“Every Woman And Every Little Girl Deserves To Be Treated Like A Princess” With Princess Maja von Hohenzollern
I had the pleasure of interviewing H.H. Princess Maja von Hohenzollern. Princess Maja today is the internationally best-known member of the Royal Family of Hohenzollern. The house of Hohenzollern/ Prussia is one of the oldest and most important noble families in Europe and represented the former emperor of Germany. H.H. Princess Maja von Hohenzollern is a modern designer for Interior, lifestyle, pet and children's products.
The brand is successfully presented with different collections in 80 countries on the international market. Princess Maja von Hohenzollern was honored as best designer with the “ASIA DESIGN AWARD GOLD” in Shanghai/China.
For her global commitment to animal welfare H.H. Princess Maja von Hohenzollern was awarded with several important international awards. She lives with more than 100 animals, like dogs, cats, rabbits and even a donkey that she has rescued and adopted from the street and brutal killing centers.
Out of respect and love for animals and humans, as well as for the environment Princess Maja is vegan.
Thank you so much for doing this with us! What is your “backstory”?
I studied theater, film and media sciences and a degree in real estate. I have worked for many years in the real estate industry and as a Head of Key Account Manager Europe for large international telecommunication companies. I spent a couple of years working in the media industry, writing for newspapers, developing TV concepts and presented my own broadcasts on TV. I am a very creative person, with many ideas for new products and a good feeling for target groups, trends and new markets. I like to draw, to decorate, to photograph, to write, to cook and to do handicrafts. That’s why I’ve always wanted to design and to market my own product lines because it’s where I can best use my strengths and talents together, such as creativity for new products, feeling for trends and markets, my experience in communications, PR and marketing.
So I started to develop my own collections under my name and licensed brand “Princess Maja von Hohenzollern”. Today collections by Princess Maja von Hohenzollern for home- decoration, carpets, pet accessories, children’s products and fashion are successfully presented with in 80 countries on the international market.
I am working with license partners, I develop the designs and the story/philosophy of the collections and do the PR and the licensee does the production, distribution and logistics.
Can you share the funniest or most interesting story that happened to you since you started your company.
My pet collection for “furry prince & princesses” was presented at the “Asia Pet Fair” in Shanghai/China for the first time. There were so many exhibitors from all Asian countries packed in 10 huge halls full of new and interesting products and I wasn´t sure, if even anyone would notice my pet collection, as it was the very first time for me there. After two days, I just noticed that there was a design contest there and that my collection had been selected. But I was just too busy at the fair, that I didn’t pay attention on it and my expectations weren't high. One day later people around me started getting very hectic and a Chinese loud speaker was screaming my name (what sounds funny). Finally I won the Design Award and was very surprised and of course very happy! Also very funny was, that someone of the fair-team announced an autograph session with me and that people could come to my fair booth and could make photos with a “Princess from Germany”. Suddenly crowds of people stormed to our booth and I did selfies and autographs for hours with hundreds of people and with many Chinese poodles with pink hair and other funny decoration. It was overwhelming and far over my expectations. The Chinese people were extremely friendly, humorous and I have a great respect for the culture of the country and what these people have achieved.
What do you think makes your company stand out? Can you share a story?
For centuries, the beautiful castles of the nobility are admired. Unique architecture, precious furniture, fine tableware and exquisite art have been arranged here timelessly beautiful and fascinate people all over the world. Kings and princesses have always had a unique lifestyle and excellent taste. Therefore many people still dream of a life in the castle and many women and children dream of a princess life. They like to look and to dress like princess and of course, every woman and every little girl deserves to be treated like a princess :-)
This dream can come true with products designed by Princess Maja von Hohenzollern. I am a modern Princess and I create very authentically classy and royal products, for little and adult princesses. This makes my brand very unique with a unique selling proposition.
