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Old instruments, new approach: How two young violin makers set up their own business

Aachen |Craftsmanship & Business Succession

Judith Huppertz and Christoph Verstraeten, both qualified violin makers, set up a violin-making workshop in the centre of Aachen in November 2015. Aged 28 and 29 at the time, they are among the youngest violin makers to have already established their own workshop.

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© MWIKE NRW/Christopher Koch | The two founders at work in their workshop
© MWIKE NRW/Christopher Koch

They restore valuable string instruments, many of which are centuries old, and regularly craft new string instruments, drawing inspiration from the antique instruments they handle every day. They also carry out all standard repair and maintenance work on violins, violas, cellos and double basses.

The people behind the idea

This is how the story of the company’s founding began

  • Judith Huppertz & Christoph Verstraeten, founded 2015 in Aachen

  • Establishment of the Vitula Geigenbauwerkstatt

  • Focus: Crafts, Instruments

How did it come about that you set up your own workshop together?

Judith Huppertz: I’d actually already decided I wanted to set up my own business before I even started my training as a violin maker. But we made the actual decision quite spontaneously. At the time, Christoph and I were both employed, but we were both feeling somewhat dissatisfied with our situation. One afternoon in the spring of 2015, we sat down together and thought about what we could change about our situation. As we knew we were ready to set up our own business, we decided to do so as soon as possible. 

What did you do after you’d made the decision?
 
J. Huppertz: First of all, we told our friends and family. They were all really happy for us and supported us in our plans. We then started looking for a property straight away with my parents. In fact, we found a suitable one together, which is where we now live and work.

„Of course, there were also people who doubted that we could pull it off. But we saw these doubters more as a source of motivation – we wanted to show them that we could do it after all.“


– Judith Huppertz

© MWIKE NRW/Christopher Koch | Instrument manufacturing requires precision work
© MWIKE NRW/Christopher Koch

Were there also people who weren’t so keen on your plans?

J. Huppertz: Of course there were people who had their doubts about us setting up the business. Most of them felt we were too inexperienced to run our own violin-making workshop. But as we felt ready for the challenge, we saw these sceptics more as a spur to action – we wanted to show them that we could do it after all.

| Eine Frau konzentriert am arbeiten

So how did you come across STARTERCENTER NRW, and how did they help you there?

J. Huppertz: I looked online for information about funding opportunities and that’s how I came across the start-up seminars run by the Aachen Chamber of Skilled Crafts. We took part in one of the seminars and met the Chamber’s business consultant for the city of Aachen there. He then helped us draw up our business plan and we are still in contact with him today. But the STARTERCENTER NRW has also helped us with other matters; for example, they advised us on our contracts.

What does someone need to have if they want to be a successful entrepreneur?

J. Huppertz: The most important thing is to set up your own business doing something you love. After all, you spend a lot of time on this work, and there are times when things don’t go so well. You need to have the stamina to see you through these phases. You also need patience and to take one step at a time. I think, ultimately, an idea isn’t enough – to be truly successful, you also need a plan.

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