The Otto Group’s worldwide business operations are characterised by a resolute customer focus, strong innovation and optimal structural adjustments.

STRATEGY

The companies in the Otto Group systematically create positive shopping experiences for customers by providing new, demand-driven offerings, leading-edge distribution concepts, and innovative services. Innovative catalogues, award-winning online shops and a growing number of attractive retail stores successfully enhance the merchandise appeal of the entire fashion, living and technology range. As a network of companies that do business worldwide, the Otto Group puts its international experience and expertise to use for especially attractive travel, logistics and financial services offerings.

SEGMENTS

In the Group’s core segment, multichannel retail, the focus during the past year was on stabilising and evolving the traditional mail-order operations, developing the e-commerce sector, and building the over-the-counter business. The segment succeeded in turning its revenue performance around with a number of activities, and registered a 0.2 percent increase. The Otto Group’s full-range mail-order companies also reported a gratifying development. By implementing innovative catalogue and Internet concepts, they were able to outperform the market in Germany and remained nearly on par with the previous year, closing with only a slight revenue decline of 0.9 percent. The services segment, which mainly comprises the Hermes Logistik Gruppe and the OFT-Group, again experienced the steepest growth within the Otto Group. The financial services segment also posted a positive performance, thanks to accelerated internationalisation - especially in the countries of southern and eastern Europe - and an extension of the product portfolio.  

OUTLOOK

The Otto Group has defined its strategic goal in “Vision 2020”: to become the most profitable, global group of retailers and commercial service providers, based on leading-edge business concepts. It operates by the motto: “There’s no such thing as a bad market, there are only companies that cater more or less successfully to a market. Innovation is the key to success.”