K&M Elektronik

K&M Elektronik was a German retailer of computer hardware and software, founded in March 1992 as Keller & Mötting GbR by Klaus Keller and Achim Mötting in Böblingen. The company grew into one of Germany's larger specialist PC retail chains, operating 33 bricks-and-mortar stores across ten German federal states plus an internet mail-order business serving private and commercial customers. At its peak it employed around 400 people and generated annual revenue of more than 300 million euros up to 2012. Its headquarters were originally in Magstadt, Baden-Württemberg, before the business was restructured and continued from Munich after insolvency. The company was renamed K&M Elektronik GmbH in 1995 and opened its first stores in the Stuttgart region. In 1996 it moved its headquarters to Magstadt and launched internet mail-order. By 2000 it operated 14 stores across Germany. On 11 April 2002 it became a stock corporation (Aktiengesellschaft), though it was not listed on a stock exchange and remained held by its two founders. K&M Elektronik suffered a series of serious web-shop security breaches. In December 2009 attackers copied its customer database; in June 2011 it became public that the webshop had vulnerabilities and that hackers had copied the customer database and sent phishing emails to customers. In August 2011 a further attack copied 840,000 customer records. A completely revised webshop was published in November 2011, requiring every customer to re-register on a fully cleaned basis. On 22 October 2012 K&M Elektronik filed for insolvency proceedings. On 4 January 2013 it was announced that the Düren-based Bora Computer Gruppe had taken over 13 of the 33 stores and 60 employees. These stores now trade as K & M Computer. The Atelco stores taken over by K&M Computer on 1 March 2016 also carry the K & M Computer name. In September 2019 the Hamburg, Leipzig, Hannover, Wuppertal and Berlin stores were closed, along with the Cologne, Kassel, Nuremberg, Stuttgart, Munich, Essen, Berlin-Charlottenburg and Leipzig locations. The brand continues in reduced form as K&M Computer, with an online presence at kmcomputer.de.

K&M Elektronik was founded in March 1992 as Keller & Mötting GbR by Klaus Keller and Achim Mötting in Böblingen, Germany. In 1995 the company was renamed K&M Elektronik GmbH and opened its first stores in the greater Stuttgart area. In 1996 it relocated its headquarters to Magstadt and began internet mail-order. By 2000 K&M Elektronik operated 14 stores throughout Germany. On 11 April 2002 the company became a stock corporation (Aktiengesellschaft), but it was not listed on a stock exchange and remained held by its two founders. The company operated 33 retail stores in ten German federal states and an internet mail-order business for private and commercial customers. It employed around 400 people and generated annual revenue of more than 300 million euros up to 2012. In December 2009 attackers breached the company's systems and copied its customer database. In June 2011 it became known that the webshop had security vulnerabilities; hackers had copied the customer database and sent phishing emails to customers. In August 2011 a further attack on the retailer's internet presence copied 840,000 customer records. In November 2011 a completely revised webshop was published, requiring every customer to re-register and thus building on a fully cleaned basis. On 22 October 2012 K&M Elektronik filed an application to open insolvency proceedings. On 4 January 2013 it was announced that the Düren-based Bora Computer Gruppe had taken over 13 of the total 33 stores and 60 employees. These stores are now called K & M Computer. The Atelco stores taken over by K&M Computer on 1 March 2016 also now carry the name K & M Computer. In September 2019 the Hamburg, Leipzig, Hannover, Wuppertal and Berlin stores were closed. Also closed were the stores in Cologne, Kassel, Nuremberg, Stuttgart, Munich, Essen, Berlin-Charlottenburg and Leipzig.

• 2019

  In September Hamburg, Leipzig, Hannover, Wuppertal and Berlin stores closed, along with Cologne, Kassel, Nuremberg, Stuttgart, Munich, Essen, Berlin-Charlottenburg and Leipzig locations.

• 2016

  On 1 March Atelco stores taken over by K&M Computer and renamed K & M Computer.

• 2013

  On 4 January Bora Computer Gruppe took over 13 of 33 stores and 60 employees; stores renamed K & M Computer.

• 2012

  On 22 October filed for insolvency proceedings.

• 2011

  In June webshop vulnerabilities became known; in August a further attack copied 840,000 customer records; in November a completely revised webshop was published requiring re-registration.

• 2009

  In December attackers copied the customer database.

• 2002

  On 11 April became a stock corporation (Aktiengesellschaft), not stock-exchange listed, held by founders.

• 2000

  Operated 14 stores throughout Germany.

• 1996

  Headquarters moved to Magstadt; internet mail-order launched.

• 1995

  Renamed K&M Elektronik GmbH; first stores opened in the greater Stuttgart area.

• 1992

  Founded in March as Keller & Mötting GbR by Klaus Keller and Achim Mötting in Böblingen.

Specialist German computer hardware and software retailer with nationwide store network and online mail-order.

• PC hardware

• Computer & notebooks

• Peripherals

• Software

• Multimedia

• Network equipment

• Electrical & installation supplies

• Server & storage

• Home & office electronics

• Telecommunications

• Accessories

1. 1K&M Computer official websitekmcomputer.de
2. 2K&M Elektronik on Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3K&M Elektronik on German Wikipediade.wikipedia.org