History
Once upon a time...
there was a little girl whose father and mother had died, and she was so poor that she no longer had a little room to live in, no bed to sleep in, and finally nothing left but the clothes on her back. This is how the famous fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm begins, in which a little girl, out of kindness, gives away her last shirt and is rewarded with golden coins that fall directly from the sky into her lap. A touching story that we have captured in the name and logo of our company. Because just as beautiful as the Grimms' fairy tale, so beautiful are our toys and textiles, which bring joy, protection, and warmth especially to babies and toddlers. And that has been the case since 1965.
Historically established family business
1966 - 1967
1965
For in this year, Alfons and Käte Koch founded the company in Dornburg-Dorndorf and brought the first baby shoe collection to the market.
1966
The firms Kaufhof, Karstadt, Horten, and Hertie placed their first orders.
1967
The range was expanded with its own headwear collection.
1968 - 1972
1968
Sterntaler presents its collections at eight regional trade fairs in Germany and establishes itself as a specialist retail brand.
1969
Phase 1 - own building.
1970
The first Sterntaler toy collection sees the light of day.
1972
Sterntaler visits its customers across the entire federal territory with three traveling representatives.
1975 - 1988
1975
2nd Construction Phase - Sterntaler expands
1978
Due to increasing demand, the Sterntaler range is expanded with the first own hosiery collection and develops into a specialist around the foot of babies and toddlers.
1980
Sterntaler now has over 1,000 specialist retailers as customers in Germany.
1982
3rd Construction Phase - Sterntaler expands across Europe
1988
Alongside new shapes and models, the topic of "functions" is an important concern for Sterntaler. Especially in the area of headwear, Sterntaler is a pioneer in UV-Protection
1990 - 2002
1990
4th construction phase - Sterntaler is the first manufacturer to bring shape to play mats. The Sterntaler animal motifs conquer children's rooms.
1992
Establishment of a production company in Asia and the Czech Republic, as the production capacity at the headquarters in Dornburg-Dorndorf is no longer sufficient.
1994
Sterntaler introduces ABS socks to the German market. The term protected by Sterntaler becomes synonymous with non-slip socks.
1996
From the Musical Soft Toy to the play mat to the Sleeping Bag: in the Sterntaler toy range, the series concept applies - individual characters are available in up to 35 different variants.
1998
Sterntaler is one of the first manufacturers to offer its customers area concepts for all product categories.
2002
Sterntaler conquers the export market and is successfully represented in over 25 countries.
2004 - 2009
2004
Successful launch of the FliesenFlitzer. After the ABS socks, the second term protected by Sterntaler that is establishing itself in the market.
2005
We celebrate our 40th anniversary... and give ourselves some especially nice gifts. In addition to a completely new hall, this immediately includes a dealer and online shop as well as Sterntaler Limited Hong Kong as part of our range of services.
2006
Sterntaler receives a visit from ZDF: the Sterntaler Kasperle figures celebrate a success story.
2008
The Sterntaler GmbH & Co. KG, Sterntaler Holding, and Sterntaler UB GmbH merge into the new Sterntaler GmbH.
2009
Sterntaler receives a new merchandise management system and successfully presents the first children's outerwear collection.
2010 - 2014
2010
Opening of the new showroom: a successful example of future orientation at Sterntaler. The Kids‘ Fashion Line is expanded to include baby underwear.
2011
The new warehouse and logistics system is launched, and Sterntaler presents its new online presence.
2012
Project 6/8 by Sterntaler: strengthens the very successful brand with its own headwear collection for kids in sizes 49-57.
2014
Sterntaler starts with momentum and a new look on the World Wide Web. At www.sterntaler-shop.com, the current collections are available for online shopping around the clock.
2015 - 2019
2015
We celebrate our 50th anniversary and kick off the new season with our first in-house trade fair in our showroom in Dorndorf. On over 350 sqm, our customers can expect an exclusive discovery tour through the brand-new collections, professional discussions among colleagues, and great trade fair offers. Relaunch of sterntaler.com including the retail and dealer shops.
2016
Welcome to the intelligent Sterntaler Sleeping Bag world: we offer restful sleep all year round. Thanks to optimized temperature regulation, every child always feels safe and secure. The Hydrocool microfiber lining provides cooling at warm temperatures and keeps nice and warm when it’s cool. The Sleeping Bag motto is: grow out, not grow into.
2017
Relaunch of sterntaler.com including the retail and dealer shops. Sterntaler on Facebook and Instagram – there’s a lot happening on Sterntaler’s Instagram page: new products, trends, contests, and interactive campaigns like #sterntalerderwoche! Here’s the link to Sterntaler’s profile on Instagram
2018
There’s new addition to the popular Sterntaler Donkey family: welcome Donkey Emmi Girl. This makes all girls’ eyes sparkle, as the well-known Donkey trio is now also available in magical pink tones.
2019
The digital Musical Soft Toy – our Baby Chilling Box – conquers children’s rooms. Thanks to the integrated Bluetooth speaker, the Sterntaler Chilling Box can play any melodies. Whether a lovely lullaby or fairy tales and stories – you decide what your baby should hear.
2020 - 2021
2020
We are greeted by two characters with a new makeover: our popular Donkey Emmi gets a new color and the cute mouse Mabel appears in a new design. New Sterntaler Hand Puppets invite storytelling. The child size offers the perfect fit. A new Sterntaler kindergarten collection - perfectly equipped from head to toe.
2021
Relaunch of the new B2C online shop. A new makeover makes the online shop shine in great colors and invites you to shop. Naturalness & sustainability: that is what "Stay true to nature" stands for. The production of the collection focuses on the use of organic cotton and recycled polyester. Rabbit Kinni and Koala Kalla invite cozy cuddle times in the children's room. Our Sterntaler collection is expanded with "Emmi‘s Garden" and we welcome our two new Donkeys - Emmilius & Emmily - to the popular Donkey family. The two Donkeys are out together in the garden paradise and appear in new and fresh colors.
2024 - 2025
2024
Relaunch of the new corporate design. The new look includes a modern color scheme, redesigned packaging, and a completely updated online shop. The goal of the relaunch was to develop the brand in a contemporary way while creating clarity, recognizability, and an even stronger focus on the needs of the target audience—while maintaining the same standards of quality and reliability.
2025
We celebrate our 60th anniversary. Since its founding in 1965, the brand has stood for high-quality products, thoughtful design, and a special understanding of the needs of children and families. The 60th anniversary marks a significant milestone in the company’s history and highlights the continuous development as well as the trust built over generations.
As the market leader in accessories, Sterntaler employs over 1,000 people worldwide, including around 250 in Germany.
Company Brochure
Understanding what is touched.
Would you like to learn more about the history of Sterntaler and our philosophy?
Then just take a look at our company brochure and get a glimpse into our Sterntaler world.