The General Manager Michael Hofer and the Managing Director Jörn Gellermann welcomed partners and suppliers at the Perchtoldsdorf castle in Austria with a strong and clear message. The company continues to grow, retains great practices and has important future strategic plans. In year 2016 the company has grown by 45 members with 66 shops, which increased the number of total shops to 917. The member base is not the only positive increase EP:Austria witnessed. Their turnover has been performing positively. In consumer electronics the organization has grown by 5,3%, in white goods by 7,0%, in IT/multimedia by 3,1% and in telecommunication by 13,7% within the EP: branded members. EP:Austria has a positive increase in turnover across all channels, proving that the organization is not only performing above the market, but also adapts to its challenges and changes.

The year 2016 was also the year of improvements. The 360 degree marketing campaign has included a new advertising type in its concept to even further give EP:Austria’s members the support in advertisement. A member has 19 print advertisements made available for him, which are eleven ‘Frequenz Flyer’ to attract new customers by providing the reader background information on trends, six magazines and newly introduced two booklets with benefits.  The quality campaign of the EP:Brand continuous to be highly emphasized. With its nine specific brand criterias, the members are guaranteed high quality appearance.

In the near future the organization wants to improve their online presence and offer their consumers quality home parcel shipping. The first important step to do so was the establishment of EP:Austria’s own warehouse, located in Korneuburg. Together with the logistics provider Panalpina, the organization was able to start its operation July this year.

The General Manager Michael Hofer concluded with a message about the organizations participation at trade fairs. The focus in 2017 will change. The organization will take part at the newly introduced spring trade fair in Salzburg, instead of organizing a fair trade in autumn. There the sole focus will be on the international trade fair in Berlin, where EP:Austria will have a stronger presence in the future. ‘IFA is the biggest international consumer electronics trade fair in Europe. It is the meeting point for suppliers and partners. It offers the insight to innovation and marketing trends. Therefore it is important for us to attend and gain all the important insights.’ comments Michael Hofer.