to the customers in an old VW Golf II plus trailer, back then still as a lone warrior.

No two days are alike. That's what I like about my job.

Nadja Kämpflein, accountant and wife of the company boss, lets daughter Sina help out

Four other tradespeople in the team

But these times are long gone: Now Kämpflein drives to construction sites in one of his three Sprinter vans and four others are part of the team. The company's catchment area extends from Cologne to Frankfurt am Main. However, Thomas Kämpflein's customers don't book him just because they like his success story. "They know that they will get quality from us," the boss explains.

He demonstrates exactly what he means by this in a tour of the new building on Hunsrücktraße. In 2017, the company moved to its new headquarters in Montabaur. "This was a big project for us," reports the 49-year-old. His team did the job on their own, from floor to ceiling. The craftsmen paid attention to every detail. This is also demonstrated by the fact that they used the color combination of light green and orange throughout the building – from the outer facade to the storage room and tea kitchen. When he guides customers through the house, Kämpflein refers to the floors. He rolls a carpet aside and points to the orange substrate. "This is a so-called mineral floor, each one is unique," emphasizes Kämpflein. "This is very much in demand from our customers." The flooring plaster consists of two components and has fine textures.

What I like is that we rely heavily on creativity.

Painter Mirzet Hodzic, with his colleague Justin Simon and the company boss

Recognition for ambitious work: A customer gave Thomas Kämpflein this bronze warrior statue
Master painter Thomas Kämpflein relaxes most in his BMW GS Adventure

A completed school project

He scores points with his customers with these individual concepts. His customers are exclusively from the private sector. Thomas Kämpflein only made one exception. A school in the neighborhood was in need of renovation. The municipality had already awarded the contract, but then there were problems with the business that took it on. A short-term solution was needed and Thomas Kämpflein spontaneously took over the painting and varnishing work. "We hardly had any time for a heads-up," he says. "But we were able to complete the project on time." Working at the school is one of his favorite memories. Just like an job in a small village only five kilometers from Montabaur. Thomas Kämpflein equipped a house there with a composite system for thermal insulation. He got in touch with the customer and got to know her better. "And now we're married," says the company owner and smiles. His wife sits in the office and is currently on the phone to a customer. After she hangs up, Nadja Kämpflein goes back to her accounting. "Here, no two days are alike," she says. "That's what I like about my job."

A website with 360-degree tours

The Kämpfleins don't like ordinary. And their new website makes that clear. Static pages are out of touch. Instead, it's possible to take a 360-degree tour of the company building. Digitally, the customer can walk past the garage and move around the rooms and stairwell. "This allows them to gather inspiration for their own projects," says Thomas Kämpflein. He is a tech-savvy person who likes to present visualizations to his customers on a tablet. Kämpflein likes to get involved. "Just working in the office, that wouldn't be for me at all," he admits. Even today, his schedule always includes a trip to the construction site. Kämpflein swaps jeans and green sweaters for the white painting overalls. He says goodbye to his wife and makes his way to the Sprinter. The company motto is printed in large letters on the vehicle: "Quality without compromise". "We tackle every job with this in mind," says Kämpflein.

His 15-year-old daughter Sina sits in the front passenger seat. Her father wants to drop her off at home on the way to the construction site. When Thomas Kämpflein arrives in Niederelbert, he briefly climbs out. "I wanted off to show our joint project," says the master painter, and laughs. Sina Kämpflein leads us to her room. The high school student has set up a small make-up area. Father and daughter designed the wall above the table together. "We applied lime plaster with many different textures to achieve this," explains Thomas Kämpflein. "It gives such a great effect." He looks at his watch. Kämpflein wants to be on site with his employees in ten minutes.

When we leave a construction site, everything is spic and span.

Thomas Kämpflein, master painter and company owner

The Kämpflein headquarters can also be visited virtually thanks to the 360-degree website

All spic and span: Kämpflein doesn't just value cleanliness when it comes to paint rollers

Orange and light green are everywhere. Two colors dominate the new company headquarters in Montabaur

Creative duo: Thomas Kämpflein and daughter Sina lovingly designed the wall above her make-up corner, with great attention to detail

The trainee lays the design floor

Kämpflein's apprentice Justin Simon is hard at work on the upper floor. The 18-year-old is currently laying design floor coverings. Justin Simon is from the area and completed his internship at the company while at school. He is now in his second year of training and is learning to paint in enclosed spaces as well as drywall construction work. "The profession is definitely very varied," Simon emphasizes. His colleague Mirzet Hodzic nods to him in a confirming manner. He also completed his training 17 years ago at the company. "What I like is that we rely heavily on creativity," says the 35-year-old. He points to a wall on which a landscape has been created. Using color transitions, Hodzic has created clouds, a sky and a meadow. "The customer wanted this room to be the children's room," says Thomas Kämpflein. "Working together, we then designed the walls." Once a commission is completed, the tradesmen from Montabaur leave no trace. "When we leave a construction site, everything is spic and span," emphasizes Kämpflein. "There is no trace of paint on any socket." Customers value the fact that the team ensures cleanliness. Likewise, Kämpflein always keeps his appointments.

Motorcycle trips in free time

When deadlines get tight, the boss sometimes slips into his painting gear over weekends. But in his free time, Kämpflein loves to get out in the open air on his motorbike. He enjoys exploring alongside the Rhine on his BMW GS Adventure or taking a trip to the Black Forest with daughter Sina. It goes without saying that he polishes the machine to a high gloss before departure.