DPH
Trading is owned by Joergen Risager.
The company was based on Joergen Risager's idea of making the
Christmas plate trade his career.
He had this idea during a dinner at his brother- and
sister-in-law's in 1970. The brother-in-law had bought a personal
stock of Christmas plates, which were meant to be his retirement
savings. Back in 1970 it was very difficult to get hold of
Christmas plates. Delivery times were very long, you had to buy
them in at he hardware store, and you were only allowed to buy one.
At least you needed a very good reason to be permitted to buy more
than one (could be something like - I could not bear, if my old
grandmother did not get the newest addition to her collection as
well.)
The brother-in-law saw big prospects
in buying up Christmas plates from the many hardware stores in
Odense, where to Joergen Risager had just moved. Joergen Risager
was urged to buy all the Christmas plates he could get hold of, and
the brother-in-law would pay an extra price of DKK. 5.- per plate
Joergen Risager had bought. Joergen Risager tried to get hold of
the Christmas plates, but had made no promises to his
brother-in-law.
After many hardships Joergen Risager
succeeded in procuring 15 pieces of the 1970 Bing & Groendahl
Christmas plates as well as 15 pieces of the 1970-plate from The
Royal Porcelain Factory. In 1970 the plates were sold at a retail
price of DKK 30,65 a piece (approximately USD 5.-). After
scrutinizing the household money, he decided, that his family could
only just do without the money spent on the plates, and kept the
plates to himself.
By December 1971 the plates sold. All
plates were sold to the first person who wanted to buy, at the
price of DKK 45.- a piece.Thus these 30 plates became the
foundation of the company. Instead of returning to his job after
New Years 1972, he was granted leave from his job to try out his
idea. The company was founded on this slender foundation.
Dansk Platte
Handel ("Danish Plate
Trading") was founded on February
1st, 1972. The company had a rough
take-off. The banks had absolutely no confidence in Joergen
Risager´s idea. He could not get a loan or an overdraft facility,
so trading-money were scarce.
Luckily the plate-trade thrived in
Bolbro, where the company was situated during the first ten years.
Danes as well as Americans were more than willing to buy. During
those years "Dansk Platte Handel" exclusively dealt in plates and a
few figurines. However, the selection grew quickly to hold a
extensive selection of Danish as well as foreign plates and
figurines plus supplements for old dinner and coffee sets.
The property at Loekkegravene 49,
Odense N., where the company is still housed, was acquired in
1982.
Shortly after Joergen Risager had
taken possession of the new building, the market unfortunately took
a descending turn, in Denmark as well as in The United States. The
situation was difficult, and DPH had to find new sources of income
to supplement the plate-trade and to survive the failing sales.
The supplement became antique,
semi-antique and new Chinese and Japanese vases and jars, and soon
lamp-assembling workshop was established, as most of our customers
prefer lamps to vases or jars. At the same time, the company name
was changed to DPH Trading,as the name "Danish Plate Trading" did
not cover the sale of lamps, vases and jars.
In a sense, the good destiny has never
been far from Joergen Risager. DPH benefited from the connections
to Japan when receiving a visit from Japanese suppliers. They
instantly fell in love with the Danish Christmas plates and this
was the kick off of a large export of Christmas plates to Japan.
The export started in 1989 and boomed by 1993, where the Japanese
really got their eyes up for Danish collectibles.
The art of limitation has never been
Joergen Risager´s strong point. Through the years the company has
gone through expansion and development. It has been necessary to
extend the buildings several times- a bigger showroom as well as
bigger storage room have been added. The selection of articles have
expanded in several directions. Further to the Chinese and Japanese
lamps the selection now contains lighting articles of various kinds
as well as furniture, mirrors and artwork.
In the plate and collectibles section
DPH Trading today holds a considerable stock of plates and
collectibles from various manufacturers throughout the world. DPH
Trading is also dealer of all new products from the Royal
Copenhagen, Bing & Groendahl, Holmegaard, Rosendahl, etc., just
as we sell used, semi-antique and antique tableware
supplements.
The lamp-assembly
workshop has become a small niche production, from which we have
benefited considerably. Our selection constantly grows, and all
along new and exciting products are found.
As to IT, DPH Trading has always been in front, as Joergen
Risager is absolutely fascinated by the amazing options and
possibilities of computers. Also in our contact with the customers
the computer, and the internet especially, is a well qualified and
quick media. With a wide range of collectors worldwide as our
customers, business would be almost impossible without the
internet.
DPH Trading launched a web-site and shop - the result
of million-investments in IT
technology etc. Investments in the future, for the benefit
of our customers and ourselves. The site presents some 10000
products from our stock. The number of items is continuously
increasing. At the site details, data and historic data on
products, manufacturers, artists and much more are found. We are
still adjusting, correcting and adding further functions to our
site, working intensely to get everything completed.
Margit Hansen:
Born in Denmark 1986:
Commercial educated and started in the company as trainee.
Afterwards Margit decided to continue working at DPH. - Margit is
an important part of our Customer team. Margit is ready to answer
our web customers request by mail and telephone.
Today DPH Trading is a private company with 8 employees. Besides
from our niche production, we trade in wholesale as well as retail,
just as we import and export.
Joergen Risager:
Born in Denmark in 1943.Founded Danish Plate Trading (the name
later changed to DPH Trading) on February 1st 1972.Today Joergen is
pulling the strings in a widely expanded company.Joergen Risager is
married to Inger Risager.
Lone Risager Therkelsen:
Born in Denmark in 1966. Following her graduation from business
school in 1986, Lone started temporarily in DPH, as assistance in a
very busy period. However, she became very fascinated with dealing
in porcelain, and she is still a part of our staff. Today she is in
charge of collectibles, test of website, and Updating website,
Marketing etc.
Inger
Risager:
Born in Denmark in 1944.By 1984 she gave up her job as a florist
to assist in DPH Trading. Inger is responsible for sales on the
Scandinavian market of lamps and furniture. Due to Inger's well
trained eye for home and interior decoration, she is the perfect
partner when purchasing for the next season.