BULLIONDOLLAR MAN

THOMAS SABO talks about creating his silver jewellery brand on the strength of personality with STEPHEN SHORT

THE VISION, DRIVE and ambition of Thomas Sabo have made the company that carries his name one of the leading premium brands in the jewellery, watches and beauty segment. He commands a considerable empire. There are 320 stores spread across five continents, with more than 1,500 staff and 2,600 trading partners. And the expansion continues with numerous store openings planned across Asia over the next two years.

Sabo himself is the founder, managing director and owner of the jewellery and watch brand. He is also very much a leader. At the end of 2015, about 550 staff from the headquarters in Lauf an der Pegnitz relocated to a state-ofthe-art head office at Silberstraße 1 at a cost of €43 million. This is immensely impressive for a man, trained as a precision engineer, who travelled across Asia 30 years ago with the aim of sourcing a concept for “high-class jewellery crafted from Sterling silver with a special design quality” to Germany. He did, and sales at trade fairs were strong and he reinvested capital in the business.

From 1984 onwards, his silver jewellery helped create a market segment. Sabo created standards in the affordable luxury segment with his items crafted from 925 Sterling silver. The mission continues today; to create products that thrill and fascinate. #legend spoke to Sabo about the lifestyle brand on the eve of opening his store in Harbour City.