«Antoshka» Chain of Department Stores for Children
 

In 2007, «Antoshka» department stores for children celebrated their tenth anniversary. «Antoshka»’s history dates back to September 10, 1997 when the first shop was opened in Vuzovskiy district of Odessa. The Europroduct» management’s idea to present the whole assortment of products for children in one shop proved to be a successful one. Before that, adults had to run around town, visiting a number of shops in order to provide their child with all the necessary things. Opening of «Antoshka» department store pioneered a new, unique format for a shop for children on the territory of the Commonwealth of Independent States.

In ten years, «Antoshka» has become very popular in Odessa as well as in Lvov, Kharkov, Kiev. Today, the chain is reckoned to be an all-Ukrainian one: it consists of 21 department stores for children located in 10 cities of our country. Implementing Europroduct management’s objective of opening 2-3 new department stores per year, we continued the geographical expansion of the chain on the territory of Ukraine during this milestone year of 2007. There is no doubt as to the continuing future demand for such specialized stores for children since, according to the recent statistics, the birth-rate in Ukraine is increasing (460 thousand newborns in 2006 vs. 426 thousand newborns in 2007).

«Antoshka» department stores offer their customers different products in six main groups. These are: accessories, items of hygiene and cosmetics; food products; furniture and prams; footwear; clothes; and toys. The assortment is constantly refreshed and broadened due to the development of new contacts and productive cooperation for over 10 year with well-known brands. Various events such as samplings, presentations, campaigns are part of «Antoshka» department stores’ everyday life. The sales associates who work at the «Antoshka» chain are continuously improving their professional knowledge to be able to assist customers with their needs to the maximal extent. Moreover, «Antoshka» department stores are staffed with experienced pediatricians who are always ready to help customers with the right choice of food products and items of hygiene for their kids. Long-standing projects such as «A Present for Mother» (available in all maternity houses of Kiyv, Odessa, Lviv, Kharkiv, Dnepropetrovsk, Ilichevsk, where mothers of newly born children receive a present from «Antoshka») and «A Gift Certificate» (which allows a customer choose any product from «Antoshka» department store for the amount mentioned in the certificate) increase the customer loyalty.

Frankly speaking, Ukrainian customers got acquainted with the children’s fashion largely through the «Antoshka»’s unique product selection assembled by visionary Europroduct’s buyers. We believe that the clothes for children should be more than just practical, functional, comfortable and hygienic. Kids wish to be pretty and stylish as much as adults. Seasonal children’s fashion festivals serve as a reliable guideline for parents in a variety of fashion trends. New collections of clothes and footwear are showcased by young models of «Antoshka»’s Children’s Fashion Theatre.

«Antoshka» Chain of department stores for childrenis the primary sponsor of a spectacular sports event that is the Tennis Championship of Ukraine for children under 14. This tournament, held since 2004, has been incorporated into the Official Calendar of the Tennis Federation of Ukraine and is one of the main steps on the way to the National Team of Ukraine for young promising tennis players.

In honor of its 10th anniversary, «Antoshka» is freshening up its image: logos, external boards and interiors of the stores all undergo certain changes. The only thing that remains unchanged is the essence of «Antoshka» as a family department store, very hospitable and homelike. «Antoshka» is a friend of children that is always ready to amaze and bring joy, and a reliable partner to parents that helps bringing up healthy and happy kids.