Page 36 - November 2021

FIT-OUT PROFILE - UMDASCH THE STORE MAKERS
Building For The Future

Bründl Sports,
Kaprun, Austria - © Bründl Sport

Professional shopfitters umdasch The Store Makers provide special
retail solutions that are based in craftsmanship, visionary in the
digital and always rooted with a human aim and goal of realising
successful stores. Here, RLI sits down with Roman Fussthaler,
Managing Director Premium Retail to discuss how the company

evolved during the pandemic and how recent store completions
focus on sustainability.

orn as a little joinery business in a small town in done an exceptional job under the circumstances for the award, and
Austria in 1868, umdasch have been shopfitting it has become so popular we have kept it now on an annual basis,
history for the past 153 years and have grown to even though the pandemic has abated slightly.”
become an international shopfitter for inspiring With offices across Europe, the Middle East and Africa, umdasch
retail environments who are among the best in the works on a global scale, but a couple of their most recent prominent
Bbusiness in the sector. projects have launched in Europe, that of Bründl in Kaprun, Austria
Despite the difficulties that the global pandemic caused businesses and Nike House of Innovation in Paris, France.
all around the world, umdasch The Store Makers have continued The Nike House of Innovation store is a forward-thinking design
to maintain profit, with €240M being turned over in 2019 and that combines a physical and digital shopping experience. It was a
then €241M during 2020, the first year of the outbreak. This year particularly difficult and challenging scheme for umdasch because it
the company is on course to exceed €270M so solid growth has was completed during lockdown and all of the associated difficulties
returned to the business. that came with that because of travel restrictions, but the finished
Fussthaler highlights that this difficult period in the past 18 store has become a landmark for Nike as it is the first European
months has pinpointed just how important their people are to the flagship site under the ‘House of Innovation’ banner and it is ideally
business and it is their staff that make the difference. “During this situated on the Avenue des Champs-Élysées, offering unrivalled access
Covid-period we have focused on our employees, new customers to Nike’s best innovations, athlete storytelling and experiences.
and sustainability,” comments Roman Fussthaler, Managing Director The other exciting store launch took place at the beginning of last
Premium Retail at umdasch The Store Makers. “To boost team month, where after a renovation and extension, the flagship store of
morale during unusual times we introduced a ‘True Heroes’ award, Bründl Sports in Kaprun opened its doors on a 2,500sq m space and
where staff members could nominate a fellow colleague who has is very much an example of how future sustainable retailing could
36 RETAIL & LEISURE INTERNATIONAL NOVEMBER 2021