Joseph Foundation, C3 and 2be: Partnership for success!

2 Min.

Good partnerships thrive on inspiring each other – and that is exactly what is happening in the Maisel quarter. They make brands more visible, processes easier and projects better. And sometimes they simply ensure that you have a lot of fun together and that new ideas bubble up.

A great project that connects

The new quarter on the site of the former Maisel brewery will provide living space for more than 1,000 people: subsidized and privately financed housing, terraced houses, commercial space and space for social institutions. The developer is the Joseph Foundation and we as 2be_die markenmacher, together with the agency C3 to support the brand development and marketing.

Team members from the Joseph Foundation, C3 and 2be stand together at the Maisel-Viertel stand at the Franconian real estate fair. In the background: branded banners, popcorn machine and information material.

From the first workshop to a strong start at the trade fair

Since the kick-off workshop in November, our brand campaign presentation in December and the first public appearance in January, the project has been running at full speed. And the joint launch at the Franconian Real Estate Fair on January 25 and 26, 2026? A real exclamation mark. Now it’s all about getting people excited about condominiums, terraced houses and commercial premises together. And quite honestly, it feels really good.

Curious now?
Our contact persons will be happy to help:

Matthias Brinkmann
+49 911 47494949
brinkmann@twobe.de
LinkedIn

Nuremberg Business Congress & New Year’s Reception 2026

2 Min.

January 19, 2026 had long been circled in red for us – no wonder, after all, we were invited by the VR Bank to the Nuremberg Entrepreneur Congress & New Year’s Reception invited. An event that has been one of the most important formats for SMEs, innovation and regional economic power for years and traditionally brings together hundreds of decision-makers at NürnbergMesse.

And we can say: it was worth it.
In addition to many new contacts and some that we refreshed, there were plenty of inspiring perspectives directly from the stage. The congress is known for combining practical relevance with strategic foresight. The presentations and discussions provided exactly this mixture of “Ah, that’s right, you can do it that way” moments and tangible learnings.

The guests and speaker highlights included:

  • Markus Söder
  • Marcus König
  • Stefan Leitz
  • Bernd Krebs

The range of topics was broad: Company valuation, succession processes, innovation culture, economic resilience in SMEs – always with an eye on how to set up companies for the future in times of major change.

Fun fact about the trade fair: For years, the Nuremberg Business Congress has been a strategic start to the year where representatives from business, industry, politics and associations come together to exchange ideas. It is traditionally complemented by the New Year’s Reception, which deliberately focuses on networking.

“Showing strength in weak times” – a motto that remains

We were particularly impressed by the clear and honest contributions from Bernd Krebs on corporate culture and Josef Pickel on succession planning. Their common tenor: show courage when things get difficult – and keep your composure when uncertainty characterizes the market. An approach that not only suits us, but also the many medium-sized companies we work with on a daily basis.

Our conclusion

A strong start to a strong year. One thing is clear to us: 2026 will be a year full of creativity, joint projects and bold decisions.

Further impressions from the congress can be found on our Instagram channel: Nürnberger Unternehmer-Kongress

Curious now?
Our contact persons will be happy to help:

Matthias Brinkmann
+49 911 47494949
brinkmann@twobe.de
LinkedIn

“Spring cleaning” at the begin of the new year? Absolutely!

2 Min.

Of course, the begin of the new year is well before the actual spring. But that’s exactly why it’s the perfect time for a little (or big) spring clean: in the office, on your desk and, above all, in your head. More freshness, more clarity, more transparency. Out with the old, in with inspiration. Sounds good? It is.

Honest, open and also unsparing

Our tip: The more honestly you approach your personal or corporate spring clean, the more effective it will be. Trust your own judgment and decide what is really relevant, effective, authentic and useful without glossing over, glossing over or dramatically condemning.

For example, we have rediscovered our 15-year-old brand wall. Old? Yes. Analog? Yes. But: extremely effective when it comes to making brands tangible and alive. Our Instagram recruitment campaign from last year, on the other hand, was completely different: super contemporary but ultimately unsuccessful. And that’s what counts. If it doesn’t work, it can go. A real highlight, however, was our return to trade fairs. For us, they have once again become the top location for personal sales work. Small recommendation cards + business cards = big effect. The result? Lots of appointments, lots of conversations, lots of new input. Effective. Approachable. Human.

