Where everything moves in circles
Room with a View is actually one of the active sales agencies in Austria. Now the owners have also gone under the dealers. At the beginning of November, Iris and Christian Obojes from the Room with a View agency opened a store of the same name for sustainable fashion and products in Salzburg: a green room in the middle of the Europark shopping center. The store is currently closed due to lockdown. Until the reopening, it will be sold through social networks.
It wasn’t a long-planned project, says agency owner and new retailer Christian Obojes. It rather happened within a few weeks. “The people, the location, the architect – everything was perfect,” adds his wife Iris. “That’s where the best things come about.”
Store of the day: room with a view in Salzburg
At the beginning of August, the renovation work on the almost 100m² area in the Europark shopping center in Salzburg began. Something completely new should be created. Something that reflects the idea of the circular economy and carries it outwards. For this, the couple and Chris Precht from the Precht architecture studio from Werfenweng worked together. This did not choose an aggressive appearance to the outside world. Customers should be invited to discover the store. A green wall can be seen at the front, the rest of the shop’s architecture should reflect the layout of the entire sustainability cycle. Accordingly, the store is laid out in a spiral, like a circle.
Light colors set the tone for the walls. Wood forms the basic material for the various elements and furniture that were made by a local carpenter. Steel structures complete the shop’s equipment. The previous tenant was able to take over the floor, the lighting and the glass facade. “This saved us resources and at least 100,000 euros,” says Christian Obojes.
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Intersport Austria managing director Thorsten Schmitz on the lockdown in Austria
“Back in survival mode after twelve months”
Austria stands still again. The economic consequences for retail cannot yet be foreseen, but the renewed lockdown is also an emotional low point, as Intersport Austria managing director Thorsten Schmitz emphasizes. An opening on December 13th would at least give the Christmas business a chance – but with the big question mark 2G.
A special highlight: the 30m² plant wall, which is automatically watered four times a day. The shop windows are also eye-catching. Contrary to the general trend of directing one’s view of the area through an open window, Room with a View relies on closed windows. Only a 1.30 meter large porthole allows a look inside the shop and is intended to arouse the curiosity of passers-by.
With their concept, Obojes also want to tell the stories and achievements of the brands they sell. For training their own employees on the area and the agency, but also the staff on the areas of their customers.
The store’s range offers clothing, sneakers, accessories, cosmetics and books from brands such as Ecoalf, Veja, Casall, Organic Basic, Les Deux, Colorful Standard, Sickss, Erdbär, as well as a small vegan cosmetics label Be … my Friend as well as Wonderbar, Pingpong and Bracelet. The price range is between 16 and 400 euros. In addition to the labels that the agency also sells, other sustainable brands are also purchased, such as Mud Jeans or Thinking Mu. Iris Oboje is responsible for purchasing.
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The corona crisis and the effects on retail
Austria: jump in sales on the last day before the lockdown
On the last day of sales before the hard lockdown, the Austrian retail sector once again grew strongly. However, this is only little consolation in view of the high sales losses during the partial lockdown and the expected damage that the coming weeks will bring.
“The store was very well received. There was a lot going on in the first three weeks. ”According to Obojes, he has already sold around 700 to 800 pieces. “We have already received inquiries from other centers,” says Obojes. Subsidiaries are possible and are also being considered. “We can open the store anywhere at the push of a button.”
However, the store has been closed again since the beginning of the week. Austria has imposed a tough lockdown for the entire country. “We already had sleepless nights at the beginning, but we are optimistic that it will continue in mid-December.” Until then, Zimmer mit Aussicht will offer Click and Collect. It is sold through social networks. This is to be expanded in the future.