What is a department store?

A department store is a big store offering a big variety of products and goods from different manufacturers. Department stores doesn’t have a specific product line, instead they focus on a broad selection of brands and goods. The goods vary a lot, you can find clothes, food, toys, books, furniture, plants… The list is endless. The customer is able to visit all the different departments at the store and when the products have been collected the customer can pay the products at a cashier. The “classical” department stores are located in the city center and are usually attracting customers with quality products rather than with budget products.  Hypermarkets are a new kind of department stores, usually situated near big roads. 

Department stores in Finland are Stockmann, Sokos, Anttila and Carlson. Department stores can be found in every bigger city, bigger cities usually have several.

The department stores I know by heart are those located in Turku city center; Stockmann and Sokos Wiklund. These two stores are located really near each other, on each side of the central market square in Turku.

Stockmann's market advantages is its traditions, quality and customer service. Stockmann was founded 1862 and has established a specific position in the hearts of the Finns. Stockmann has stores in 16 countries. However the financial crisis has even hit hard on Stockmann and the department stores has been forced to convert to the new situation. The financial crisis seems to push customers away from high quality goods towards budget solutions such as second hand. The Stockmann department store in Turku consists of a grocery store and a variety of different departments both for men and women. In addition to the walk in department stores Stockmann also has an online store, which they are constantly promoting in the walk in stores. Stockmann has a well-known 5 day long super campaign called “Hullut Päivät”, Crazy Days in English, which is held two times a year. 

Sokos Wiklund is the other big department store located in the heart of Turku. Sokos have department stores all over Finland, the stores are usually not as big as the Stockmann department stores. The one located in the center of Turku (Sokos Wiklund) is however large. Sokos Wiklund’s products and goods are quite similar to Stockmann’s and the different departments are quite the same. Wiklund is competing with lower prices and is a part of the S-chain. The overall feeling and experience in Sokos is not as fancy as in Stockmann. Sokos is also known for their super campaign “3+1 Päivää”, 3+1 Days in English. The campaign is also held two times a year.  

//Matti