Everyone knows them: Advent calendars – the timekeepers that shorten the wait for Christmas, not only for children.
The Richard Sellmer Verlag from Stuttgart has specialized in the production of this beautiful pre-Christmas tradition for over 75 years, since the company was founded. To this day, every Advent calendar that leaves the premises is also produced there.
The publishing house's success story began in 1945 in the living room of founder Richard Sellmer. There, he produced the first Advent calendar of the publishing house (Die kleine Stadt) entirely by hand, which was also the first Advent calendar "Die Kleine Stadt" after World War II. This calendar also marked the triumphal march of the Advent calendar in the USA, where this pre-Christmas tradition was completely unknown until then.
Since 2005, this Advent calendar has been available again as a reprint.

Today, the publishing program includes approximately 130 different Advent calendars. Each year, about 15 new designs are added to the program by freelance graphic designers. Reprints of old designs that the publishing house has re-introduced into its program have become very popular in recent years.
This year too, Richard Sellmer Verlag has expanded its diverse Christmas calendar program with several attractive new products in various sizes and designs.

Part of the Richard Sellmer Verlag's company philosophy is that the image on the front continues on the reverse. For all religious Advent calendars, the Christmas story is told in pictures on the reverse side during Advent. To emphasize this further, the corresponding Bible verses for the reverse image are printed on the inside of the doors. Usually in English.

While everything used to be done by hand, today various machines take over this work. For example, there is a machine that applies the glitter to the Advent calendars. Since such a machine was not available on the market, Tim Sellmer (the founder's son) developed this machine himself.

The publishing house also specializes in custom-made products, i.e., commissioned work for external companies.
They are particularly proud of the custom-made products for Buckingham Palace in London and for the luxury department stores Liberty and Fortnum & Mason. Thus, Advent calendars of Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, and The Royal Muse have now been delivered to England.
Advent calendars with a royal motif, "By appointment of Her Majesty" so to speak.

To complete its offering, Richard Sellmer Verlag also offers chocolate Advent calendars. On the one hand, these feature popular motifs from the publishing program, and on the other hand, they are custom-made. The client provides a motif, and Richard Sellmer Verlag produces chocolate Advent calendars from it. This offer has enjoyed increasing popularity in recent years.

Even after more than 75 years since its founding, the success of the Stuttgart-based publishing house remains unbroken. Deliveries are made to over 25 different countries, including the USA, Great Britain, Japan, Australia, Brazil, and many others.
Due to high demand, a dedicated sales office near Birmingham has been in operation since 2001.

The online sale of Advent calendars is also steadily growing. Sellmer Advent calendars have even been delivered to Greenland. What many cannot imagine is that production resumes right after Christmas. Orders from overseas have to be shipped as early as March. In January/February, Richard Sellmer Verlag also exhibits at various trade fairs. These include Paperworld in Frankfurt, the Spielwarenmesse (toy fair) in Nuremberg, and Springfair in Birmingham. In July, the publishing house is also represented with a stand at Trendset in Munich and Nordstil in Hamburg.

In August 2008, Tim Sellmer, the founder's son, passed away, and his sons Frank Sellmer and Oliver Sellmer took over the company management. Richard Sellmer Verlag does not have to worry about the future, as with 5 great-grandchildren of the company founder, the 4th generation is already actively involved in the company.