Gaia Retail Solution develops, sells and maintains system solutions to the fashion retail trade. Focus is on product acquisition solutions with emphasis on maintaining full control over all necessary information relating to that. One company that is very much aware of that and has long been an important customer of Gaia is Stadium.

Gaia Retail Solutions is an international manufacturer. A company focusing on product acquisition solutions whose aim is to, through knowledge and experience, provide its clients with as qualified data as possible, thus enabling the client to purchase the correct products. The business idea is simply to develop, sell and maintain system solutions to the fashion retail trade with the aim of improving the client’s competitive edge.
- We work with clients who sell products whereby their visual impression is all important, including shoes and accessories as well as clothes, says Magnus Töveberg, Managing Director of the company for the past 2 years.

Magnus is involved with marketing and sales.
- My job is to provide stability to both the company as well as our system solution, “Product range and Procurement” (S&I) and to find the right partner to work with both within Sweden as well as beyond. But the work doesn’t end there, it is also important that everything runs smoothly once we connect a partner up with a client and the client is satisfied, he says. There is much interest now, and has been for a long time, for this type of system solution. All companies are interested in finding ways to become more efficient in order to achieve better margins and lower prices. Which means the retail industry will always seek new solutions similar to those on offer by Gaia Retail.

Amongst Gaia’s oldest and largest clients is Stadium. The relationship between the two companies is almost 10 years old. Initially Gaia was involved in looking into Stadium’s product flow, this soon expanded to include flexible procurement solutions and product planning. The S&I solution is one of Stadiums key processes and provides Stadium with support from idea phase, up to and including, sold out products on the shelves.
- S&I create opportunities to improve product planning which allows the client the freedom to purchase the right products for the right shop at the right price. And which is delivered at the right time and in the right quantity, says Magnus. This process is of paramount importance. Take, for example, Stadiums newly constructed plant located on the outskirts of Norrköping. Tonnes of information in this building has to be clearly arranged and under control. S&I plays an important role as part of a well-planned and advanced flow allowing for all the work stages and systems to function in unison thus avoiding a chaos situation.

- Both Stadium and we, at Gaia are pleased with the cooperation we have today, says Magnus and goes on to describe Stadium as a pillar. Stadium is a large and relevant international reference for Gaia as international parties are beginning to take notice of these operations. It is of great value for us to work with and for them.

The operations as described here are only one of Gaia Retails two business areas. The other operation comprises of Gaia System which is a project supplier of client-unique system development.
- This business area is also earmarked for expansion running parallel with our Retail operations, says Magnus who adds that Gaia System will also continue being a strong regional IT partner.

Gaia Retail Solutions was started by the mother company Gaia about 2 years ago and has since then grown from uncertainty as Magnus like to call it.
- Today we now know what we are doing, where our products are going and above all what we can do, says Magnus. Even our clients and partners have noticed and from their feedback they seem very pleased.

The biggest change is that taken by Gaia from being a regional service supplier to the international manufacturer it is today. We have worked hard on the international market this last year and are nearing our goal. Sales are becoming more established.

But it is within Sweden’s boundaries that we find Gaia’s clients today. However, during this year, international business deals will be finalised, mainly in the Norwegian and English marketplace. Within the coming year Magnus hopes for at least four new international clients as well as a few more Swedish company names on the list.

- Within a year we will be ready, both with references as well as products, for the major international markets. By then we expect to have interesting references which in turn will have effect on the market. Our operations require long establishment times but I think we will be a strong player by next summer. That is our goal in any case, says Magnus.

Magnus thinks his job at Gaia is great fun. He lives in Stockholm but commutes to Norrköping as well as travelling around the country in his work.
- The software process and working with the fashion industry is very enjoyable. It couldn’t be better, he says before regretting what he had just said and adds that being a golf pro would have been just that bit better.

Five thoughts:
Film: Typical Hollywood action
Book: Thrillers on holiday
Music: Mainstream radio
Sport: Golf, downhill ski-ing and tennis
Best in Norrköping: Lunch at Pappa Grappa in Pronova

Prospects, Norrköping Science Park, #3, 2006