Our Origin Story
The Beginning: A Problem Nobody Could Solve
Metal Managers didn't start with a business plan, but with a barbecue party at an old acquaintance's house. A merch dealer whose business had grown too big to be run solely by a few other metalhead friends. Locations in several countries, festivals across Europe, no online presence, and a lot of chaos in the paperwork. Over beer and bratwurst, we spent half the night discussing these problems and brainstorming what could be done.
The next day, all the party guests went home. But for us, after a sleepless night full of ideas, it was clear: we wanted to help. For us, helping in this case meant: professionalizing the business processes and technology, finding a profitable and fair pricing strategy, getting a handle on invoices, taxes, and logistics, and being able to book a vendor spot at enough festivals every year.
We took over the accounting, finances, taxes, festival bookings, setting up the online shop, and facility management for a warehouse. Again and again, we were asked to "step in" – for things we had never done before: learning-by-doing under great time pressure and in great chaos, but with a strong professional background from our own work experiences.
And even though we ultimately couldn't save that company, after many conversations and festivals, it became clear to us:
This is no coincidence. This is a need.
With each passing day, it became clearer: The scene not only struggles with merch orders, festival bookings, and the loading and unloading before and after each festival. It struggles with IT problems, financial and tax issues, EU directives, planning and logistics chaos, and missing structures.
Bands, festivals, and labels needed someone who not only understood metal, but also:
- digital infrastructure
- accounting & controlling
- operational organization & process design
- law & taxes in the EU
So we did what we always do: We built it ourselves.
Thus, alongside our online shop for merch, our
second business division was born: MFM – Metal Facility Management:
- IT Services — Systems, Tools, Infrastructure, Online Shop & SEO
- Financial Management — Billing, Accounting, Controlling
- Operational Support — Structure, Planning, Processes
- Marketing — Social Media, Graphic Design, Product Presentation
- Festival Management — Bookings, Vendor Tents, Festival Logistics
- Facility Management — Warehouse Logistics, Occupational Safety
You can find visual impressions of this on our page kanslos.nl/mfm/.
Our Goal: To enable our clients to run their business properly themselves.
We understood early on that metal projects can only grow if the creative minds are not hampered by organizational chaos. But also, that creativity alone is not enough to be a good business owner.
Our vision is therefore clear: We create structures that enable creativity. We combine the energy of the scene with the precision of modern business management. We give small businesses the chance to become profitable and to learn how to keep up with the wide variety of topics so as not to be left behind by others.
Consulting and Collaboration: Who we work for and with
- Bands & Artists
- Festivals & Event Agencies
- Labels, Merch Brands & Merch Dealers
- Companies in need of IT and financial structure
- Creative projects requiring professional support
- Merch producers who want to use our platforms to sell their products
Our first steps: a table, a car, a festival
Our first own merch booth was professional and well-stocked, and the response was overwhelming. We had been able to observe and learn what it takes, what can go wrong, how festival bookings succeed, and how festivals are organized.
Due to this positive feedback, we decided to use some selected festivals as a pop-up store for our online shop. We curate the collections specifically for each festival. Therefore, not all products from our online assortment are always available at the festival booth. And at the same time, some products are only available in the pop-up store. We are interested in getting in touch and exchanging ideas with metal fans, dealers, labels, event agencies, and festival organizations. Just drop by and talk to us!
Our Online Shop
We are constantly trying to expand our range. Our goal is to offer not only the big classics but also special girlie merch, as we know from experience how annoying it is for women to always wear men's band shirts that are too long, too large, too boxy, or shapeless. Our passion is denim and real leather, and we are constantly looking for locally produced and unique products – feel free to contact us if:
- you design and/or produce suitable products yourself
- you have product ideas
- you miss band merch
- you need a professional sales platform (online and/or live) for your products.
Today: Metal Managers as a Bridge Between Two Worlds
Today, we stand for a combination that is rarely found: a female-led company with scene-specific merch know-how and business excellence in IT and finance. We have grown – but not by chance. Rather, because we know the problems of the scene firsthand and solve them sustainably.
Our Professional Background
Nikita studied Marketing and Facility Management, worked in tax administration, and since 2013 has been helping her clients at Zwart op Wit as a debt advisor and financial and tax coach to get their small businesses out of debt, make them profitable again, and enable their owners to earn a living wage.
Franzi studied Business Informatics and works in IT for a large bank. She combines know-how from IT administration, IT product management, IT project management in classical and agile environments with the ability to be an absolute all-rounder and generalist who quickly finds her way even in complex topics such as taxes and EU law.
We live in The Hague and the Berlin/Brandenburg metropolitan region. We are fluent in German, Dutch, English, and French. You can also contact us in Spanish and Hebrew.
