The closure of 46 Fona-stores and Elgiganten’s acquisition of ten means that the market shares in Denmark will look very different from this summer. Fona’s annual sales of two billion DKK is on stake. While Elgiganten quickly will accelerate its number of stores by 35 percent and get a firmer grip on the major cities, the expansion […]
Archive | Consumer electronics

Elkjøp aquires Danish electronics chain Fona
As expected – Elgiganten takes over Fona’s brand and operations in ten stores in Denmark with plans to turn it into a multichannel city concept under Elgiganten’s label. ”We have good experience from Norway and Sweden, with shops in the city center, and therefore we are happy with this agreement, ” said Jaan Ivar Semlitsch, […]

Media Markt: ”We are ready to expand in Sweden again”
After a series of cancelled store openings in 2012, Media Markt now says it is now prepared to open several new stores. The chain says that the number of profitable stores now have doubled – and points to a 67 million improvement despite 230 million SEK in losses last year. “We can confirm that the business is developing according […]

Clas Ohlson to close seven stores in UK
Clas Ohlson has decided to change store format in the UK. Seven stores will close – instead Clas Ohlson starts opening stores with new and smaller formats aimed for multichannel. (more…)
Media Markt invites to dance at 10th anniversary
Media Markt is celebrating ten years in Sweden – and releases a new advertising concept. (more…)

Clas Ohlson sets new record – ready for Germany opening
Clas Ohlson’s sales increased by 8 percent in February and 7 percent in local currencies during its third financial quarter. The weak Norwegian currency remains a challenge. CEO Klas Balkow is looking forward to opening in Germany this spring. (more…)
Electronics sales improved after weak start
The Swedish Electronics industry had a weak start to the year, but in February, the value of total sales were one percent better than the same month last year. (more…)
Fona to close every second store
Fona electronics chain is now closing 25 stores, while 31 stores will be allowed to continue during the reconstruction. 300 of the 975 employees in Fona will be redundant, writes Pernille Bigaard and Ole Borch, the lawyers in charge of the restructuring. ”The plan implies an adaptation of the size of the business through the closure […]
Fona will have a new ownership
Danish electronics Chain Fona passed the first threat of bankruptcy, operations will go on during the reconstruction. Bankruptcy court in Copenhagen said all of the chain’s creditors have accepted the plan. (more…)
She will run two electronics chains towards IPO
The consolidation of electronics chains Siba and Netonnet took another step today. NetOnNet CEO Harald Ennen has to leave both his CEO positions as chain-CEO and Group CEO and is replaced by Siba’s CEO Susanne Ehnbåge. (more…)

Clas Ohlson suffers from Norwegian currency
Clas Ohlson increased its sales in local currencies in January by 3 percent, all Nordic markets shows a positive development but Norwegian currency results in a total decrease of sales. (more…)

Apple to open state of the art flagship in Stockholm
Apple has found the location of its flagship store in Stockholm. The City of Stockholm is expected to provide the electronics giant permission to build a fully transparent store in Kungsträdgården, the large park in Stockholm city. “Stockholm is a fantastic city of innovation and we feel a great honor to have the opportunity to contribute […]

Verkkokauppa.com grew by 25% – need a new warehouse
Finland’s leading e-commerce actor – Verkkokauppa.com grew significantly during 2015. Revenues increased by 25 percent to 67.0 million Euros. But in two years – the company needs to leave its successful Helsinki premises. (more…)
Consumer electronics profile to join the Axfood board
Swedish food giant Axfood has found the replacer to Odd Reitan in the Board: Siba and Netonnet-owner and profile Fabian Bengtsson. As a new Chairman, the Nominating Committee proposes the CEO of majority owner Axel Johnson, Mia Brunell Livfors (more…)
Good end of 2015 for Electra Group – but decreasing profit
The Swedish Electra Group, which recently expanded its commitment in Norway and Denmark, declined both in sales and earnings in 2015. At the same time it gains market shares mainly via the Audio Video chain. (more…)
Skousen’s franchisees makes a million profit a year
Attractive margins make many Nordic actors look at the appliances category. Recent year has seen several start ups and expansion. The Danish chain Skousen went from a problem child to a win-win situation. (more…)

