Couple’s ‘retirement job’ shows no signs of slowing down
By Doug Meehan
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GLOUCESTER, Massachusetts (WCVB) — For most, the idea of retirement means relaxing days in the sun, somewhere warm, and far away from the daily grind.
That is not the case for a North Shore couple who started their “retirement job” almost 50 years ago. Their idea of relaxing is running a company that makes, in their words, “formed for function” furniture.
“I was always afraid that sort of at mid-life you would lose your freedom to choose what you want to do,” said Gerhart Klein, owner of Brigger by Klein Design.
At 92 years young, Klein first started making furniture in the mid-1970s. At the time he couldn’t find a chair that he liked at local furniture stores, so he decided to make one.
In the mid-1980s, he moved into his current manufacturing facility in Gloucester and hasn’t stopped since.
Made of locally sourced wood and fabrics, the chairs are described as Scandinavian inspired design that are both flexible and comfortable.
“I make comfortable chairs,” said Klein.
With no signs of slowing down, it’s no coincidence that Klein’s energy matches that of a certain battery bunny. When Klein started his relaxing furniture business, he was simultaneously employed as a chemical engineer for a local company that made electronic capacitors. That company later evolved into, of all things, Duracell.
By 1985 Klein decided to leave corporate America and jump full time into his new endeavor.
“It’s an interesting challenge that is definitely what I like as my retirement job,” he said.
By his side for more than 62 years is his wife, Brigitte. In fact, the company name Brigger is a combination of the married couple’s names, BRIGitte and GERhart.
It seems being together for all that time makes, just like their chairs, a perfect fit for life and business.
Klein credited his wife for much of their company’s success.
“That’s why we’re still together because I come up with something, it was something that could be improved. She’s (Brigitte) quality control,” he said.
The two still have no signs of slowing down. They have recently relaunched their website, as most of their sales are online.
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