Rethinking old things

And the best thing is that what didn’t work in 2025 can suddenly take off again in 2026.
So: try out the old in a new way. Boldly testing new things, staying authentic, remaining effective – that’s the motto!

Curious now?
Our contact persons will be happy to help:

Matthias Brinkmann
+49 911 47494949
brinkmann@twobe.de
LinkedIn

Successful move: Welcome to the new 2be office at Nuremberg Seelevel!

3 Min.

It has now been a good four months (as of January 2026) since we at 2be_die Markenmacher took down our tents at Ostendstraße 181 and moved to Dr.-Carlo-Schmid-Straße 200 have pitched a new one. Our conclusion? We are more than happy and officially in Nuremberg Seelevel arrived!

Flexible working thanks to smart coworking concept

One of the main reasons for our positive conclusion is the well thought-out and ambitious coworking concept of workspaceIn GmbHour landlord. In addition to our two permanently rented offices, we can flexibly book additional workspaces or presentation rooms on a daily basis if required. Perfect for customer meetings, workshops or joint project work directly on site.

The best thing about it: this flexible model is ideal for our modern working day – whether office, home office or hybrid. Work where others relax. Our new office is located in the middle of a quiet residential area right next to Lake Wöhrder See. A real plus for creative breaks and fresh thoughts. We can also use the outdoor facilities, and one thing is already certain: barbecues in the garden will be a must in summer!

Easily accessible, even without a car

Not only we, but also our customers benefit from the excellent public transport connections. Bus route 49 and several streetcar lines stop virtually right outside the door. And as the icing on the cake: the gastronomic offerings in the area are really impressive. Not everything is perfect (yet): the parking situation and ease of finding the office entrance could be a little better. But don’t worry, we will remedy this and will soon provide clear information and a map on our website.

Fancy a visit?

We look forward to seeing you – come along, take a look at our new premises and let’s get projects moving together!

Curious now?
Our contact persons will be happy to help:

Matthias Brinkmann
+49 911 47494949
brinkmann@twobe.de
LinkedIn

Christmas parcel convoy 2025: a quarter of a century of solidarity in action

3 Min.

The Christmas parcel convoy 2025 is behind us – with 151,576 lovingly packed Christmas parcels, the convoy set off for Eastern Europe at the end of November. It was the 25th trip since the campaign began in 2001.

Here in Nuremberg, we also helped out diligently. We at 2be have been an official contact point for the Christmas parcel convoy for many years – and in 2025, we once again collected numerous gifts. Many families, children, groups and individuals packed and dropped off parcels to show that sharing brings joy. Every single gift represents time, thought and a lot of heart.

This year, a total of 250 volunteers were on the road with 37 trucks, five coaches and several cars. The trip took them to Bulgaria, Moldova and Romania – including Albania for the first time. Ukraine remained part of the campaign despite the difficult situation. On site, the parcels were handed over directly to the children in schools, communities and social institutions – supported by local helpers. It is precisely these personal handovers that make the convoy so special.

More than just numbers

Of course, the figures are also impressive: Over two million Christmas parcels have been donated by children and families from Germany since 2001. But there is a story behind every number. Behind every parcel is a person who has thought of someone else. Or as Nadine Alder, honorary managing director of the convoy, puts it in a nutshell:

“Behind every parcel is a family, a child and a thought of sharing. The convoy shows how much togetherness is created when people stand up for each other.”

Encounters that last

What started out small 25 years ago is now one of the largest purely voluntary gift campaigns in Germany. Over the years, genuine friendships have developed in many regions of Eastern Europe. The helpers repeatedly report warm hospitality, gratitude – and moments that you never forget: when children open their parcels and everything else fades into the background for a moment.

We would like to thank everyone who took part again this year – especially all the supporters here in Nuremberg. The Christmas parcel convoy 2025 has shown: Together we can achieve more than we often think. 🎁✨

More pictures and first impressions from this year can be found on Facebook, Instagram and on the website:
weihnachtspaeckchenkonvoi.de
instagram.com/christmas-package-convoy
facebook.com/weihnachtspaeckchenkonvoi.de

 

Curious now?
Our contact persons will be happy to help:

Matthias Brinkmann
+49 911 47494949
brinkmann@twobe.de
LinkedIn

AI in sales: why the hybrid approach is unbeatable

< 1 Min.

AI takes over sales – sounds like a successful model, doesn’t it?

