ARO Heimtextilien

ARO Heimtextilien (also known as ARO Heimtex) was a German specialist retail chain for floor coverings, carpets and wallpapers, founded by the entrepreneur and sports official Michael A. Roth. The business began in 1956 in the Middle Franconian village of Demantsfürth, where Roth traded in floor coverings and delivered them with his own vehicle. Four years later he opened the first shop with an attached warehouse in the same village. The company was named after its founder and owner, and it remained a family-owned private business throughout its existence, ultimately consolidated under the Michael A. Roth Holding GmbH & Co. KG, with its headquarters in Nuremberg. ARO grew steadily through the following decades. In 1972 the head office was relocated to the north of Nuremberg and a central warehouse was built to supply the branches, mainly in the northern Bavarian region. From 1975 the group also owned its own carpet production plant, NEODON-Werke-Bodenbeläge GmbH in Krumbach in Swabia, which had existed since 1963. During the 1980s and 1990s the branch network expanded to more than 100 stores, predominantly in northern Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, and later also into southern Bavaria and Hesse, with individual branches in North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland. The product range covered all kinds of floor coverings as well as wallpapers, curtains and accessories, and revenue exceeded 100 million euros. ARO positioned itself as a specialist market for floor coverings with a very large in-stock assortment, expert advice and services such as measuring and installation. Its motto was "Mehr als wohnen – wohlfühlen" (more than living – feeling good). The company's later years were difficult: revenue fell below 100 million euros in 2008 amid a weak economy, and cost-cutting measures reduced the number of branches and employees. By 2012 revenue was only about 50 million euros with 86 branches and 480 employees. In August 2013 the company filed for a protective shield procedure (Schutzschirmverfahren), and an insolvency plan followed. ARO successfully completed the protective shield procedure in April 2014, having cut high rental costs by closing stores and halving average sales areas; about 300 employees in 60 branches remained. At the end of August 2015 ARO filed for insolvency for the second time. The stores were closed and the remaining 350 employees were dismissed, with remaining stock sold in four branches until the end of the year. The Nuremberg-Fürth public prosecutor's office investigated Michael A. Roth on suspicion of fraud and delayed insolvency, but the proceedings were discontinued. The ARO brand thus ended as an operating retail chain, although the aro.de website continued to present ARO Heimtex GmbH as a specialist dealer for floor coverings and carpets in Olching and Bad Wörishofen.

ARO Heimtextilien traces its origins to 1956, when Michael A. Roth began trading in floor coverings in the Middle Franconian village of Demantsfürth (district of Neustadt an der Aisch-Bad Windsheim), delivering goods with his own vehicle. Four years later, in 1960, he opened the first shop with an attached warehouse in the same village. The company was named after its founder and owner. Continuous growth followed, and in 1972 the head office was moved to the north of Nuremberg, where a central warehouse was built to supply the branches, especially in the northern Bavarian region. In 1975 the group added its own production operation when NEODON-Werke-Bodenbeläge GmbH in Krumbach in Swabia (district of Günzburg), which had existed since 1963, became part of the company. During the 1980s and 1990s the branch network grew to more than 100 stores, predominantly in northern Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. The company later expanded into southern Bavaria and Hesse and also operated individual branches in North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland. The product range included floor coverings of all kinds as well as wallpapers, curtains and the corresponding accessories. Revenue exceeded 100 million euros. In 2008, amid a generally poor economic situation, revenue fell below the 100 million euro mark for the first time and cost-cutting measures were introduced. The number of branches was reduced and the workforce fell to about 800 by early 2009. The crisis continued: by 2012 revenue was only about 50 million euros, with 86 branches and 480 employees. In August 2013 the company applied for a protective shield procedure (Schutzschirmverfahren), which granted a three-month creditor protection period. A month before the deadline expired, an insolvency plan was submitted. The number and size of branches were to be reduced further, and a quarter of the employees were to be made redundant. ARO successfully completed the protective shield procedure in April 2014. Above all, high rental costs were decisively reduced through closures and by cutting average sales areas by more than half. About 300 employees in 60 branches remained with the company. However, at the end of August 2015 ARO filed for insolvency once again. Remaining stock was sold in four branches until the end of the year. The Nuremberg-Fürth public prosecutor's office investigated Michael A. Roth on suspicion of fraud and delayed insolvency; the proceedings were discontinued. The company's founder and owner, who still led the GmbH into his seventies, had been awarded the Federal Cross of Merit in 2002 for his entrepreneurial life's work. The ARO Heimtextilien GmbH was controlled by the Michael A. Roth Holding GmbH & Co. KG, which consolidated ARO Holding GmbH (Nuremberg), ARO Heimtextilien GmbH (Nuremberg) and NEODON-Werke-Bodenbeläge GmbH (Krumbach). The aro.de website continued to present ARO Heimtex GmbH as a specialist dealer for floor coverings and carpets with a warehouse of more than 10,000 square metres, serving customers in Olching and Bad Wörishofen.

• 2015

  At the end of August ARO files for insolvency again; stores close and the remaining 350 employees are dismissed.

• 2014

  ARO successfully completes the protective shield procedure; about 300 employees in 60 branches remain.

• 2013

  In August the company applies for a protective shield procedure; an insolvency plan is submitted a month before the deadline.

• 2012

  Revenue is only about 50 million euros, with 86 branches and 480 employees.

• 2009

  Workforce falls to about 800 as the number of branches is reduced.

• 2008

  Revenue falls below 100 million euros for the first time; cost-cutting measures are introduced.

• 2002

  Founder and owner Michael A. Roth receives the Federal Cross of Merit for his entrepreneurial life's work.

• 1975

  NEODON-Werke-Bodenbeläge GmbH in Krumbach becomes part of the company, giving it its own carpet production.

• 1972

  Head office moves to the north of Nuremberg; a central warehouse is built to supply the branches.

• 1963

  NEODON-Werke-Bodenbeläge GmbH is established in Krumbach (later acquired by the group).

• 1960

  First shop with an attached warehouse opens in Demantsfürth.

• 1956

  Michael A. Roth begins trading in floor coverings in Demantsfürth, delivering goods with his own vehicle.

Specialist retail market for floor coverings, carpets and wallpapers with a very large in-stock assortment, expert advice and all-in-one service under the motto "Mehr als wohnen – wohlfühlen".

• Carpets and carpet flooring

  A core product category, including own production through NEODON-Werke-Bodenbeläge GmbH.

• Hard floor coverings (vinyl, parquet, laminate)

  A large hard-flooring department with a wide selection of vinyl, parquet and laminate.

• Wallpapers and curtains

  Part of the product range alongside floor coverings and accessories.

• CV coverings

  Cushioned vinyl coverings offered among the floor coverings assortment.

1. 1ARO Heimtex GmbH Olching & Bad Wörishofenaro.de
2. 2Über uns | ARO Heimtex Olching & Bad Wörishofenaro.de
3. 3Kontakt ARO Heimtex Olching & Bad Wörishofenaro.de
4. 4ARO Heimtextilien – Wikidatawikidata.org
5. 5ARO Heimtextilien – Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org