Three rea­sons to cel­e­brate: open­ing of the new RIKA pre­mi­um stores

Managing directors Alexandra and Markus Kalina opened the first RIKA Premium Store in Linz, Upper Austria, in 2019. They were taken with the idea of exclusively selling the brand RIKA right from the start, as Alexandra Kalina describes: "It was clear to us from the start that we want to focus on a premium brand, so it was naturally obvious to aim for a collaboration with RIKA. This focus also signals to the customer that we trust the quality and experience 100%." In the meantime, the two also run the new Premium Store in Ybbs in Lower Austria and will open another store in Amstetten, about 30 km away, in early 2022. Despite the rather short distance, Markus Kalina, who has already been able to advise numerous customers from this area in the Linz store, sees great potential in the two new locations and is pleased to now be even closer to his customers and to be able to offer them a perfect consultation and shopping experience. He cites the expansion of the brand awareness in this region as another key decision criterion for this step.

Career change: from customer service to the trade of stoves

Robert Passath, now Managing Director of the new RIKA Premium Store in Graz, Austria, can already look back on more than eight years of cooperation with RIKA. As a former RIKA customer service partner in his parents' business, he dealt with RIKA stoves on a daily basis and knows them down to the smallest technical detail. "The decision to open a RIKA Premium Store was very easy for me, because I knew about the quality of RIKA stoves and, of course, only want to offer my customers the best products," Robert Passath explains his motives. With his store right by the motorway exit, he is located in the highly frequented Graz area. His passion for stoves, fire and heating with wood characterises his everyday work. He is happy to inspire his customers with stoves and, in particular, to bring a sense of well-being and warmth into their four walls.

First RIKA Premium Store in a shopping centre

Fabian and Stephanie Rieben run the first RIKA Premium Store in Switzerland at the Beo Center in Spiez on Lake Thun in the Bernese Oberland. They have already been partners with RIKA since 2018, after taking over the residential stove division from their parents' business. "For us, it was obvious to take our next professional step in partnership with RIKA," the two agree. Not only professionally, but also privately, they very much appreciate stoves, their homely ambience and the pleasant warmth. Nevertheless, their main focus is on the customer as a person, their needs and ideas. As a special benefit of the RIKA Premium Concept, they see RIKA as a strong partner by their side. They are very pleased with the advantageous location of their store - surrounding shops offer everything that makes life more beautiful and are equally popular with customers from the city and the country.

The signs are pointing to expansion

Due to the success of the RIKA Premium Stores besides Amstetten, further stores will be opened in Vienna - in the "Blue Lagoon" show house park - in Belgium, in Italy , in Germany and France in 2022. "Our new store concept has proven its success; our customers particularly appreciate the large selection of stoves and the all-round customer service," says RIKA Executive Director Karl Riener, explaining the expansion of the concept and adding, "We see enormous potential here, both nationally and internationally."

RIKA France is considered a pioneer. It has already been voted among the top 3 most popular brands in France several times. And this is not least due to their premium concept. Outstanding recommendation rates and enthusiastic customers testify to its success. In addition, RIKA Premium Store operator benefit from support and advice from RIKA at all levels - from the remodelling of the shop premises to branding, aftersales and advertising.

More information about our RIKA Premium Store partners: "5 questions to..."