Unfortunately, no. Studies by Deloitte, Gartner and McKinsey are surprisingly unanimous: over 95 percent of companies did not see any measurable success once AI had completely taken over large parts of their sales tasks.

Why pure AI solutions fail

The reasons are actually obvious: AI can do a lot – but relationship management, flexibility and genuine trust-building are not among its strengths. However, it is precisely these factors that are crucial if sales work is to be successful. So does that mean: Hands off AI? Not at all! Even top salespeople only spend around a third of their time on actual sales activities. The rest? Administration, preparation, follow-up and data maintenance. And this is where AI really comes into its own.

Where AI really shines

When AI is used as targeted support, productivity increases noticeably – especially in relation to costs. Differences in quality between individual sales teams or employees can also be significantly reduced.

And not to forget: AI bots know no breaks and no end of work 😉

Curious now?
Our contact persons will be happy to help:

Matthias Brinkmann
+49 911 47494949
brinkmann@twobe.de
LinkedIn

Use of AI: define your own goals and processes!

2 Min.

We hear this question all the time: “Which AI tool is the best?
Our honest answer: there is no such thing as the perfect tool.

Before clicking through tool lists or buying licenses, something much more important is needed – preparatory work. Really good results with AI can only be achieved if everyone involved sits down together first and clarifies what they want to achieve: What do we actually want to achieve? What processes are already in place? And where does the shoe really pinch?

Why many AI projects fail early on

The fact that AI projects often stall in the start-up phase is rarely due to the tool itself. In most cases, there is no clear plan, because AI is not a ready-made, off-the-shelf solution – it only becomes real added value through the right combination of several tools.

The key questions are therefore:

  • Which processes are currently sluggish or inefficient – and why?
  • Which recurring, time-consuming tasks could AI take over?
  • Where can employees be creative again instead of just documenting or recording?

From concept to lived practice

Whether in the end ChatGPT, QuillBot, Mistral, CapCut or completely different tools are used is of secondary importance. The decisive factor is that a defined process must also be lived in everyday life. This is precisely where many companies and institutions fail – often due to ingrained routines and internal resistance.

This is exactly where we come in:
In our workshops on the use of AI, we help you to formulate clear goals, define meaningful processes and integrate AI into your day-to-day work in a sustainable way. Let’s tackle the topic of AI together.

Curious now?
Our contact persons will be happy to help:

Matthias Brinkmann
+49 911 47494949
brinkmann@twobe.de
LinkedIn

Realistic, flexible, motivating: AI as a training partner

2 Min.

On November 13, the session “AI as a training partner – mastering difficult conversations in a playful way” took place – with great interest and many exciting insights into the future of digital communication training. Numerous participants accepted the invitation from Jan-Thomas Hulha and Matthias Brinkmann to experience how artificial intelligence can support training discussions in a realistic, flexible and playful way.

A look into the future of communication training

The event focused on the question of how companies can prepare employees even more effectively for challenging conversational situations in the future – whether in employee dialog, customer communication or sales. The AI-based conversation simulations presented impressively demonstrated how real-life scenarios can be reproduced in almost perfect detail.

It was particularly well received:

  • Authentic personas and dynamic role models that recreate individual conversation situations
  • Company-specific adjustments, such as the integration of targets, products or typical pain points
  • Gamification elements that noticeably increase learning motivation and training frequency
  • Automated feedback and measurable learning progress that make training significantly more efficient

The combination of AI-based simulations and practice-oriented methods made it clear that communication training will not only become more flexible in the future, but also more sustainable, individual and motivating.

For all those who want to delve deeper

After the session, Jan-Thomas and Matthias thanked everyone for their active participation and great interest. Participants received a detailed PDF summary with all the important content.

Anyone who has now “caught fire” and would like to find out more about realistic personas, the integration of their own company data or other training options can contact us directly. Those who were unable to attend will of course also be brought up to date.

Curious now?
Our contact persons will be happy to help:

Matthias Brinkmann
+49 911 47494949
brinkmann@twobe.de
LinkedIn

Odoo in use: More overview, more air – less liquidity stress

2 Min.

Reliable and consistent use of your own ERP system can prevent companies and institutions from slipping unnecessarily into financial difficulties or – despite actually stable foundations – into liquidity problems. And should the economic situation actually reach critical levels, an ERP like Odoo provides management with precisely the data required for a realistic status quo analysis in crisis management.

