Kaubamaja is not only the most prestigious department store in Estonia, it’s also iconic – the shop first opened during the Soviet Union occupation in the capital city of Tallinn in 1960. Tallinna Kaubamaja is owned by Tallinna Kaubamaja Grupp, who also owns Tartu Kaubamaja, the Selver grocery store chain, and top shoe store chains ABC King and SHU. Additionally, the group owns a beauty retail chain, I.L.U. and car retailers KIA and Viking Motors, and more. The group’s loyalty card, the Partner Card, is held by over 630,000 customers in Estonia (2015). The unaudited annual turnover for Tallinna Kaubamaja and Tartu Kaubamaja for 2015 was 95.6 million euros, and they employ over 700 people in Tallinn and in Tartu.

KEY POINTS

  • Merchant: Kaubamaja
  • Industry: Department store
  • Vaimo Base Engine: Innovate
  • Magento Edition: Enterprise
  • Markets Served: Estonia
  • Website: www.kaubamaja.ee
  • Project Plan: 15 Weeks of Development
  • Number of Products: 100,000+ (70k added every season)
  • Fun Fact: The Vaimo Estonia office is located across the street from Tallinna Kaubamaja

MARTIN LOND, ECOMMERCE DEVELOPMENT MANAGER AT KAUBAMAJA

“For over 55 years, our customers have come to our store, and with our web store, we finally wanted to “go to our customer.” It was pivotal that the Kaubamaja online store reflected our in-store experience – the great visuals, fast and friendly service, and the full, wide range of brand-name products. Vaimo helped us achieve our goal by delivering an online retail solution that meets the customer everywhere seamlessly – on their desktop, phone and tablet.”

THE CHALLENGE

For the last few years, Kaubamaja has sold a limited number of products online only during their two annual sales campaigns, Osturalli, and their holiday pop-up online shop on their introductory website. Kaubamaja wanted to feature all of their products in an online store that could handle a large amount of traffic, and that could accurately sync to several of their sales and warehouse programs. The department store’s vision was an omnichannel solution that offers real-time in-stock figures, massive sales campaigns, and advanced multiple location picking.

THE SOLUTION

Vaimo built a robust web shop for Kaubamaja that’s got the functionality to handle a storm of traffic with Varnish Caching and barcode scanner enabled packing and shipping that supports several stock locations. Additionally, the online shop boasts rich content, with an inspiration page, a blog, and an interactive version of the department store’s magazine, Hooaeg. The shop’s not only responsive, but it’s optimised for touch screen, with a Touch Screen Focused Drop-Down Menu that requires only one click to open a menu, and another to access a category. Stock is shown in real-time from the two department store locations, and for additional warehouse locations.

FEATURES

  • Vaimo Content Management System
  • Klevu Self Learning Search
  • Touch Screen Focused Drop Down Menu
  • Reservation Countdown
  • Fail-Proof Customer Card Login
  • Integration with ERP System Microsoft Dynamics AX
  • Integration with External Couriers
  • Integration with Payment Gateway
  • Integration with Bonus Point Counting System
  • Varnish Caching
  • Barcode Scanner Enabled Packing and Shipping

 

PROJECT DELIVERY

As Kaubamaja was completely new to eCommerce, Vaimo’s strong background of business processes and eCommerce strategy played a huge role during the discovery process to map out optimum work flows behind the scenes and ensured efficient system usage of AX and Magento. An external dedicated testing company was used before initiating a “soft” launch, which allowed friends and family members to further test the site before the official release of the online store. Vaimo adjusted usability based on feedback from both test cycles to ensure that the official deployment went off without a hitch.

 

FUTURE ECOMMERCE PLANS

Kaubamaja plans to keep improving upon their e-shop, and include the full range of their products online, while adding new items as they are introduced in-store. The department store aims to be the best in Estonia, through their service, product range, quality, and by being a trendsetter via their popular magazine, Hooaeg. Kaubamaja also intends to eventually develop an omnichannel solution by merging barriers between online and offline shopping with new features and functions that will create a unique, seamless shopping experience.

Click here to experience Kaubamaja´s new web site. If you want to know more about this project, don’t hesitate to contact us.