This year marks a remarkable anniversary in the history of Munich-based event agency ZIBERT + FRIENDS GmbH. In a traditionally short-lived event industry, the agency is celebrating its 15^th year of business in 2009. Back in 1994, Florian Zibert, founder, shareholder and managing director of ZIBERT + FRIENDS, decided to turn his hobby into a full-time job and established a “one-man business”. This has since grown into a successful agency with around 20 employees.

Back then, the 39-year-old began with sports events he developed himself, but also received his first commissioned productions in the world of sports. Right from the start, his clients included such renowned companies as F2, O‘Neill, MTV or the Deutscher Snowboard Dachverband. The biggest sports project that Zibert + Friends has carried off to date came in the years 2000 to 2002 – the independent “Nike-ACG-Powderhausen Banked Series” in snowboarding which took place in Germany, Austria, Italy, Andorra, Norway and Switzerland.

With the second half of the 1990s came the addition of corporate events and highly diverse projects, ranging from employee events and sales conventions with major show elements to large-scale annual shareholders’ meetings.

As the agency grew from seven to 20 employees in the year 2000, so, too, did the need for new premises to accommodate the team. Koppstraße in Munich is the street on which the new rented property is located, which would also offer space for further expansion.

In 2002, Margit Wälder joined the agency as a partner and member of the general management. In addition to further building on the client base, more than anything else she contributed her expertise in the field of destination management. A 44-year-old, Margit has tested over 500 5-star hotels and, in the course of 18 years, has built up an international network that is second to none.

Over the last five years, ZIBERT + FRIENDS has succeeded in adding leading industrial companies such as Daimler AG, Volkswagen AG and Siemens AG to its list of clients. The agency’s current business activities primarily focus on international projects such as the Siemens Roadshow which rolls into 23 locations in 10 countries.

For the past three years, the Munich-based company has stepped up its involvement in the field of interactive exhibits and media-aided communications concepts for use in the retail trade, in showrooms and at trade fairs.

For developing an interface based on augmented reality on behalf of its client, W.L. Gore & Associates GmbH, ZIBERT + FRIENDS was presented with the coveted AWARD OF MASTER at last year’s 20^th Corporate Media Awards held in Dortmund.

Above all, it’s the diverse nature of the event themes that sets ZIBERT + FRIENDS apart from the rest. From sports events and staged product presentations – for cars, mobile devices, lingerie or trekking shoes – to incentives and promotional events. Every theme is creatively and perfectly staged. The demands are high, but they are self-imposed demands and much appreciated by the agency’s clients. After all, 70 percent of the clientele are regular customers. Says Andreas Burkhart, Head of Sales and Marketing Transporter worldwide enthusiastically: “We have been working with ZIBERT + FRIENDS for five years now. The fact that, after so much time, they keep finding new ways of staging the “commercial vehicles” theme speaks volumes about the amazing creativity of the team. Their ability to implement the ideas professionally and with the client’s needs in mind makes the agency the ideal partner for us.”

“The success of our agency stands and falls with our team,” says Florian Zibert. “A positive vibe and atmosphere of familiarity are vital to us. It’s the only way to maintain the fun and passion for what we do when things turn hectic.” Indeed, the name ZIBERT + FRIENDS says it all. Employees display many of the traits expected from a very good friend: loyalty, trust, commitment, and, not least of all, a likeable, outgoing personality whether dealing with people within the agency or with clients and suppliers. Most recently, ZIBERT + FRIENDS has succeeded in adding Telefónica O2 to its list of clients, carrying out an employee event for 5,000 people. As you can see, the success story goes on.