Everything had actually gone well for Marc O’Polo: The German fashion label closed the past financial year with record sales of almost 600 million euros, and the expansion abroad was pushed ahead. But now the war and the rapidly rising prices are a burden on the company. “Customers are very scared,” says Marc O’Polo boss Maximilian Böck in the podcast “The hour zero”.
“If you do without something, it’s often fashion, vacation or going out to eat.” According to Böck, the winter business is developing into a discount battle for many suppliers. “The goods can only be sold at very reduced prices,” he says. “The general public is very sale-driven right now.”
For the label, this means a balancing act: “Actually, everything is leading to higher prices,” says Böck. “The entire supply chain is under pressure, raw material prices have risen. Personnel, energy, everything is becoming more expensive.” Marc O’Polo, known for its fashion made with sustainable materials, was originally founded in Sweden, but was taken over by Werner Böck – Maximilian’s father – in the late 1990s. In terms of price, the brand ranks in the upper middle range and has settled in the shopping arcades of major German cities. A problem this year: the winter season started late because of the warm autumn. Now the company, known for its knit sweaters and warm jackets, has to try to make up for lost sales.
Listen to the new episode of “The Zero Hour”
All episodes can be found directly on Audio Now, Apple or Spotify or via Google.
