The Rio Clothing and Boardshop

Shop Name: the Rio Clothing & Boardshop

Location: Bad Kötzting, Bavarian Forest, Germany

Age of Shop (years trading): 1 year

Brands Stocked: Brixton, Getrash, Mavel Clothing, DC, Globe, Emerica, Ride, Forvert, Happy Hour,…

Website/Social media platform: https://www.facebook.com/pages/the-Rio-Clothing-Boardshop/503785819679185

This shop in Germany is unique as it has a 1920 theme. This is from the funishings to the look of their logo. The decor has been finished off by the shops owner and his dad.

How do you use social media to you advantage to promote your store?

I update my Facebook store page nearly on a daily base with pictures of new arrivals, news and stories.

What particular product has been the best seller? What’s working and what isn’t?

Brixton hats and Emerica shoes sell very well, but no one is after headphones.

What is your best selling accessory category?

Definitely snapbacks and belts.

What percentage of your sales are from online business (from your website) compared to your in-store sales?

Only in-store sales.

What are the benefits of having a physical shop over simply having an online store?

It’s very important for me to have a personal relationship to my customers. I want to satisfy my customers 100% – and this can only be achieved face to face.

What makes your store different and in what ways does your store excel beyond your competition?

My store and my logo are designed in the style of the 1920s barber shops. The entire interior is handmade and customized by me and my dad. 

What trends do you see upcoming?

Neon colors will disappear – thank god.

What kind of advice can you give other independent retailers who are trying to compete against the big megastores?

Give the customer some space and make him feel at home.

Which up and coming brands do you hope to stock in the future?

I want to stock brands that represent the (life-) style of my store. 

What are you doing to pull people into your store?

I try to be attractive to people from 7 to 70. I just had a customer with 74 years who bought a Brixton hat.

What have been the best three selling categories for you in the last 12 months?

Hats, sneakers, shirts

Please tell us of any upcoming initiatives your shop has planned? (events, signings, re-vamps etc…)

As my dad is a hair dresser, I want to start a monthly event, where he does hair dressing in my store only using the old barber tools from the 1920s.  

the Rio Clothing & Boardshop

Owner Manuel “Rio” Reiser

Marktstrasse 28

93444 Bad Kötzting

Bavaria – Germany