Power targets Aalborg this year
Expert Denmark’s department store concept Power has set out the establishment plan all the way to City Syd in Aalborg in 2016. CEO Jesper Boysen says City Syd is the only possible location. (more…)
Elgiganten targets small town coverage
Sweden might be the best example of how Elgiganten’s establishing strategy looks like in the Nordics. After upgrading to megastores on key-locations and converting the Phone House chain to a new mini concept, the new target is a better coverage in smaller cities. For the next years, 10 new mid-sized stores are planned, starting in Ängelholm. […]
Siba opens a new store – tears down another
This fall the Swedish electronics chain Siba opens in Östersund. The new store will be Siba northernmost store ever in Sweden. At the same time the chain’s store – and store building – in Uddevalla will be replaced by Netonnet. (more…)
Danish electronics chain in deep crisis – will Elkjøp take over?
56 stores Danish electronics chain Fona, founded in 1926, seeks reconstruction. ”The background is the recent years’ extremely intense competition where we unfortunately have been squeezed on our earnings to such an extent that we need a time-out,” says Fona in a letter to its customers. Now, the chain states it seeks a new partner […]

TDC to change name on store chain
The Danish telecom giant TDC has decided to gather its private market under the YouSee brand. This means 50 stores will change signs and concept. “The decision to merge the brands in the private market and simplify our commercial business, enabling us to simplify our business and the way we work considerably. It will make […]

Elkjøp’s Nordic Christmas – up 3 percent
Elkjøp Group’s Christmas sales, including Black friday and sales period over New Year, was great in Sweden, good in Norway and tough in Denmark and Finland. That’s the conclusion after Dixons Carphone, owner of Elkjøp Group, today published it’s trading statement for Christmas, ten weeks ending 9 January. The Group now sets high hopes on their B2B-solution […]

Elkjøp and Elgiganten reports new record sales – from new products
Elgiganten in Sweden announces that Black Friday was the start of a record strong Christmas, with sales growth of 5 percent, more customer visits and a higher customer ratings than ever before. Customers preferred quality before price and traditional sellers as game consoles dropped. In Norway, an unexpected bestseller has emerged with cold weather. (more…)

Clas Ohlson increased Christmas sales by 13 percent in Finland
Clas Ohlson sales increased by 5 percent in December to 1,114 MSEK (1,066). In local currencies, sales increased by 7 percent. Total sales during the first eight months of the fiscal year (May to December 2015) increased by 5 percent to 5,540 MSEK (5,269). In local currencies, sales increased by 7 percent. Growth in Finland was […]

Different top sales days during the holidays season
Swedish Christmas sales peak on Christmas Day – but in Norway they are expected to peak today. ”Last year’s turnover this day was insanely strong and Elkjøp Group in Norway alone had a turnover of about 100 million NOK. With us, we talk about “The Three Big”: The start of the New Year sales on […]

EEL to change name to Elon Group
As Elon is expanding in the Nordics, EEL Holding has decided to change name to Elon Group. ”The use of Elon brand at the Group gives us an opportunity to make a greater impact and bring a stronger grip on the market. We become clearer, pure and simple,” says President and CEO Christer Larsson. (more…)

Lower margins for Elkjøp Group
(Updated with Nordic numbers) Elkjøp does not contribute to its owner DixonsCarphone as before. The reason is lower margins – and weakening currencies. Still, separate markets like Sweden reports good growth and forecasts a 7 percent sales increase for Christmas. (more…)

Black Friday gave November huge sales growth for electronics
Trade growth in consumer electronics stood almost still during August to October. Then came Black Friday – and raised the growth rate of 17 percent for November. (more…)

Car parts online leader Skruvat sold to French giant
Online sales are estimated to represent 20 percent of the European car parts market in 2020. Now, the Nordic market gets more consolidated as Bythjul.com-owner Mobivia acquires the Nordic online leader Skruvat. (more…)

Clas Ohlson set November record
Clas Ohlson had a highly favourable start to Christmas shopping. Sales in November increased by 8 percent to 809 MSEK, with a particularly favourable performance in Finland where sales increased by 19 per cent in local currency. CEO Klas Balkow says weakening currencies is a challenge, but earnings is on par with the preceding year’s level. (more…)

Kesko to close down Musta Pörssi
The former consumer electronics chain Musta Pörssi will cease operating Kesko has mounted down the business operations step by step and will also close the e-commerce by the end of 2015. (more…)

Elkjøp sold for 25 million first night of Black Friday
Despite server capacity problems within the Elkjøp Group at the start of Black Friday – the Norwegian online sales reached 25 million NOK from bedtime to breakfast. (more…)
B&O in talks with potential buyer
Danish technology company Bang & Olufsen (B & O) might get a new owner. In an announcement to the stock exchange B & O informs that it has received an inquiry from a potential buyer of the company. The two parts have initiated a dialogue two investigate and analysis firmness disse approaches ”The dialogue may or may […]

