A place where collectors' hearts beat faster

Jens Burkert & Heidi Helfert

SBS DEKO - a paradise on earth for collectors and connoisseurs of old goods. And right in the centre of Chemnitz. When you enter the large hall of the two founders Jörg Scharschmidt and Jens "Kaktus" Burkert, treasures from the past immediately catch your eye. Between teapots, old sewing machines, porcelain, tube radios and historic furniture, everyone who makes their way to Robert-Blum-Straße 21a will find at least one personal memento. We met up with Jens "Kaktus" Burkert and his colleague Heidi Helfert to find out the secret of SBS Deko.

How long have you been here at the site on Robert-Blum-Straße?
Jens Burkert: Exactly 20 years. We moved in here in August 1996 and entered the hallowed halls. The actual origin, however, was my attic. Then we moved on to Niederwiesa. There we had a small space from a friend. After a short time, we had to expand. From 1993 to 1996, we had a small storage facility on Emilienstraße and the first things we sold were presented there. Unfortunately, we had to move out again. We were offered various alternative premises and at some point we were standing back here in the large empty hall. Back then, we were three individuals and not yet partners like we are now. Our partner at the time said to us: "We're going in here." I thought he was completely crazy. The property was far too big. Then we decided to rent the property here after all. It took three months, then the hall was full.

How did you manage to fill the hall so quickly?
Jens Burkert : Basically, it was the "gold-rush era" back then. Shortly after reunification, everyone wanted things from the West. Everything that had anything to do with the East was disposed of. People mercilessly put all their furniture on the street and disposed of their old lives. And I just shook my head. You can't throw that away. So I collected and sorted it. It was just too bad for me that people were putting things in landfill. At that moment, I didn't really care whether anyone bought the things or not. For us, it was really about saving things at first. Saving things.

When did people start taking an interest in the old furniture again?
Jens Burkert : In the beginning, we had dealers who knew more than we did. They bought the most beautiful things from us at very favourable prices. In the beginning, it was word of mouth. At some point, the dealers came from Holland. They bought things from us here by the containerful. There really was a lot of everything. We had an unimaginably large wall of radios - people simply threw away 1500 tube radios back then. Everyday objects, old enamel pots - we sorted through thousands and thousands of items and then someone came and said they wanted them all. A big lorry arrived, we got a lot of money for it and the pots went all the way to America.

How did such contacts come about? Did you do any research?
Jens Burkert: Word simply got around. Our address was traded for 1000 Deutschmarks in Holland. Just the address!

Is there anything comparable to SBS-Deko on this scale?
Jens Burkert: I get asked that a lot. I'm sure there are some, but I can't say exactly who and where. And I don't know anyone in the way we do it here. More and more people are coming to us from outside. However, the quantity of goods and quality that we used to have, even in the price segment, is simply no longer there. We used to really get it for free. Now we have to buy it. And in order to generate the goods that customers want, you now have to put in a huge amount of effort. Our lads drive out to the Vogtland and collect the items. If possible, we have to pay for each item.

Heidi Helfert enters the room during the interview. She has been with us since mid-2014 and is firmly in charge of the office of her two bosses. She herself grew up with the things that can be found at SBS-Deko. "I didn't have to learn anything. That makes the whole thing easy," she says with a laugh. She has revitalised the rental of the stock for private and company parties.

How many customers come to SBS on average?
Heidi Helfert: Well, it's really difficult to estimate. On average, around 150 people come. If you balance out summer and winter. A lot of people really just come to have a look. You sometimes don't even realise that with this huge area.

Are there times when a particularly large number of customers come?
Jens Burkert: We really can't make any predictions here. Every day is different. So we can't keep statistics either.
Heidi Helfert: Every morning when I come here, the answering machine is blinking and the e-mail inbox is full. People contact us for a household clearance, for example. And there are several a day. We can discover great treasures, but it can also be just a waste disposal. We just don't know. Every day is a new day with new surprises. In the meantime, we have photos sent to us in advance so that we can assess whether it fits the style and is worth going there or whether it's simply not worth it. After all, it all costs money.
Jens Burkert: We hardly ever know what to expect. Fortunately, Heidi makes a pre-selection. Now we also have a sensible schedule. So that we can go out in a targeted manner.

When you find new treasures at such household clearances, do you also refurbish the furniture?
Jens Burkert: We clean and restore small items. But we are not restorers.
Heidi Helfert: If a lock is jammed, we do something. Or if a leg is broken off, we put it back on. But that's the end of the story. We sell, and we have to make this very clear: decoration! That means we can't guarantee functionality and we can't try anything out or repair anything. If the customer buys an appliance here, they can of course try it out on a socket and see if it works. But there is no guarantee and no warranty. It's pure decoration. It's the same with the furniture - the customer is welcome to look at it, they know it's used. We make it look a bit smart, but it remains in the same condition as when it arrives. Otherwise we wouldn't be able to set the prices like this.

How do you set the prices?
Jens Burkert: Well, it's based on experience, gut feeling and, of course, market analyses. We check out the market, of course. But we have to differentiate between people offering goods at the flea market and selling them for less. There are, of course, antique shops that sell it at a higher price. We find ourselves somewhere in the middle. If there is a price on it, then it is there, but you are welcome to trade it. We are obliged to price the goods and of course we sometimes overshoot the mark, but we sell on two-thirds of the goods that arrive quite quickly.

SBS-Deko not only fulfils every imaginable collector's dream. The main business is also the rental of props to film and television productions and theatres. In 2016 alone, SBS-Deko provided props for countless films. These include "Tatort", "Soko Leipzig", the film series "Bibi und Tina" and the new film by Olaf Schubert "Olaf der Weltverbesserer".

Is there anything you are particularly proud of in your film production prop hire business?
Heidi Helfert: "Coming Stirrers to Heaven!" A documentary film that was released in cinemas in September 2016. We started conducting interviews and research at SBS-Deko even before my time.
Jens Burkert: The film is about the sustainability of GDR products. In the past, things were built to last. Nowadays, this is no longer the case. It's a feature-length documentary film. The film was shown at the Siegmar club cinema. I went to the second screening and tried to sneak in incognito. Unfortunately, it didn't work because the programme director announced me in a big way. I'm sure it will still be shown somewhere in small cinemas. It should also be released on DVD or online soon.
Heidi Helfert: Apart from that, we often work for ARD and MDR productions. The teams often turn up here unannounced and want to take something with them straight away. I then take the time to guide the team through our halls and select suitable pieces. One of the most renowned production companies in Germany - Wiedemann & Berg Television GmbH - is also often here.

The bookshop in the neighbouring hall has now been open for five years. Bookworms will find real treasures from the past there. But not only book fans get their money's worth. Countless decorative items, paintings, photos and records are lovingly sorted and uniquely presented. Every item can be purchased. If there is no price on it, you can ask. So if you are still looking for the last Christmas presents, you will definitely find what you are looking for!

You've been in these halls for 20 years now. Are there any milestones at SBS-Deko?
Jens Burkert: We have grown bit by bit. A real milestone was the takeover of the entire property. And the separation from our former business partner. In the beginning there were three of us, we founded a GbR in 1998. Harald Seifert was with us from the start and left us in 2008 for personal reasons. We now have a third man with us again. But Jörg Scharschmidt and I are still pulling the strings. When Harald Seifert left us, we also decided to buy the entire property. At the time, we were faced with the choice of either getting out and looking for a new property or trying to buy it. And that's what we did.