Åhléns
Encyclopedia
Åhléns is a Swedish
chain of department stores, located in almost every city in the country, and with several stores in the major cities, including 18 stores in Stockholm
alone (March 2007). Åhléns also has business operations in Norway
. It is one of Sweden
’s leading retailers in a number of fields. Operations are focused on four business areas: Fashion (Mode), Beauty (Skönhet), Homeware (Hem), and Media.
in the province of Dalarna
. The name of the company was then “Åhlén och Holm” (Åhlén and Holm).
The first thing the company sold was a royal painting. Over 100 000 copies were sold, and it was very successful. The years went by, and Åhlén and Holm only got bigger. After only 10 years, JP Åhlén had a company with a worth of 1,5 million SEK and 255 employed workers. In 1915, the company was moved to Stockholm
. Before he moved the company, JP Åhlén had secured a 7 floor storage room. Half of the employees came with him to Stockholm.
In 1932, JP Åhlén decided that he wanted to expand the business and create a retail trade store with low prices. So, he established the Tempo department store and opened it on Östermalmstorg
in Stockholm
. JP Åhlén died in 1939, leaving the companies to his oldest son. On the 50th anniversary (1945) of the establishment of Åhléns and Holm, his son could present a company worth 87 million SEK, and with an employment list of more than 2700 workers.
The mail order business was closed down in the 1960s, and a store called Åhléns City was opened in 1964 in the heart of Stockholm
. In 1985, all the Tempo department stores got a new name, Åhléns, and the modern day Åhléns was born.
In 1988, Åhléns City was sold to Axel Johnson AB
, which is owned by Antonia Ax:son Johnson.
In 2009, Åhléns City’s sales was summarized to 6,202 million SEK in stores, and the profit was 216 million SEK. They are focusing on improving their customer offering, and improving Åhléns as a whole.
The various department stores located around Sweden
have stepped one step higher on the ladder and has become the 4th largest fashion stores. They are continuing to work at climbing up higher on the ladder.
Membership is free, and new members that join this club will get 5000 points as a welcome gift.
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
chain of department stores, located in almost every city in the country, and with several stores in the major cities, including 18 stores in Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
alone (March 2007). Åhléns also has business operations in Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. It is one of Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
’s leading retailers in a number of fields. Operations are focused on four business areas: Fashion (Mode), Beauty (Skönhet), Homeware (Hem), and Media.
History of Åhléns
At the beginning, Åhléns was a mail order business. It was created in 1899 by Johan Petter Åhlén and Erik Holm, in the little town of InsjönInsjön
Insjön is a locality situated in Leksand Municipality, Dalarna County, Sweden with 2,150 inhabitants in 2005. In 1899 Åhléns started out as the mail order business Åhlén & Holm. 19 years later, in 1918, the mail order firm Clas Ohlson was founded in Insjön. The sawmill Bergkvist sågen was also...
in the province of Dalarna
Dalarna
', English exonym: Dalecarlia, is a historical province or landskap in central Sweden. Another English language form established in literature is the Dales. Places involving the element Dalecarlia exist in the United States....
. The name of the company was then “Åhlén och Holm” (Åhlén and Holm).
The first thing the company sold was a royal painting. Over 100 000 copies were sold, and it was very successful. The years went by, and Åhlén and Holm only got bigger. After only 10 years, JP Åhlén had a company with a worth of 1,5 million SEK and 255 employed workers. In 1915, the company was moved to Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
. Before he moved the company, JP Åhlén had secured a 7 floor storage room. Half of the employees came with him to Stockholm.
In 1932, JP Åhlén decided that he wanted to expand the business and create a retail trade store with low prices. So, he established the Tempo department store and opened it on Östermalmstorg
Östermalmstorg
Östermalmstorg is a square in the district of Östermalm, Stockholm. It is known for its food market hall, Östermalmshallen, opened in 1889. Östermalmstorg was also the location of the first Åhléns City department store, opened in 1932....
in Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
. JP Åhlén died in 1939, leaving the companies to his oldest son. On the 50th anniversary (1945) of the establishment of Åhléns and Holm, his son could present a company worth 87 million SEK, and with an employment list of more than 2700 workers.
The mail order business was closed down in the 1960s, and a store called Åhléns City was opened in 1964 in the heart of Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
. In 1985, all the Tempo department stores got a new name, Åhléns, and the modern day Åhléns was born.
In 1988, Åhléns City was sold to Axel Johnson AB
Axel Johnson AB
Axel Johnson AB is a Swedish investment company that invests in trade and trade-related services in the European market, with a main focus on the Nordic region...
, which is owned by Antonia Ax:son Johnson.
The progress of Åhléns
Åhléns has now been converted into a department store with high standards, and is now concentrated in four business areas:- Fashion
- Beauty
- Homeware
- Media
In 2009, Åhléns City’s sales was summarized to 6,202 million SEK in stores, and the profit was 216 million SEK. They are focusing on improving their customer offering, and improving Åhléns as a whole.
The various department stores located around Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
have stepped one step higher on the ladder and has become the 4th largest fashion stores. They are continuing to work at climbing up higher on the ladder.
Åhléns Club
Åhléns has established a club for their best consumers. All the members get a card on which they can collect points that they get for every item they buy. Some of the privileges of joining this club are:- A discount on a selected item
- Points for every item bought
- A check worth 50 SEK for members who collect more than 25000 points
- 10 SEK is 100 points
Membership is free, and new members that join this club will get 5000 points as a welcome gift.