”The customer flow has been amazing”
Almost two weeks have passed since the Mall of Scandinavia opened. After the tumultuous opening weekend comes the reactions from the shops. “Success is the word! The customer flow to the newly opened center has been amazing. Sales have also exceeded our expectations, “said Roger Halvarsson, CEO of Hobbex. (more…)

The robotic cleaner – Swedish Christmas gift of the year 2015
It’s a Swedish tradition by HUI Research to declare Christmas gift of the year. Once again it is a smart electronics tool, the Robotic Vacuum Cleaner. (more…)

Nordic Black Friday becomes Black Week
It’s Friday today. At least according to several e-commerce retailers in the Nordics who’s extending the rising Black Friday-trend to go on for a full week. “Last year’s Black Week was a race that consumers not expected. Both our traffic and sales doubled compared to the average week look like for us.” says Jollyroom CEO […]

Humac grows as Apple store stays away from Denmark
There is no Apple store in Denmark. But the premium resellers are growing and taking better positions. Today Humac opened a new state of the art flagship store in central Copenhagen. (more…)
Mobile phones sales increasing again
So far this year, consumer electronics sales in Sweden are five percent lower than last year. But sales of mobile phones is increasing again after three pretty bad months. In time for Christmas. ”Mobile phones are the locomotive that pulls the entire electronics industry. And that product category is doing well is important for the market,” […]

Elgiganten to take over service and repairs partner
Elkjøp Group takes over its main partner for service and repairs, InfoCare Workshop. ”The acquisition will strengthen our service offerings to our customers by ensuring efficient repairs and an even better service offer, says the Nordic country managers. (more…)

Electra to buy half of Danish El-Salg and Euronics
Last year, the cooperation between the Swedish wholesaler Electra Gruppen and Danish El-Salg was extended. Now acquires Electra Gruppen 45 percent of El-Salg and establish themselves in Denmark as a major player behind the new Euronics-chain. “A major strategic decision, and our store chains can broaden its offering of consumer electronics products,” says El-Salg’s CEO Thomas […]

Kjell & Company enters Norway with 7 stores and full e-commerce
The Swedish electronics accessories chain Kjell & Company announced it’s market entrance in Norway in January. Now it’s time to open e-commerce and its first seven stores in Norway during October and November. These are the locations: (more…)
Clas Ohlson up 5 percent in September
Clas Ohlson’s sales increased by five percent in September. Finland and Sweden were the best performing markets. (more…)

Dustin to launch in Finland
After the acquisition of Business Forum in Finland 2013 last year, the market leading B2B-online actor for electronics, Dustin, is ready for Finland under their own brand and online store. ”We will open Dustin.fi during this financial year,” Göran Lindö, Head of Online at Dustin, tells ScandinavianRetail.com. He sees Atea and Verkkokauppa.com as main competitors. […]
Expert stores to introduce new service concept
Electronics chain Expert introduces a new service concept in Denmark to separate the chain from competitors. By paying a monthly fee, customers will get technical support together with their purchase. (more…)
Bright future expectations in consumer electronics
The third survey of Electronics Industry’s store manager indicies shows that confidence is high, 88 percent of store managers see positive sales trends in its stores during the next six months. Also, 84 percent of store managers are experiencing a positive sales situation in their shops right now. (more…)

Jacob Jensen targets consumer electronics channel
A new business strategy which involves the development of several products in the Smart Home category, has made Danishlifestyle brand Jacob Jensen to look towards the consumer electronics channel and chosen EET Euro Parts as distribution partner. (more…)
Scandinavian Photo expands to Denmark
The Swedish pro-shop for film and photo enthusiasts, Scandinavian Photo, expands its operations with e-commerce in Denmark. (more…)

Power tricked landlord and Elgiganten – opens four weeks early
It was supposed to be a retail highlight. Now, the new electronics chain Power from Expert breach the agreement with the new shopping center BIG in Herlev and opens the store, four weeks before the center’s official opening together with Elgiganten. ”We were simply ready to open,” says Expert CEO Jesper Boysen (more…)
Vitvaruexperten to be launched on Litium platform
The Swedish e-commerce startup Vitvaruexperten.com has chosen its first partner – going for e-commerce platform Litium on Demand. ”It is a platform used by many large e-commerce operators, which is linked to a broad ecosystem of complementary vendors for customer service, comparison sites, and more,” says Vitvaruexperten.com’s CEO Mikael Hagman. (more…)

Elgiganten found its new Marketing Manager in Phonehouse
Elgiganten is converting Phonehouse stores to be integrated with the chain. At the same time, the former Phonehouse management is converted to key positions in the Swedish market leader. Johan Järnliden has been appointed Marketing Manager for Elgiganten. (more…)