The Danish retailer has been present in Romania for ten years.
“We went against the current. When others closed down stores, we opened. Thus, in 2009-2014 we opened 16 stores and had an at least two-digit revenue growth rate each year,” says Victor Tighinean, a surgeon by training, who initially brought the brand in Romania under a franchise system and subsequently took over the management as the parent company entered the local market directly.
“In 2014 we opened five stores and we expect a 30% revenue increase. We hope 2015 will be equally good. We plan to open another 3-4 stores, but we depend on the market and the supply of premium spaces,” says Tighinean.
Ecco Romania currently includes 21 physical stores and an online one in the main cities of the country. “Most stores are opened in malls, but we are not ruling out street-front spaces, either”.
Danish company Ecco does not own any production units in Romania, but its retail business is growing each year. “Growth is mainly due to store network expansion, but analyzing the performance of each store we are working on increasing traffic, bringing more clients”.
Victor Tighinean also says he managed to increase the average cash receipt by offering other product ranges as well.
(English version by Catalina Apostoiu)