The greater the transparency provided by an ERP, the greater the planning security. This allows resources to be estimated more precisely, decisions to be made on a more informed basis and economically difficult times to be weathered much better.

Odoo as an early warning system and optimization tool

An established system like Odoo not only sets orange or red flags in good time, but also evaluates existing data in such a way that it is possible to clearly identify where optimization measures make sense and how they can be implemented. Whether warehouse management, resource planning or the targeted use of AI and automation tools – Odoo creates the basis for efficient processes.

Based on our own experience and our partner know-how, we support our customers in bringing a breath of fresh air into their existing Odoo or implementing a completely new Odoo – including setting up modern, time-saving AI tools.

Curious now?
Our contact persons will be happy to help:

Matthias Brinkmann
+49 911 47494949
brinkmann@twobe.de
LinkedIn

NeoBird on the realignment and the launch of its own sales campaign

4 Min.

With a clear strategic reorientation NeoBird enters the next phase: In this interview we talk to Christian Dickert about the reason for and objectives of the new sales campaign, the path to a uniform brand identity and why every interaction is now part of sales.

2be:
What prompted you to launch your own sales campaign for NeoBird Digital – and what were the main objectives?

Christian Dickert:
The impetus came from a phase of upheaval. After the death of the previous managing director and the transition to family management, NeoBird was “frozen” to a certain extent – the business model was stable, but without a clear direction for growth. We realized that we needed new impetus in order to position the company for the future.
Another important point was the realization that our gamification area is difficult to grasp externally. Projects often seem too abstract and budgets are usually tied up in one-off campaigns. We therefore decided to structure NeoBird more clearly in future: into NeoBird Games and NeoBird Digital. While Games acts as a creative reference brand on platforms such as Steam, NeoBird Digital focuses on customized digital services and high-quality software development.

2be:
In the workshop on the brand essence, you worked intensively on your positioning. What defines NeoBird as a brand today?

Christian Dickert:
NeoBird today stands for clarity, quality and partnership-based collaboration. Our aim was to create a stringent brand image from the diversity of our projects. This includes a consistent design that is managed on a central web platform – including the logo, color and font concept. This allows us to ensure that all materials – from social media and presentations to business cards – speak the same language. We want our brand to create recognition at first glance and at the same time convey trust.

2be:
How has your understanding of brand and sales changed as a result of this process?

Christian Dickert:
We have learned that brand and sales are inextricably linked. We used to think more in terms of projects – today we see every interaction, whether internal or with customers, as part of sales. Every contact is an opportunity to bring the brand to life. This awareness has changed the way we work together as a team: Cross-disciplinary, more open and with a clear view of the added value for our customers.

2be:
You have developed new materials and templates – from PowerPoint to logos. What role does a consistent design play in this?

Christian Dickert:
A very central one. The uniform design is not just an aesthetic decision, but a strategic tool. It ensures that all means of communication are coordinated and tell the same story. This creates trust and professionalism – both internally and externally. We have created a central system that bundles all design elements and makes them available at any time.

2be:
How do you use digital channels such as LinkedIn or your website to make the campaign visible?

Christian Dickert:
LinkedIn is currently our most important channel. We are building targeted campaigns there that work with clear call-to-actions to convert interested parties into leads. Our new website also plays a key role: it serves as a central hub where all content converges. Regionally, we are focusing on the DACH region to ensure cultural and linguistic proximity to our target groups.

2be:
What was your biggest learning or “aha” moment during the collaboration?

Christian Dickert:
Our biggest learning was that sales is not the job of individuals. When everyone in the team understands that they are part of the sales process, the whole attitude changes. We also experienced how valuable it is to take time for your own brand – not just between projects, but as an integral part of the company’s development.

2be:
And finally: What happens now – what next steps are you planning to expand or deepen the campaign?

Christian Dickert:
Specifically, we are currently working on completing our new website. At the same time, we are planning regular social media activities to create continuous visibility. We also want to intensify our networking in regional networks and be present at relevant events. The aim is to establish NeoBird Digital as a permanent fixture in the digital services market in the long term.

Conclusion:

With the clear division into NeoBird Games and NeoBird Digital, a consistent brand presence and a rethought sales strategy, the company is repositioning itself – confident, focused and future-oriented.

Curious now?
Our contact persons will be happy to help:

Matthias Brinkmann
+49 911 47494949
brinkmann@twobe.de
LinkedIn