The Schicht Family – the “Baťa of Ústí” and the founders of a Czech soap empire

After more than eighty years, the name of the Schicht family, one of the most important entrepreneurial dynasties connected with the history of Ústí nad Labem and the legendary “soap with the deer emblem”, is returning to public attention. This time it is through the restoration and new use of their former family residence. On the website schichtovavila.cz, the public can now explore in detail the story of the neo-Baroque villa Elbeberge, which the family’s descendants acquired in 2021 and are preparing to transform.

The villa, built in 1925 by the industrialist Heinrich Schicht for his family, was nationalised after the Second World War. In the following decades it served several purposes, including as a student residence for Jan Evangelista Purkyně University, where generations of students once lived. Today, direct descendants of the founders of the famous business empire are once again becoming part of its story. The legacy of that empire now continues within the global corporation Unilever.

The current condition of the site and the work connected with its restoration are being consulted with several partners, including the Regional Museum in Ústí nad Labem and the Innovation Centre of the Ústí Region.

At the same time, the family’s story is reaching cinema audiences. In 2026, a documentary titled Království mýdlových bublin (Kingdom of Soap Bubbles) will be released in Czech cinemas. The film traces the history of the Schicht family, their entrepreneurial influence, and the legacy that still resonates in Ústí nad Labem and beyond.

The new website therefore serves not only as an archival guide to the villa and its grounds, but also as a gateway to the broader story of the Schicht family’s return to the city and their search, together with local institutions, for a future for this iconic villa and its surroundings.

The family history

The Schicht family belongs among the most significant industrial dynasties that shaped the economic history of the Ústí region and the Czech lands more broadly. Their story begins with Georg Schicht, a butcher from Rynoltice, who in 1848 started producing soap in the cellar of his house.

A major step forward was taken by his son Johann Schicht, who moved production to Ústí nad Labem in 1873. The city offered better transport connections and access to raw materials thanks to the River Elbe, the railway network, and the nearby sources of coal and other materials.

In 1882, a factory producing soap and candles was built in Střekov. The family business developed rapidly. By 1885 the company employed several dozen people, and fifteen years later the workforce had grown to more than 1,800 employees.

Growth and expansion

The Schicht business grew not only in size but also in the scope of its production. Alongside the famous “soap with the deer emblem”, which became one of the best-known branded products of the region, the company produced fats and ointments, glycerine and other chemical products, as well as candles and water glass. Over time the enterprise became the largest of its kind in Europe and an important part of the industrial economy of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

The family also systematically built supporting infrastructure, including a factory power plant, waterworks, and its own sources of raw materials, which greatly increased the company’s independence.

Business philosophy and social impact

The Schicht family stood out for its modern approach to business.

• – Marketing innovations: they were among the first in the region to use billboards, film advertising, and other unconventional forms of promotion, significantly strengthening awareness of the brand.
• – Care for employees: the company provided a factory doctor, social support, a canteen, a nursery school, and other services. For the time, this was a highly progressive approach.

The family was also active in cultural life, supporting local events and taking part in early screenings of sound films.

Notable members of the family

• – Johann Schicht: the most important founder of the modern phase of the company, who transformed a small family soap workshop into a large industrial complex while promoting innovation and social programmes.
• – Heinrich Schicht: Johann’s son, who led the company during the first half of the twentieth century and commissioned the construction of the grand villa on the Elbe. Today it is a protected historic building and a symbol of both the family’s status and its connection to the history of the region.

Kingdom of Soap Bubbles

Public interest in the Schicht family has been renewed by the documentary Království mýdlových bublin (Kingdom of Soap Bubbles). Directed by Taťána Marková, the film follows the history of the family and the personal stories of its descendants who are returning to their roots in Ústí nad Labem.

The documentary traces the rapid rise of the Schicht enterprise from a small craft workshop to a large industrial empire. It also shows how the factory changed through two world wars and major social transformations, while following the lives of descendants now scattered across the world who are seeking to reconnect with their heritage.

The film can be seen at Hraničář in Ústí nad Labem, where screenings such as the one on 9 February 2026 are accompanied by discussions with the filmmakers. After the screening, director Taťána Marková and historian Martin Krsek speak with the audience about the project and the history behind it.

The Schicht family represents one of the most remarkable examples of entrepreneurial spirit 19. in nineteenth- and twentieth-century Central Europe. From a small craft business they built a vast industrial enterprise whose products, innovations, and social approach influenced the lives of thousands of people and left a lasting mark on the economic and cultural history of the region.

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