Nine United

Nine United is a Danish family-owned group of companies with roots in the 1975 opening of a clothing store in Ringkøbing by Troels Holch Povlsen and Merete Bech Povlsen. That retail venture grew into the fashion company BESTSELLER, and in 2001 Anders Holch Povlsen took over the BESTSELLER family business while Troels Holch Povlsen established MTHP A/S to encompass activities related to properties, foundations and CSR projects. MTHP A/S is the entity now known as Nine United. Today Nine United describes itself as an international family of companies with more than 1,100 colleagues working in 15 countries. Its activities are organised around five areas: Design, Retail Branding, Supply & Trading, Properties, and Giving Back. In Design, Nine United has for more than 20 years specialised in designing, producing and selling high-quality furniture, lighting and accessories to customers around the world, and it is closely associated with the design brand HAY, founded in 2002 by Troels and Rolf Hay. In Retail Branding, STUDIO 9 works with Nine United buying offices in China, Turkey, India, Bangladesh and Vietnam to offer tailored retail branding concepts and enhanced shopping experiences. Supply & Trading is described as the heart of the business, operating through those buying offices as well as European sourcing. Properties includes ownership and management of properties, townhouses and apartments in major cities such as Copenhagen, Paris and London as well as smaller European cities. Giving Back is carried out through two non-profit foundations supporting organisations and projects in Denmark and internationally. The group traces its guiding principles to 1975 and states that its 10 founding principles continue to be the backbone of the company. Its stated spirit is to be committed in its work, humble in its approach and proud of the work done together, under the motto "One World, One Philosophy, One Family." Nine United remains a private, family-owned group and does not appear to be listed on a stock exchange.

The story of Nine United begins in 1975, when Troels Holch Povlsen and Merete Bech Povlsen opened a clothing store in the small Danish town of Ringkøbing. The business expanded, and in 1980 the couple bought a store in Aarhus called BESTSELLER, which also became the name of the company. BESTSELLER grew into a major international fashion group; in 1996 it entered the Chinese market with the establishment of Bestseller Fashion Group China, which today owns more than 6,500 branded chain stores and concept stores in China and is considered a market leader in the mid-market for apparel. In 2001, Anders Holch Povlsen took over the BESTSELLER family business, while Troels Holch Povlsen established MTHP A/S to encompass all activities concerning properties, foundations and CSR projects. This entity is now known as Nine United. Also in 2001, the historical Customs House in Horsens, purchased in 1999, completed a careful renovation that brought the building back to its former glory and allowed several MTHP and BESTSELLER companies to move into new surroundings. In 2002, Troels and Rolf Hay founded the design brand HAY, which quickly grew into a global brand and changed the world's view of Scandinavian design by making it accessible to everyone. In 2005, MTHP established buying offices in China and Turkey with the purpose of supplying BESTSELLER and HAY with customised brand identity products and retail solutions. In 2006, the Lindencrone Mansion, a listed property in Copenhagen's Frederiksstaden Quarter, was revived after thoughtful renovation, providing inspiring settings for events. Over the following years, Nine United expanded its activities across five areas: Design, Retail Branding, Supply & Trading, Properties, and Giving Back. Its buying offices grew to include locations in China, Turkey, India, Bangladesh and Vietnam, alongside European sourcing. STUDIO 9 was developed to offer tailored retail branding concepts and enhanced shopping experiences in close collaboration with those buying offices. The group also owns and manages properties, townhouses and apartments in major cities such as Copenhagen, Paris and London as well as smaller European cities. Through two non-profit foundations, the Nine United family supports organisations and projects in Denmark and internationally. Today Nine United describes itself as an international family of companies with more than 1,100 colleagues working in 15 countries. Its 10 founding principles, dating from 1975, continue to guide the company, and its stated spirit is to be committed, humble and proud of the work done together.

• 2006

  Renovation of the Lindencrone Mansion in Copenhagen is completed.

• 2005

  MTHP establishes buying offices in China and Turkey to supply BESTSELLER and HAY.

• 2002

  Troels and Rolf Hay found the design brand HAY.

• 2001

  Anders Holch Povlsen takes over BESTSELLER; Troels Holch Povlsen establishes MTHP A/S (now Nine United).

• 2001

  The historical Customs House in Horsens completes renovation, housing MTHP and BESTSELLER companies.

• 1996

  BESTSELLER enters the Chinese market with the establishment of Bestseller Fashion Group China.

• 1980

  The couple buy a store in Aarhus called BESTSELLER, which becomes the company name.

• 1975

  Troels Holch Povlsen and Merete Bech Povlsen open a clothing store in Ringkøbing, Denmark.

A private, family-owned international group combining design, retail branding, supply and trading, properties and philanthropy under a shared set of founding principles.

• HAY design brand

  Design brand founded in 2002 by Troels and Rolf Hay, offering furniture, lighting and accessories.

• STUDIO 9

  Retail branding concept developed in collaboration with Nine United buying offices.

• Buying offices

  Offices in China, Turkey, India, Bangladesh and Vietnam providing sourcing and trading services.

• Property portfolio

  Properties, townhouses and apartments in Copenhagen, Paris, London and smaller European cities.

1. 1Forside - Nine Unitednineunited.com
2. 2Our Story - Nine Unitednineunited.com
3. 3About Nine United - Nine Unitednineunited.com
4. 4Nine United - Wikidatawikidata.org