The Sure had been one of many three strongest Germanic peoples of the Iron Age, when man found iron as materials to make weapons and instruments. It’s believed that they originated in Jutland, traditionally one of many three lands of Denmark, together with Skåne and Seland. In Jutland is town of Ringkøbing, which within the Iron Age had the privilege of being thought of a market metropolis, in order that, in response to medieval European regulation, it had the suitable to have a market, which facilitated its financial growth. With lengthy winters and temperatures that fluctuate from zero to twenty levels all year long, Ringkøbing is town the place the story of one of many worldwide vogue giants started: Bestseller, which in 2025 celebrates its 50th anniversary as one of the discreet giants of worldwide vogue.
Born in 1949 within the Risskov district of Aarhus, the second largest metropolis in Denmark, Troels Holch Povlsen was the son of a regional chief of social companies. With a household fund that had little to do with textiles, Troels Holch Povlsen started a small clothes retailer in Ringkøbing in 1975 together with his spouse, Merete Bech Povlsen.
Initially, the small retailer devoted himself to watching garments for Troels Holch Povlsen, however on the finish of his first 12 months in operation, the enterprise had expanded and the couple started to import their very own merchandise and promote them via the shop and the distributors.
Whereas rising their flourishing enterprise, the couple started a household. In 1972, Ander Holch Povlsen was born, adopted by Niels Holch Povlsen. On the age of solely 28, the older brother inherited the corporate and took over the corporate’s administration in 2000.
In 1980, the Holch Povlsen Brothers purchased a retailer in Aarhus referred to as Bestseller, a reputation that they preferred a lot that it turned the identify of the corporate. Initially, the corporate centered on ladies’s vogue, launching the departure model in 1986 and Vero Trend in 1987.
After beginning its worldwide enlargement and making the leap in 1988 to Norway with the corporate’s first retailer exterior Denmark, diversification started in 1995. Little by little, the corporate expanded to the usage of kids and males, positioning itself in numerous segments. In 1995, Bestseller launched Jack & Jones, his first male model, and in 1996 he’ll appoint his first model for youngsters.
Within the 1990s, Bestseller accelerated its worldwide enlargement, coming into China in 1996, the place it now has greater than 7,000 shops in round 500 cities all through the nation. Nevertheless, the Chinese language Bestseller is an impartial firm, owned by 50% of Anders Holch Povlsen and 50% by entrepreneurs Dan Friis and Allan Warburg, who additionally handle the each day enterprise.
Though there’s cooperation between Bestseller in Europe and Bestseller in China, most designs for the Chinese language market are carried out in China, tailored to the tastes and necessities of the nation. Ninety % of the merchandise offered in China are manufactured in China.
Construction
The diversification of the section has been one of many keys to the event of Bestseller, which has now turn out to be an enormous within the worldwide vogue business. Then, it has been his exercise within the a number of manufacturers, which has allowed him to acquire geographical capillarity and has cultivated since his beginnings, in addition to his worldwide presence.
As we speak, Bestseller has a portfolio of greater than twenty manufacturers for various ages, genres and events. Jack & Jones, Namelo, Vero Moda, Solo, Object, Vila, Items, Chosen or Mamalicous are simply among the manufacturers within the Bestseller portfolio, whose identify as a gaggle is just not recognized by the ultimate public.
The corporate distributes its manufacturers in a community of two,800 shops (2,200 shops and relaxation franchises) in 44 international locations, though its presence extends to 75 markets in Europe, Asia, North America, Latin America, Oceania and the Center East due to its presence in 16,000 wholesale Factors of sale, each in shops and shops.
Fifty years after its basis, Bestseller follows its headquarters in Denmark, however has expanded its worldwide presence via the event of its distribution, catering and logistics.
Along with two places of work in Denmark (in Brande and Aarhus), the corporate has constructions in Germany, the Netherlands, the UK, Belgium, Austria, France, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Eire, Portugal, Poland, Greece, Italy and Spain in Europe. In the US, Bestseller has places of work in New York, along with these of Australia, Turkey, Canada, Uruguay, Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Pakistan, Mexico, China, Chile and Hong Kong.
Bestseller has a portfolio of greater than twenty manufacturers, that are backed by a standard construction
Bestseller defines himself as a “a number of matrix group“Composed of greater than twenty manufacturers, backed by central companies corresponding to cateringSustainability, Logistics, Human Assets, Expertise and Growth, Finance and Digital Commerce, though everybody has their very own construction.
The Danish group ended the final monetary 12 months (accomplished in July 2024) with a Billing of SEK 35.6 billion (€ four,772 million), which was four% lower than in monetary 12 months 2022. The corporate’s profitability elevated by eight% within the interval of 5.three billion ($ 710 million). The corporate employs 22,000 folks.
These figures refer solely to the enterprise administered from Europe, since China is managed independently. Market sources point out that the scale of the bestseller would double if China’s enterprise was included.
Administration and subsequent steps
The corporate continues to be 100 % managed by the Povlsen household and has by no means opened its capital. The Bestseller administration company is the Board of Administrators, chaired by Merete Bech Povsen and consisting of Anders Holch Povlsen, Troels Holch Povlsen, Finn Poulen and Lise Kaae (a director of different corporations corresponding to Klarna). The each day administration, then again, is directed by an Government Committee.
Troels Holch Povlsen and Anders Holch Povlsen have, in flip, separate household funding autos. The daddy (who after founding the bestseller entered the furnishings sector with the 9 and Hays Manufacturers) operates via 9 United, with curiosity in corporations in 5 areas: design, Retail strab, provide and commerceand actual property property.
The son (the richest man in Denmark), then again, operates via Heartland, a holding firm that represents the pursuits of the Holch Povlsen household and the bestseller. By way of Heartland, the household has capital bets in corporations corresponding to Zalando, Asos, About You, Klarna, Whiteaway, Astarri, Regular and Nemll.
The doorway to the capital of digital commerce corporations has been a relentless within the bestseller technique in recent times. In reality, the corporate has bets in three of the principle ones in Europe market (Zalando and on you, within the merger and asos course of).
In reality, due to its participation in Asos, Bestseller has closed one of the vital acquisitions in recent times, not a lot because of the quantity of the transaction however to the symbolism of the bought model. In September, Bestseller closed the acquisition of a 75% participation in Topshop for 135 million kilos. Topshop, the British vogue icon, provides much more to the bestseller model portfolio.