Frankfurt / Main - Germany's last large department store chain Galeria Karstadt Kaufhof is reinventing itself and is also shedding its old name.
With the new "Galeria" logo, the retail giant, which still shapes many inner cities with its 131 department stores, wants to get back on its feet after difficult times.
“We want to become the networked heart of the city center,” Galeria boss Miguel Müllenbach told the German press agency on Tuesday.
To this end, the group intends to thoroughly remodel the outdated branches and the online shop in the coming years.
He wants to take a total of 600 million euros in hand for this.
Up to 60 houses are to be completely rebuilt, the rest at least partially.
But the online shop, IT and logistics are also to be upgraded.
"With our expensive downtown locations, we cannot be the price leader, but we can offer a special shopping experience - with selected products and a high quality of stay," said Müllenbach.
The retail giant has already converted three department stores into pilot branches, which will allow a glimpse into the future from Wednesday.
Take Frankfurt, for example: The Galeria department store on Hauptwache is intended to show how the chain can hold its own in metropolitan areas against the competition from online retailers and branded stores.
An important catchphrase here is “more premium” - on offer, but also around it.
A champagne bar and a bar on the roof terrace with a view of the Frankfurt skyline should ensure more fun shopping.
The shop in Kassel, on the other hand, is intended to be a “regional magnet” model for shops in somewhat smaller cities.
Here, the retail giant wants to enrich the range of goods with services in order to better hold its own against Amazon.
In the future there will be a branch office of the city administration in the department store, where identity cards can be applied for or picked up.
Regional products are offered on the ground floor.
In the multi-storey car park, you should soon be able to have your bike repaired.
also read
New at Aldi: First branch without cash registers - soon everywhere?
The first Aldi without cash registers will soon be available in Utrecht.
The discounter Aldi Nord plans to open the branch in early 2022.
There are no longer any queues.
New at Aldi: First branch without cash registers - soon everywhere?
Loss of job threatens the traditional shipyard Blohm + Voss in Hamburg
Every visitor to the Port of Hamburg is amazed at the large Blohm + Voss docks.
But the shipyard should shrink in order to survive.
In the background there are signs of new movement in the shipbuilding industry.
Loss of job threatens the traditional shipyard Blohm + Voss in Hamburg
Now is vaccinated on the Theresienwiese
Vaccination center instead of a beer tent!
The city of Munich wants to advance the vaccination campaign and is now opening a new vaccination center - on the Theresienwiese of all places.
The Oktoberfest usually takes place here, which this year fell victim to the pandemic for the second time.
Now is vaccinated on the Theresienwiese
The branch in Kleve on the Dutch border is supposed to act as a "local forum" model for smaller Galeria stores all over Germany.
According to Müllenbach, the main thing here is to respond more to local needs.
dpa
