hISTOry

From a trading firm to a branded company

Happy People was founded in Bremen on 15 June 1965, trading back then as M. Klein & Co. Following the take-over of several specialty departments of well-known trading firms in 1977 and 1978, trading in toys soon became the core of our business activities.

This process was temporarily concluded with the 1984 establishment of a branch in Hong Kong. Driven by increasing retail trade brand orientation, long-term strategic realignment over the following years culminated in the successful establishment of the Happy People brand. In 2003, the company affiliated with Melchers trade group, founded in 1806, operating globally today. Successful consumer goods companies - AK Sport GmbH & Co (2001) and Max Project Trading GmbH & Co. (2004) - were taken over. In 2005, the company changed its name to Happy People GmbH & Co. KG. TIB Heyne & Co. GmbH and the plush toys specialist Paul Import GmbH, Hamburg, became independent members of the Happy People Group in 2007 and 2011 respectively.

Management continuity, together with ongoing adaptation to market demands, were and still are the successful basis of our business.