CONTRA HISTORY

Table Tennis Express since 1980

What is long lasting is finally good ... We cannot confirm this. The history of CONTRA has been a story of success and growth from the very beginning. Together with the table tennis community, CONTRA has grown and developed well from the start. The special relationship with the customers and the high claim to offer the most committed and fairest service as a dealer has proven itself from the beginning and did not need any ramp-up time. Below we trace some stages in the development of CONTRA and are grateful to you (our customers) for making CONTRA possible.

1980

On 25 August 1980, CONTRA-Sport was founded in Hamburg by Frank Koschnick and Wolfgang Sohns. Our first shop was CONTRA Tischtennis, Beim Schlump 55, where we offered our products in a very small space of 55 m². Our goal at that time was to become a strong regional supplier.

And... the teletext of ARD and ZDF is launched in Germany.

1983

We opened our Hübbesweg branch with the first Hamburg table tennis school on 400 m². This is where our first activities in the nationwide mail order business began. In the same year, the renowned material expert Hanjo Zuch joined us, who is still a member of the team today.

And... the world's first mobile phone is approved in the USA.

1985

We opened our Hübbesweg branch with the first Hamburg table tennis school on 400 m². There we started our first activities in the nationwide mail order business. In the same year, the renowned material expert Hanjo Zuch joined us, who is still a member of the team today.

And... Boris Becker wins Wimbledon for the first time.

1986

We took over the Schöler & Micke branch on Wiesendamm. The mail order business was further expanded on two levels and supported by a modern EDP system. The business became more and more extensive and the premises were soon bursting at the seams.

And... Mike Tyson becomes the youngest heavyweight world champion ever in boxing.

1989

We moved our head office to Steilshoop. On 500 m² we now had enough storage space for the mail order business.

And... the Belin Wall comes down.

1990

We began supplying our first CONTRA shops throughout Germany. Our team of employees now comprised nine active table tennis players.

And... Germany celebrates its reunification.

1991

We entered into a cooperation with the Bundesliga team VfB Lübeck and opened the CONTRA Shop Lübeck with Claus Mattern.

And... Ötzi is found in the South Tyrolean Alps.

1994

The premises in Steilshoop also became too small and the first plans for our own warehouse and administration centre in Schleswig-Holstein began.

And... Michael Schumacher becomes the first German Formula 1 World Champion.

1995

We moved into our new domicile on a 3,000 m² site. One of the most modern mail order houses in Europe was built here on an area of over 1,000 m². Over 8,500 different table tennis articles are stored here.

And... Microsoft releases its new operating system Windows 95.

2005

CONTRA celebrates its 25th anniversary!

And... Angela Merkel becomes German Chancellor for the first time.

2006

In January 2006, a state-of-the-art new warehouse logistics system was set up, which now enables us to cope with the massive increase in order volume over the years and to offer our customers an even better service.

And... the final round of the Football World Cup takes place in Germany.

2007

Every day, more than 500 shipments leave our premises to our worldwide clientele. We count over 65 shops in Germany and Europe among our customers. Twelve employees take care of our customers competently and reliably.

And... Apple presents the first iPhone.

2008

Our building at Wiesendamm is demolished. We move to Wandsbeker Chaussee 130.

And... Barrack Obama becomes the 44th President of the USA.

2010

CONTRA celebrates its 30th anniversary! We are bursting at the seams again. Our 21 employees provide a customer-friendly, absolutely reliable and fast service. Let's see what happens next.

And... Lena Meyer-Landrut won the Eurovision Song Contest in Oslo.

2011

CONTRA has built and doubled its warehouse and office capacity. We now have over 10,000 articles in stock for you on 2,000 m². The warehouse expansion in 2011 was our response to the growing demand for our table tennis products. Only through this considerable increase in warehouse and office space is it possible for us to have all important products in stock in sufficient quantities and to continue to guarantee fast shipping. This expansion means that the majority of all orders can be sent to our customers on the same day and completely in one consignment.

And... after 30 years, the last space shuttle mission takes place.

2014

Our logistics centre has been expanded again. We now have more than 14,000 articles in stock for you on more than 2,400 m². Meanwhile, more than 25 employees take care of our customers' needs.

And... Germany becomes football world champion for the fourth time.

2015

CONTRA turns 35! The expansion course continues: In the centre of Munich, CONTRA takes over one of the oldest shops in Bavaria. In Berlin, CONTRA partner Patrick Strahl opens a unique flagship store with a large table tennis school on over 350 m². CONTRA also continues to grow outside of Germany.

And... a statutory minimum wage comes into force in Germany.

2016

The dawn of a new era: we go "on air" with our new online shop. For our customers, this means a new modern design and simple menu navigation, a new convenient club assembly module, new diverse filter options and a new voucher module. All in all, the new CONTRA Shop is clearly optimised for all devices and very easy to use.

And... Bastian Schweinsteiger announces his retirement from the DFB national team.

2017

21 April 2017 - Opening of the CONTRA TT World at Mühlendamm 88, 22087 Hamburg. Service and quality on 480 m² - Train like the pros on competition floors - Huge selection - 120 test rackets - 5 competition tables. After a successful 37 years, founder and managing director Frank Koschnick is going into well-earned retirement on 30 June 2017.

And... the German Bundestag passes the marriage for all.

The customer is number 1 with us! His personal support is our top priority, that was the case yesterday and will be the case tomorrow. We started with this principle in 1980 and this principle will remain as long as CONTRA exists.