Tischlerei & Bestattungshaus Ullrich
Burkhard Ullrich
Dorfstraße 7
39619 Gestien
Phone: +49 39384-21 46 1
Fax: +49 39384-98 17 5
Email: info(at)ullrich-arendsee.de
Internet: www.ullrich-arendsee.de
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Important raw material
Wood is the material that carpenter Christian Ullrich works with every day
Pioneering trades with sensitivity
When we build up our own company, we put a lot of work and heart and soul into it. We hope that the company will last for a long time and be continued by a good successor. It is especially nice when the successor comes from your own family. Christian Ullrich’s father founded a carpenter’s in Arendsee in 1978. With the prospect of taking over this company later, Christian decided to train as a carpenter during the uncertain period of reunification. In 1994 he joined the company, which until then had consisted only of his father. Together they developed the machinery and technical expertise and gradually hired new employees. Christian has been running the carpentry workshop for 20 years now but there was a lot to do up to that point. "You don't take over a company overnight, it takes time, maybe 4-5 years to grow into this role. Because particularly in such a small family business you do everything yourself: draw drafts, order materials, write invoices and offers, talk to customers, and so on. You have to grow into it slowly and learn how it all works." Christian himself has deep roots in the Altmark, was born and raised here, appreciates the peace and quiet and the extensive landscape. As part of his holiday travels he has already seen a lot of the world. "We don't know how good we have it here," he says, not just referring to the healthy air. As a tradesman, he pays particular attention to technical standards. Nowhere else is the work and training done as precisely as in Germany. As the company has grown, Christian's working days have become much longer, sometimes he works from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. "But I don't mind. I enjoy my work and it rarely feels like work. I don't want to do anything else. I'm living out my hobby here."
As an entrepreneur he keeps an eye on the latest developments in his industry. "We need to continue educating ourselves and identify trends. This is important, otherwise we'll lose touch." Only recently the carpenter invested in new technology. This requires intensive preparation and planning, and he and his employees have to get to grips with the new machine and the corresponding software. Very few people are familiar with the many different tasks in a carpentry workshop and know how demanding the trade is. Christian Ullrich believes that craft trades are not sufficiently recognised and valued. "He's just a carpenter," they'll say. Therefore, it is also a challenge to find good apprentices. He hopes that people with a high level of education will also stay in the region. Because they can get a perfect education here too. One special feature of Ullrich's carpentry is that they not only make custom-made furniture, but also arrange funerals. He is saddened by how society treats the deceased. "Many don’t want to do anything at all, bury them anonymously. That is the standard statement with half of our customers and that kind of thing annoys me. But there are people who think differently." For Christian Ullrich a funeral service is always a moment of peace in hectic everyday life. "I can't leave or do anything else then. I'm there and make time. Listen to the speaker who is talking about things that often occupy me myself. This is already a part of my work that makes me think and helps me not to forget why I am doing what I love. And nothing else.”