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But not bankruptcy: Libratone is still going strong

13.11.2020

Translation: machine translated

Libratone has found a new buyer. The audio brand had surprisingly filed for bankruptcy in May. The manufacturer is making a fresh start and tells me how it intends to develop further.

The audio manufacturer Libratone is moving on. After the shock in May, when the Danish brand announced that it was going bankrupt, a new buyer has been found. Michael Spitaler, Account Director at Libratone, tells me on the phone how things are going for the audio manufacturer.

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Oh, no: Libratone is bankrupt
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The question that is probably of most interest is who took over Libratone. Spitaler explains that the company is called Little Bird ApS and consists of several Danish investors. Little Bird ApS believes in the Libratone brand and wants to invest in the audio manufacturer. The new owners have acquired all of Libratone's brand rights. This means that Libratone will continue to have the same external image. Little Bird does not want to change much about Libratone's strategy. "Little Bird believes in Libratone as the brand is and will continue to focus on online retail and a few retailers," says Spitaler.

How the insolvency came about

According to Spitaler, it was not due to Libratone's strategy that bankruptcy befell the company. The first quarter had started well for Libratone. Rather, it was legacy issues that had broken the company's back and left it hanging in the air in May.

Luckily, they found a new owner after just three weeks in the form of Little Birds ApS.

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New products in the new year

Libratone wants to look ahead. First with the existing products, with new ones to come next year. Libratone's flagship products are the true wireless headphones Track Air+. They are also the earphones that currently keep up with the big Apple-Sony competition.

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Libratone Track Air+: competition for the Sony WF-1000XM3?
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Next year, Libratone wants to go more broadly, says Spitaler. This primarily means the successor to the Track Air+ and the Track Airs. The successors to both of these, as well as the version with a cable in between, should be slightly cheaper than their predecessors and therefore appeal to more users.

Headphones

Libratone TRACK Air+

ANC, 6 h, Wireless

Speakers, on the other hand, are not currently the focus. The Danish company wants to get involved in the true wireless market. Spitaler is convinced that Libratone will be able to keep up well once the legacy issues are gone. Michael Spitaler emphasises that Libratone's top priority is its customers. Despite the bankruptcy, they have not let them down; according to Spitaler, it was possible to replace defective products even during this difficult time.

Libratone now wants to regain the trust of its customers. The insolvency story should fade into the background. The company, which has offices in Copenhagen, wants to relaunch itself as an audio expert with a chic design. <p

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Livia Gamper

Editor

livia.gamper@digitecgalaxus.ch

Testing devices and gadgets is my thing. Some experiments lead to interesting insights, others to demolished phones. I’m hooked on series and can’t imagine life without Netflix. In summer, you’ll find me soaking up the sun by the lake or at a music festival.

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