Pier14 – the latest store from the retail trio Jana and Gert Griehl and Stefan Richter – is just a stone’s throw from the pier in Ahlbeck on the island of Usedom. And as with the flagship concept store, the Marc O’ Polo Strandcasino in Heringsdorf (pictured left), we were able to bring a lot of Baltic Sea love to the new store on Usedom.
“Pier 14 in Ahlbeck is a tribute to the glorious days of the great Baltic seaside resorts,” explains our retail expert Chris Zorn. The 300 square meter multi-brand store features fine, playful details reminiscent of the imperial spas at the turn of the century.
High-quality herringbone parquet flooring, soft, muted colors, lots of curves, brass-colored back wall systems, Art Nouveau tiles, stucco elements, Art Deco-style lamps, a historic cash register. Memories of a time, somewhere between the mid-19th and early 20th century, when Art Nouveau replaced Historicism. Another theme: love of the Baltic Sea. And when the great love of the Baltic Sea meets history, something quite unique is created. This store is not kitsch. It is pure elegance. And at the same time a meeting place for all those who love the Baltic lifestyle and premium brands.
For example, there is the coffee bar with a green marble counter reminiscent of the skeleton of a boat. If you look closely, you will notice another subtle detail: the back wall of the bar is decorated with a scale tile that reinforces the Baltic Sea theme. Or the light-colored oak furniture with wickerwork reminiscent of beach chairs and dune grass. They come directly from our Markdorf joinery to the Baltic Sea.
The Insta spot – a swing in front of a screen showing changing Baltic Sea motifs – also brings the scent of the sea into the store. And of course a bit of social media – and a feel-good atmosphere. The maximum shopping experience is available here, including exciting digital solutions. In the new Pier14 in Ahlbeck, the Pier14 group of companies has combined advanced omnichannel technologies with digital signage solutions for the first time.
The interactive touchscreens including RFID product recognition on the sales floor take the shopping experience to a whole new level. Among other things, digital messages about various products are played there that adapt to different parameters, such as the weather. Pier14 has already won the Best Retail Case award for this.
