Innova Handelshaus

Innova Handelshaus AG (stylized as INNOVA) was a German specialty retail chain for electronics and kitchens, headquartered in Berlin. It operated nine large specialty stores in Berlin, seven compact specialty shops, and seven Bestkauf franchise partner outlets in and around Berlin, plus 28 partner businesses elsewhere in Germany. A distinctive feature of the Innova concept was that interaction with sales staff was not only permitted but actively encouraged. The company opened its first store in 1987 on Riehlstraße at Kaiserdamm in Berlin. In 1990 it founded the Innova customer club, which grew to more than 560,000 members and ranked among the ten largest such clubs in Europe; membership offered discounts and extended warranties. In 2011 the Innova Handelshaus GmbH was converted into Innova Handelshaus AG. From 2014, under the new "Innova Home" concept, the chain moved beyond individual products to offer complete home furnishings, including bathroom, kitchen, and office setups. Innova sold household appliances and electronics alongside furniture and home furnishings, as well as kitchens and bathrooms displayed in its larger specialty stores. Customers could plan their new home furnishings in the kitchen and bathroom stores or directly at home. Other product areas included shoes, gifts, and travel through four Innova travel agencies in Berlin. The specialty stores ranged from 800 to 6,000 square meters, the compact shops from about 150 to 300 square meters with a focus on large electrical appliances and multimedia products, and the Bestkauf franchise partners from 150 to 400 square meters. At the end of April 2016, Innova AG filed for insolvency under self-administration. On 29 July 2016 it was announced that the restructuring attempt had failed. From 4 August 2016 an insolvency sale was carried out, with the Berlin-based disposal company MHZ taking over the entire existing inventory and order backlog. The brand ceased operations as a retail chain.

Innova Handelshaus opened its first store in 1987 on Riehlstraße at Kaiserdamm in Berlin. The chain grew into a regional specialty retailer for electronics and kitchens, operating nine large specialty stores in Berlin, seven compact specialty shops, and seven Bestkauf franchise partner outlets in and around Berlin, plus 28 partner businesses across Germany. A central aspect of the Innova concept was that interaction with sales staff was actively encouraged. In 1990 the company founded the Innova customer club, which grew to more than 560,000 members and ranked among the ten largest clubs in Europe. Membership provided discounts and extended warranties. In 2011, Innova Handelshaus GmbH was converted into Innova Handelshaus AG. From 2014, under the new "Innova Home" concept, the company expanded from selling individual products to offering complete home furnishings, such as bathroom, kitchen, and office setups. Innova sold household appliances and electronics alongside furniture and home furnishings, as well as kitchens and bathrooms displayed in its larger specialty stores. Customers could plan their new home furnishings in the kitchen and bathroom stores or directly at home. Additional product areas included shoes, gifts, and travel through four Innova travel agencies in Berlin. The specialty stores ranged from 800 to 6,000 square meters, the compact shops from about 150 to 300 square meters with a focus on large electrical appliances and multimedia products, and the Bestkauf franchise partners from 150 to 400 square meters. At the end of April 2016, Innova AG filed for insolvency under self-administration. On 29 July 2016 it was announced that the restructuring attempt had failed. From 4 August 2016 an insolvency sale was carried out, with the Berlin-based disposal company MHZ taking over the entire existing inventory and order backlog. The retail chain ceased operations.

• 2016

  End of April: Innova AG filed for insolvency under self-administration.

• 2016

  29 July: restructuring attempt declared failed.

• 2016

  4 August: insolvency sale began; MHZ took over inventory and order backlog.

• 2014

  New "Innova Home" concept launched, offering complete home furnishings.

• 2011

  Innova Handelshaus GmbH converted into Innova Handelshaus AG.

• 1990

  Innova customer club founded, growing to over 560,000 members.

• 1987

  First store opened on Riehlstraße at Kaiserdamm in Berlin.

Specialty retail chain for electronics, kitchens, and home furnishings with a strong customer club and interactive sales approach.

• Household appliances

• Electronics

• Furniture and home furnishings

• Kitchens and bathrooms

• Shoes and gifts

• Travel services

1. 1Innova Handelshaus – Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org
2. 2Innova Handelshaus – Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Innova Handelshaus official websiteinnova.info