On 13 March 2008, Karstadt Warenhaus GmbH introduced the prototype for its new generation of department stores: With the completion of the first construction phase of the Limbecker Platz Shopping Centre in Essen, Karstadt presents the realisation of its new department store strategy on a surface area of approximately 20,000 square metres. “Here we are showing what Karstadt will stand for in the future: a modern marketplace with new store design, high market presence, a selection of products tailored to the wishes of customers and a new overall appearance, whose corporate design will be used for all Karstadt department stores in the future,” said Peter Wolf, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Karstadt Warenhaus GmbH.

The store design of the new Karstadt building impresses with its brightness and clarity of presentation. For interior decoration and furnishings, high-quality materials such as parquet and granite were used. Karstadt Warenhaus GmbH has invested approximately 23 million euros in the interior design of its sales floors.

The introduction of Instore TV offers improved customer service and an increased focus on customer needs: More than 50 monitors are available to customers so they can find information on new product ranges or call up electronic floor plans. The positioning of the cash registers, as well as their features, are further evidence of the high level of customer friendliness in the new Karstadt department store in Essen.

Clear areas of emphasis in the new department store are fashion, beauty and accessories. These ranges of products cover the majority of the overall shopping area. The extensive selection of name brands is showcased in over 130 name-brand shops, spread out over the four floors Karstadt occupies in the centre.

Particularly worthy of mention in the area of fashion are eight private label shops with brand names exclusive to Karstadt, including shops featuring designer fashions from Kaviar Gauche (winner of the Karstadt New Generation Award 2007) and creations by star designer Kostas Murkudis of Berlin. “With these and many other highlights, Karstadt will help improve the appeal of Essen, the former number one shopping city in the Ruhr area, and thereby also generate a higher frequency of customers,” said Peter Wolf at the opening of the new Karstadt department store in the Limbecker Platz Shopping Centre.