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Interview with Juan Carlos Escribano, general manager of Springfield
The Springfield brand is a member of the Cortefiel group and was launched in Spain in 1988. Its aim was to meet the needs of young urban men with a cosmopolitan outlook, searching for quality fashion at a reasonable price. The brand’s global bid was a huge hit and it now has 630 POS in more than 38 countries, a high percentage of which are run by franchise. Springfield has 261 shops in Spain. In 2007, its turnover was €436.21 mill., 38% of group sales.
Autumn-winter 06/07 saw the launch of Springfield Woman, a new concept which has grown in recent years. In 2007, five Springfield Woman shops opened, as did 57 POS in existing Springfield stores which from then on combined both brands. After its success in Spain, the new formula has been extended to other European countries, including France, Poland, Brussels, Hungary, Austria, Germany and Luxembourg. Springfield Woman now has 134 POS, a figure that is expected to rise, with 50 POS opening each year.
Anselm van den Auwelant is the general manager of one of the most powerful and influential groups on the Spanish textiles scene. Cortefiel is the third largest company of its type in Europe, ranking behind Swedish group H&M and Inditex. The group – with its five brands Cortefiel, Pedro del Hierro, Springfield, Milano and Women´s Secret – employs 9,000 people and has a network of 1,436 shops in 49 countries. In 2007, it turned over €1.136 bn.
Part of the Group's merit lies in the pioneering role it has played in launching new brand segments such as Springfield or Women's Secret. The competition has hastened to copy this business model. The company has skilfully detected market needs and met these with a range of brands capable of responding swiftly to market developments.
The company is currently focusing on globalisation; its brands are now available in 49 countries, primarily in mainland Europe where they operate under franchise in the case of Springfield and Women´Secret, and through investment and direct management in the case of the other brands. Its listing on the stock exchange has enabled it to finance growth policy.
