When the entire Shopware team comes together, it’s a big event. And when it also marks the start of a new year and celebrates 25 years of Shopware – even more so. This is exactly what happened on January 9 at the Shopware Global Kick-Off 2025 in Duisburg. Read on to discover the unique highlights of the event and relive the atmosphere of this special day!
Table of contents:
A video says more than a thousand words
Before we dive into the details: An event like the Shopware Global Kick-Off 2025 is hard to put into words – which makes our recap film even better. It captures the day’s most beautiful moments and offers a perfect overview. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the highlights in motion!
The video surely gave you a great first impression. Let’s now take a closer look at various aspects of the event.
A unique venue for a unique event
The Gebläsehalle in the Landschaftspark Duisburg-Nord was the perfect choice for the Shopware Global Kick-Off 2025. Its impressive industrial architecture and atmospheric lighting created a truly unique ambiance. The venue is also closely tied to Shopware, having hosted numerous Shopware Community Days in the past, leaving many employees with cherished memories of previous events and shared experiences.
While the white snow outside created a wintry mood, the colorful lights inside filled the hall with a warm and inviting atmosphere. From the check-in and breakfast snacks, there was a palpable sense of excitement and curiosity – especially as many team members, who usually work together remotely, met in person for the first time. Whether from Münsterland, where the headquarters is located, other regions in Germany, or flown in from countries such as the USA, Spain, or the UK, this event brought the global Shopware team together.
In addition to inspiring program highlights and shared activities such as the team photo and the festive dinner, interactive games brought plenty of fun and fostered team spirit. Using smartphones and augmented reality, participants completed exciting tasks: scanning barcodes, finding hidden clues, interacting with AR images – a real highlight that sparked enthusiasm across the board.
The day concluded with a lively party, marking the perfect end to this exceptional start to Shopware’s anniversary year.
Insights, reflections, and great emotions
The Shopware Global Kick-Off 2025 started on an inspiring note: Shopware’s CEOs and founders, Sebastian and Stefan Hamann, took the stage together during the keynote to reflect on the past year, 2024. They not only shared the company’s successes but also key learnings that serve as a foundation for the strategic direction in 2025.
With heartfelt gratitude, the brothers addressed the employees, partners, and the entire community, emphasizing that it’s the people who make Shopware successful. Thanks to their dedication and creativity, the company has thrived for 25 years. Looking ahead, 2025 promises to be a year full of opportunities, innovation, and ambitious goals.
Another highlight of the day was the Luminary Awards, which celebrated the company’s core values: Open, Authentic, and Visionary. Employees who exemplified these values through outstanding achievements and dedication were honored. The moving speeches and the joy of the award recipients created a very special moment, highlighting the team spirit and mutual appreciation within Shopware.
Diverse insights from different perspectives
In addition to the keynote and Luminary Awards, the Shopware Global Kick-Off 2025 featured numerous fascinating talks, offering insights into various areas and projects within the company. Highlights included:
PayPal talk:
As a key and long-standing partner, PayPal reflected on the past year and celebrated the collaboration and shared successes with Shopware.
International expertise:
Shopware team members shared experiences, successes, and strategies regarding international markets, including the USA and Benelux.
Product development:
Speakers from the product team provided an exciting outlook on upcoming innovations in Shopware’s software.
ESG and diversity:
Shopware’s Director of ESG & Sustainability provided valuable insights on the topic of diversity and how it can drive innovation.
Partner interview:
Partners from Pimcore, ChannelEngine, and GWS joined a discussion highlighting the importance of partnerships and how mutual inspiration and collaboration lead to success.
With contributions from 28 speakers, the program showcased how diverse perspectives and partnerships enrich the company.
Conclusion: Strong together into the anniversary year
The Shopware Global Kick-Off 2025 was the perfect start to a special year. With inspiring talks, emotional moments, and a strong sense of community, Shopware reflected on 25 years of success while looking ahead with motivation.
The event offered not only a platform for engaging insights and fresh ideas but also highlighted how collaboration, diversity, and strong partnerships are essential for tackling future challenges. 2025 promises to be a year of opportunities and innovation – and the Global Kick-Off has paved the way.
“It’s always something special to bring all employees together once a year and reflect on what we’ve achieved. Especially in this anniversary year, we’re reminded of how much the people behind Shopware make a difference – with their diversity, collaboration, and shared drive for innovation. Equally important are our partners, with whom we inspire and enrich one another. These connections are the foundation upon which we will continue to build our successes in the future.”
— Sebastian Hamann, Shopware Co-CEO and Co-Founder
Be part of the next Shopware event
The next Shopware event is already on the horizon: The Shopware Community Day 2025 will take place on June 4 in Cologne. Look forward to exciting panel discussions, practical deep-dive sessions, and unique networking opportunities. Sign up for our newsletter to be the first to hear about updates on the program and tickets!
Interested in joining the Shopware team and attending the next Kick-Off? Check out our current job openings – we’d love to hear from you!
