modebranchen.NU NU_SS19_CFW | Page 127

Artikel | article Pep follows the consumer’s needs and wishes, which is reflected in the “it’s all about you” statement. Q | How do you expect Pep to do in the Norwegian market and why? A | In the long term, Pep’s vision is to become a major fashion sup- plier in Norway – a brand aimed at modern women aged 30+. We will work hard on creating a wide and comprehensive distribution – from north to south. In order to succeed, we are focusing our efforts on expanding ca- refully and establishing partnerships with the right people and the right companies. We are expecting the start-up phase to take about a year and I expect to achieve our first distribution goal of hitting 80 retailers by late 2019. Already in autumn 2018, Pep will introduce new mid-season items and I expect these collections to give us a competitive edge. Q | Pep will show the new collection for SS 2019 at CIFF in August. Can you give the buyers a little sneak peek on Pep’s new summer collection? A | “The colour symphony of spring”… that’s the headline and con- ceptual basis of our spring collection 2019. New colours combined in untraditional ways, giving you the sense of spring. Whether it’s a striking suit in orange red or grass green or multi stripes mixing bright yellow with blue colour tones and strong PEP green with light lavender, the combination of new colours creates its own eye-catching character with a new line and direction. Q&A with Åge Norem, country manager at Pep in Norway Q | Would you please briefly introduce yourself and your back- ground in the fashion industry? A | I am 48 years old and live in Haugesund. I have been a part of the fashion industry since I was 15 when I started as a fa- shion store employee. At 22 I became a sales person and have since then worked with sales, brand building and retail opera- tions. In the last couple of years I have been country manager for Norway at b.young, before I started working as country manager for Pep and Desires in Norway. Q | You are quite familiar with Pep’s target group in Norway. How can Pep meet the demand of the Norwegian market retail and consumer wise? A | At Pep we believe in the phrase “it’s all about you”. That is why we work closely with our retail stores and develop sound partnerships. Together it is our job to increase profits and the turnover rate and keep the assortment up to date. PEP Pep is a brand for “average” consumers who keep track of the latest fashion trends, but are also driven by price. They value great comfort and a good fit, which is a central part of Pep’s designs. Pep is a value-for-money brand. MODEBRANCHEN. | ISSUE NO 04 JUL/AUG 2018 | 127