164 IN STORE
Those who visit Du Nord in Oldenburg feel at home immediately and appreciate the hand-picked product range.
T Du Nord/Oldenburg.
A veritable top-seller among the brands stocked by Du Nord, you ask? There is no such thing. Instead, Du Nord impresses with a welcoming atmosphere and a product mix that thrills its customers. Text: Nicoletta Schaper. Photos: Du Nord
A QUESTION OF PERSONALITY
318 style in progress
here’s a huge construction site right in front of the store’s door. The “Wassenplatz” has been undergoing extensive rebuilding for quite some time. “Usually that’s a big drawback for a fashion store, but amazingly we have not suffered any losses,” says Sandra Denkena. In 2015, she decided to take a bit of a risk by relocating Du Nord from the hidden “Passage Herbartgang” to this more central location, thus making Du Nord more visible. This step has, however, paid off 100%. INTO THE LIMELIGHT Du Nord was launched by Helga Denkena, who is Sandra Denkena’s mother-in-law, in 1972. Back then, it stocked exclusive brands such as Les Copains and Aigner. In 1999, Sandra Denkena took over the business in the tranquil city of Oldenburg. She modernised the store, adapted the product range, and restructured the team. “It is important
to me that my team consists of a healthy blend of young and older staff. My youngest employee is 20, the oldest is 72,” Sandra Denkena reveals. “It is inspiring to see how the different generations work together. That certainly contributes to our success.” Every customer is always happy to heed the advice of the employees. Du Nord relies heavily on personality and individual advice. The 330-square-metre store’s design is modern and warm. It features concrete, wooden floors, and a cosy yellow sofa in front of a brass wall. 110 square metres of the store are, however, occupied by a Closed franchise
