Leserkreis Daheim

Leserkreis Daheim is a German magazine rental company (Lesezirkel) founded in 1907 by Richard Ganske in Kiel. It is one of the largest magazine rental businesses in Europe and the market leader in Germany. The company is part of the Ganske-Verlagsgruppe, a publishing group that includes Jahreszeiten Verlag, Hoffmann und Campe, and Gräfe und Unzer. Leserkreis Daheim rents out current magazines to both private customers and public display locations such as doctors' offices, hair salons, and restaurants. The company operates nationwide in Germany with around 400 employees and, in past times, delivered approximately 25 million magazines annually. Its headquarters have been in Hamburg since 1954.

Leserkreis Daheim was founded in 1907 by Richard Ganske (1876–1956) in Kiel as a magazine rental business (Lesezirkel). In 1930, the headquarters moved from Kiel to Hannover, the name was changed to Lesezirkel Daheim, and the legal form became an Offene Handelsgesellschaft (OHG). Richard Ganske's son Kurt Ganske, who had taken over management of the distribution company in 1929, became a partner in the OHG along with two relatives. By 1938, the company had expanded to 30 branches. At the beginning of World War II, it employed approximately 1,300 people. In 1944, the company was shut down. At the end of 1945, business operations resumed, initially with book rentals. In 1946, the first magazines were added. In 1951, the East German branches were expropriated. In 1954, the company headquarters moved to its current location in Hamburg. By 1957, the company employed 1,700 people. In 1972, electronic data processing was introduced. In 1979, after the death of his father Kurt Ganske, Thomas Ganske took over management of the company, and later passed it on to his son Sebastian Ganske in the fourth generation. Leserkreis Daheim is Europe's largest Lesezirkel and market leader in Germany. It employs around 400 people nationwide, plus marginally employed staff, with an annual delivery—in past times—of approximately 25 million magazines. The customers of Leserkreis Daheim are partly private users and partly public display locations such as doctors, hairdressers, restaurateurs, and other public areas where waiting times occur. Private users usually become new customers through consumer fairs or the internet, while the majority of public displays are generated by the local branch sales force.

• 1979

  Thomas Ganske took over management after the death of Kurt Ganske.

• 1972

  Electronic data processing introduced.

• 1954

  Company headquarters moved to Hamburg.

• 1951

  East German branches expropriated.

• 1946

  First magazines added to the rental service.

• 1945

  Business operations resumed with book rentals.

• 1944

  Company shut down during World War II.

• 1938

  Number of branches increased to 30.

• 1930

  Headquarters moved to Hannover; name changed to Lesezirkel Daheim; legal form changed to OHG.

• 1907

  Founded by Richard Ganske in Kiel.

Europe's largest magazine rental service and German market leader, serving both private and commercial customers.

• Magazine rental (Lesezirkel)

  Rental of current magazines to private and public customers.

• Book rental

  Historical service offered after World War II.

1. 1Leserkreis Daheim - Wikipediade.wikipedia.org
2. 2Leserkreis Daheim - Wikidatawikidata.org