Also the market potential is very high, as nearly everybody in the world knows what a “Princess” is, the fairy tails about princess are translated in all languages and cultures around the world. There are many products that fit very well to a princess and to my licensed brand, like fashion, shoes, furniture, cosmetics, jewelry, children products and more. As I am modern Princess of course I also would love to sport wear and more vegan collections.
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story?
I just built up the company together with my business partner. It is the most valuable thing to have an absolutely loyal and trustworthy person next to you.
Are you working on any exciting projects now?
Yes, I am! 2018 was already an exciting year, as I have launched my vegan carpet –collection and also my home decoration collection by Princess Maja von Hohenzollern (Goebel) with cups, plates, vases , lamps, watches in a very modern and elegant black & white design and of finest porcelain quality.
Actually I am working on my new Royal Bath — Collection by Princess Maja von Hohenzollern (Puris), which will be presented in September 2018 on M.O.W. fair in Germany. I designed some very classy bathroom furniture from high quality. I spent a lot attention on a balanced man-woman –design, as the bathroom furniture should work for everyone and it should give you a comfortable feeling, like in a luxury hotel. My Royal Bath-Collection will be also vegan and certificated.
See my collections: www.prinzessinvonhohenzollern.com
How have you used your success to bring goodness to the world?
I am in animal welfare since 15 years and I have rescued and adopted many animals from dogs, cats and rabbits over donkeys and even a boar. I am traveling to many countries like Romania or Ukraine to stop killing of stray dogs. I initiated many petitions and peaceful protest for the protection of animals; I spoke to politicians and governments to approve animal right laws and to stop abuse. I even spoke before the EU-Parliament, I built veterinary clinics, I did many neuter & release actions, where I even assisted at the surgeries and I live myself with more than 100 pets, that I have all saved and adopted from the street and horrible killing centers. Beyond them are many old, blind and handicapped pets. In Romania I achieved a great success, because together with my animal welfare friends over there, I could implement animal protection classes as a compulsory subject in schools. It´s called “EDUXANIMA-Program” and I hope it will be adopted from other countries too. I am an ambassador of PETA and face of several PETA-campaigns. That´s why I designed my pet accessories collection for “furry Prince & Princess”, because I have saved so many dogs and cats, that have been tortured and had suffered so much. The moment I rescued them, I always promised, that from now on, I will provide the best life I can for them; they should live like “furry Prince & Princess”. From the pet accessories collection by Princess Maja von Hohenzollern (Trixie) is donated a part to animal welfare projects from every product sold. We could support many international projects for animals in need with this.
Do you have a favorite book that made a deep impact on your life? Can you share a story?
There are many books that inspired me, like Ocean Warrior by Paul Watson, books about Buddhism, History or philosophy.
What are your “5 things I wish someone told me before I started my company” and why. Please share a story or example for each.
I knew before what it meant to be self-reliant, to work independently and constantly. I was prepared and had no illusions. I knew I had to give all my passion and power to run my own business. The one thing I did not realize was that there are many business people in management level today, who do not really identify with the company they work for. There are some who, like mercenaries, change company every two years and are unfamiliar with the company’s products or target group. This often makes it difficult to negotiate as a creative person with a good product idea with such a number-”watchdog” who has no relation or emotion to the company he works for. But thanks god, there are also many others! :-)
Some of the biggest names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might see this. :-)
I would love to go for breakfast with Richard Branson as he is such I visionary guy and he invests in plant-based products and beliefs, that in a couple of years there will be no need to kill animals for meat anymore. Then I would like to drive by car with James Corden, who I love for his great humor and he can drive me to lunch with Miley Cyrus. She is very remarkable, because she has also been campaigning for animal welfare and a vegan lifestyle for years. She is not only a great talent but she has such a big heart for animals too. And for dinner I would love to go with Leonardo DiCaprio, as I really adore him, because he is fighting against climate change and for veganism for so long in a very consequent way. Also I would love to meet Ellen DeGeneres and Jared Leto, I think I need a 10 course menu. :-)
And of course everybody who is interested in cooperating with my licensed brand “Princess Maja von Hohenzollern” is most welcome! : )
