What 2023 brings for Public, Kotsovolos, and Plaisio

Retailers rely on positive returns in 2022 for further investments

Network development, investments, new products, and services are the focus of the three major players in the Greek electronics and technology market, who have put in place their strategic plans to align with the emerging needs of Greek consumers. Public, Kotsovolos, and Plaisio are moving rapidly into the future, each launching its own philosophy.

Group investments and focus exclusively on the "Public" brand

2023 is expected to be even better for the Public, as its figures appear to be 30% stronger than last year. The Public Group had previously announced that it would pursue a new dynamic strategy, investing 100 million euros in new generation stores, expanding the product range, and adding modern services, with the group placing particular emphasis on the digital part, also making new partnerships such as with BookVoice, which produces audiobooks.

Public Group has adopted a new vision and strategy, Public2. Within this framework, the group has set itself the goal of expanding its business, emphasizing the Public's multi-channel strategic planning, and offering the customer more products and services. Its strategic initiatives include the integration of household appliances into Public's cardboard portfolio, the upgrading of the store network, storage facilities, and logistics services, the development of new assets such as the Public Next innovation hub, as well as investments in new services and partnerships (iRepair, Douleutaras, Klarna).

The implementation of this plan has started, with the creation of 13 new-generation stores. Public and Media Markt, with the message "Together for a Home as you have imagined it", are collaborating in the category of small and large home appliances and TVs, creating a single and integrated service experience. The partnership offers consumers the same unbeatable prices and offers, a huge selection of thousands of products from branded brands, a joint dedicated team in stores, and new flexible payment methods.

Combining 20 years of experience of Media Markt and 18 years of Public, the two brands are joining forces in terms of expertise. With more than 2,000 employees across their networks and more than 15,000 hours of training, Public and Media Markt have a top joint team of experts offering an optimized service covering every need in the home appliances and TV category. The company has already made an investment of EUR 1 million to upgrade the two stores in Syngrou Avenue and Maroussi to "New Generation", emphasizing the "Public" brand and leaving no room for doubt about the withdrawal of Media Markt, which was a pole of attraction in the domestic market when it opened its doors in 2005.

The areas that will be future priorities are digitalization in the operation of the business, upgrading the customer experience, investing in logistics, and strengthening e-commerce. It is noteworthy that Public currently maintains one of the largest and most modern warehouses to service e-commerce and orders resulting from this sales channel.

Network development, new products, concepts, and services for Kotsovolos

Based on a positive financial performance in 2022 - the highest of the markets where the Currys parent group operates - Kotsovolos is focusing on further developing its network, which already has 93 stores.

In this context, the chain's main objective is to gradually increase the more than 15,000 codes it currently has, reaching up to 35,000 in the long term. Already in the Agia Paraskevi store and in kotsovolos.gr, interior furniture is available. The new investment plan even provides for the development of new products and services "Logistics As a Service", ensuring high-quality results and strengthening the after-sales services offered.

In order to offer its full range of services, Kotsovolos aims to open new stores in areas where it does not operate, but also to strengthen local markets and major urban centers by opening new outlets or relaunching old ones. All, combine technology with modern services, comfortable sales areas, and a range of benefits for all customers, such as same-day mobile phone repair. A new store is already operating in Kilkis and Alexandroupolis, where it is being relocated to a new site, in Zakynthos and Rethymno too.

The focus of the newly opened stores is on specially designed corners for special moments of experience, gaming products, and devices for "Smart Home", combined with a wider range of white goods and small appliances. Especially stocked experience areas also enable consumers, through interactive technologies, to try out the device they want.

While turning its attention to tourist poles and destinations where space is limited and shopping needs to be quick and easy, Kotsovolos launched a new flexible convenience store model, K Spot. It already exists at the Airport, Ioannina, and Rhodes, as well as at the Sani Resort.

Three-year investment plan for seamless omnichannel experience at Plaisio

Customer satisfaction, flexibility, innovation, and organic growth are the key pillars on which the growth strategy for Plaisio is based in the coming years. Following its delisting from the Athens Stock Exchange, George and Kostas Gerardos have accumulated more than 97% of the company's shares and are implementing the new three-year investment plan of more than EUR 30 million.

The funds will be directed to investments in large appliance logistics and investments in small appliance logistics, both in software and hardware. Investments in e-commerce platform and IT infrastructure, but also in-store renewal, adding home appliances to some stores that have not included them so far, while continuing to invest in new stores, both in Attica and in the region.

The "recipe" for the success of Plaisio from the first 12 sqm store in Stournari Street with design items for engineers until today, Plaisio has expanded in major urban centers and markets of the capital, staying true to a constant evolution, a balanced growth in all channels, investing in necessary infrastructure and of course in an authentic customer-centric concept of entrepreneurship.

Today, the Plaisio Group has sales in excess of 430 million euros, employs 1,500 people, and has 25 physical stores, mainly in Attica, but also with a presence in Thessaloniki, Patras, Larissa, and Crete. And, of course, its e-shop, which was launched in 1999. The online sales channel has diversified significantly over the last few years, if one even compares 2019 with the next two years, 2020 and 2021. Today it has now stabilized, even following a slight downward trend, having reached 14% of turnover, down from 7% before the pandemic.

The future for Plaisio at the moment seems to be not only the "omnichannel approach" that was the goal anyway, but the so-called "seamless omnichannel", the sense that the consumer has many roles - he is a professional, a parent, a gamer, a person who just wants to relax - to which Plaisio can provide any solution.

The new era has already begun for the big market retailers and consumers, following the unstoppable evolution of technology and the way it is integrated into technology products. The steps are many and simultaneous, with rapid implementation, by all for all, capitalizing on the valuable know-how they already have, the funds they are directing to expand their network and strengthen their e-commerce, and the strong will to play a leading role.