Family Business

A large-scale remodelling to celebrate its 50th anniversary - Lösekann highlights its leading role in Bielefeld.

Family Business. Lösekann/Bielefeld

In the East Westphalian city of Bielefeld, one name embodies the owner-managed fashion retail sector like no other - Lösekann. For more than 50 years, the family and its team have been actively shaping the changes in the textile industry. The business celebrated its anniversary with a

remodelling project. Text: Kay Alexander Plonka. Photos: Lösekann

In 1965, Irmgard and Hans-Georg Lösekann opened their first store, thereby laying the foundations for a group that is still the leading fashion and textile lifestyle specialist in Bielefeld. The Lösekanns put their heart and soul into establishing a string of stores in different locations across the city. For the last 50 years, the fashion specialists have always relied upon the force of change and their belief in the only constant in the retail sector: change. In today’s flagship store, located in the pedestrian zone of the Old Town, the first floor houses a special department for tailor-made suits which was established in 2005. When the store re-opened, this department was integrated into the store concept as an open tailoring studio. Especially in times of uniformity and anonymity, Lösekann focuses on individual advice, customer relations, and approachability. Passion, daily commitment, and an exclusive product range are prerequisites for becoming the customers’ “partner of the heart”. These aren’t mere lip services either. This is, for example, proven by the guestbook on the company’s website. Countless clients have shared the experiences they made with their purchases and the company’s employees. The many stories, photos, and anecdotes in the more than 100- page book published to celebrate Lösekann’s anniversary are more proof of the intimate relationship with its customers.

Human Element

André Lösekann, the founders’ son, took over the day-to-day business in 2010 when he was named managing director. He himself has supplied Bielefeld with denim, sportswear, skateboard clothing, street wear, and urban wear with his stores Brooks and Ozone for more than 25 years. The operational merger of the stores was the only logical and progressive step towards more efficiency in terms of human resources, purchasing, logistics, and administration. Furthermore, it also multiplies the company’s know-how regarding fashion and e-commerce. The Lösekann family has always attached great importance to offering its staff stability, security, and a familial community with development perspectives, and this will continue to be their policy in the future. “Our concept is an innovative talent pool for young, purposeful employees, in which they can discover their personal strengths and develop their individual skills. The strategic alignment benefits the most important differentiator in our competitive environment: the employee. Our in-house academy does not only train our staff well and ensure that they are always up-to-date in

Family tradition - mother Irmgard pictured with André, her son, and HansGeorg, her husband.

terms of product knowledge, but also affords them sufficient leeway in terms of creativity and diverse development opportunities in our various store concepts. In turn, this leads to a high degree of motivation and job satisfaction.” Lösekann is not willing to compromise in anything relating to the development opportunities of his employees: “We strive to promote everyone’s individual personality and skill set. Nobody is perfect, but together every problem can be solved.” In this respect, the entrepreneur believes that values such as a sense of responsibility, respect, appreciation, kindness, openness, and fairness should be at the heart of concerted action.

Lösekann

Owner: André Lösekann Employees: 18 Re-opening after remodelling: November 2015 Sales area: 520 sqm Brands for women: Adriano Goldschmied, Allude, Burberry, Closed, Current Elliott, Fabiana Filippi, Mabrun, Marc Jacobs, Moncler, Mother, Patrizia Pepe, Robert Friedman, Tagliatore Brands for men: Baldessarini, Bäumler, Boglioli, Caliban, Giorgio Armani, Herno, Hugo, Jacob Cohen, John Smedley, Moncler, Paul Smith, Polo Ralph Lauren, Scabal, Tagliatore, Tonello