Guess who is part of our team again - it's Marc Hochdörffer, also known as "Mahglass" in the community! If you don't know Marc yet, you can learn more about him and his future role at ROOR in this interview.
Hi Marc, what training did you do?
I started my apprenticeship as a glass apparatus maker in 2001 and became a master glassblower in 2013.
What did you do before you became part of ROOR?
I have actually been part of ROOR all my life, as Martin Birzle - the founder and CEO of ROOR - is my father. I therefore already had my first experience with glassblowing at the age of 5 to 6...
When I was 13 to 14 years old - in the early days of ROOR - I did an internship there, where I mainly took care of the packaging material. For that, I started shredding newspapers and catalogs with a buddy. Later, I was also allowed to do other work, such as fusing mouthpieces. When I was 16, I started my apprenticeship in another company, but at the same time I always worked with and for ROOR. So ROOR has been with me from a very early age. I worked my way up from small jobs through production to training and becoming a master craftsman.
However, in 2015 I finally started my own business and took a break from ROOR to develop as an artist. I didn't want to be in production all day doing commissioned work, but wanted to think even further outside the box. Since then, I have been a full-time glass artist and have managed to make a living at it. My work is expensive, high quality and unique.
Now - in 2022 - I would like to use this experience and bring it to ROOR; beyond production, also in the strategic development of ROOR.
What special signature do your works bear? What makes them stand out?
I continuously try to push the limits and don't necessarily pay attention to the price, because I build what I want and don't want to be limited by the price. There is a lot of experience in my work and it has its value. I use high quality materials to create exceptional and unique art.
What else interests you (besides glassblowing)?
My bulldog, nature, peace and quiet, enjoying life, good music...just having a high quality of life 🙂
What are your goals at ROOR? What can we look forward to?
I want to create new momentum: make ROOR fit for the future, give it a contemporary design, ensure great new products and, of course, satisfy our customers.
With Marc, not only a new (well-known) member joins our team, but also ROOR will experience changes and get fresh wind through Marc, develop further on the pulse of time and enriched by his visionary ideas. So look forward to the coming time - it will be exciting!