From Hamburg Dream to American Adventure: A Story of Craftsmanship, Growth, and Innovation

The Beginning: Two Friends, One Vision (1981)

It all started with a simple belief: childhood should be an adventure filled with wonder, creativity, and joy. In 1981, two visionary friends, Gerhard Gollnest and Fritz-Rüdiger Kiesel, began their journey selling toys from a small office in Hamburg, Germany. What began as a two-person operation would grow into something neither could have imagined—Europe's largest wooden toy manufacturer and a beloved brand in over 80 countries worldwide.

Building Something Extraordinary (1980s-2000s) 

As their passion for creating meaningful play experiences grew, so did their company. The small Hamburg startup evolved into Northern Germany's largest toy manufacturer, eventually settling in Güster, where the heart of innovation still beats today. With every passing year, Gollnest & Kiesel deepened their commitment to quality, safety, and the kind of toys that spark imagination rather than replace it. 

The numbers tell an inspiring story: 

- From 2 founders to 450+ employees worldwide
- Over 2,000 different products in their diverse collection
- Up to 200 new product innovations launched annually
- 20 million toys delivered to families globally each year 

But for Gerhard and Fritz-Rüdiger, size was never the goal — impact was.

What Really Matters: Our Driving Values 

As the company flourished, the founders never lost sight of what truly counted: 

Our People - The motivated, committed employees who shape our company's unmistakable character 
Innovation Joy - The pure excitement of developing products that surprise and delight
Honest Partnerships - Open, authentic relationships with retailers and families who trust our brand
Sustainability First - Environmental and social commitment that has shaped our policies for decades
Preserving Dreams - Maintaining the ideals and vision that started it all
Children Above All - Because everything we do is ultimately for them 

Award-Winning Excellence 

Quality doesn't go unnoticed. Over the decades, our commitment to exceptional toys has earned recognition from independent juries, industry experts, and most importantly, the families who love our products:

- 200+ "spiel gut" awards for HOLZTIGER figures alone from Germany's prestigious toy evaluation committee 
- Multiple Golden Rocking Horse awards from Germany's leading family magazine and toy industry association
- ToyAward 2020 for our Knight's Castle Ball Track in the PreSchool category
- German Brand Award for excellence in branding and industry leadership
- Three consecutive #1 rankings as the top specialty trade partner, voted by over 4,000 European toy retailers 

A Promise Backed by Science 

Every single toy that leaves our facilities undergoes rigorous testing that exceeds legal requirements. Our state-of-the-art laboratories and independent, accredited testing institutes ensure that when an American family chooses our toys, they're choosing products that are not just fun, but completely safe for their most precious adventurers. 

With over 40 years of manufacturing experience, we've developed quality management systems that make safety our non-negotiable standard. 

The American Chapter Begins 

After years of successful partnership with US distributors, we made an exciting decision: to bring our European craftsmanship directly to American families. Our new subsidiary in Charlotte, North Carolina, with distribution in Selbyville, Delaware, represents more than expansion—it's our commitment to serving American families with the same dedication and quality that has made us Europe's favorite wooden toy maker. 

Why We Came to America:

- To offer American families a wider range of our beloved products
- To provide direct service and support to our retail partners
- To create US-specific products like American farm puzzles and tractors
- To build lasting partnerships within American communities 

Looking Forward: The Next Chapter 

From that small Hamburg office to Charlotte, North Carolina—our story continues to be written by the children who play with our toys, the families who trust our brand, and the retailers who share our vision. We've planted over 400,000 trees, built schools in developing countries, and created toys that have sparked countless adventures in playrooms around the world. 

Our Promise to American Families: We bring the same love, experience, and responsibility to every toy we create today as we did on day one. Because when it comes to childhood development and joy, we believe only the finest craftsmanship will do. 

 "Whoever takes something from nature must also give something back to it." - Fritz-Rüdiger Kiesel, Co-Founder 

The adventure continues. Welcome to the Goki America family.