Annual Report 2009/10 Excellence in Retailing - Douglas Holding

54 Management Report
Key results
Business activities and operating environment
Net assets, financial position and result of operations
DOUGLAS HOLDING AG
Subsequent events
Control system and success factors
Opportunities and risks situation
Statutory disclosures
Forecast and overall assessment
ing the environment at their specialty retail stores. This includes the application of energy-saving
techniques in air conditioning and ventilation systems for new construction
and renovations. Constant room temperatures at the stores are ensured by so-called aircurtain
systems. The stores test the use of alternative lighting sources to further reduce
the power consumption per square meter. In April 2010, the Douglas perfumery in Frankenthal
was used as a pilot store and was fully equipped with LED lighting. Through the
installation of an additional system to measure energy use, the consumption will be exactly
measured and the effect between air conditioning, heating, lighting, door systems
and IT will be assessed.
Moreover, the DOUGLAS Group is reviewing continuous applications to minimize the
impact of logistics on the environment. Therefore, Douglas fundamentally overhauled its
logistics in Germany. As a consequence of the new regrouping of the perfumeries to only
five locations instead of eight cross docking sites, the transport volume was significantly
reduced over the previous year despite higher quantities of goods. The Thalia bookstores
signed a new logistics agreement with their service providers in the 2009/10 fiscal
year, which allows all national sales companies to be processed via one logistics system
in the future. This minimizes the transportation routes. AppelrathCüpper also analyzed
their logistics process and modified their delivery terms. Therefore, the fashion houses
will now receive deliveries twice per week instead of every day. Furthermore, Appelrath-
Cüpper focused on one provider for the delivery of goods for cost-saving and environmentally-friendly
purposes.
To protect the forests, the DOUGLAS HOLDING has used FSC-certified paper for many
years and has switched to using recycled paper at its service headquarters in Hagen. In
January 2010, the Douglas perfumeries and the cosmetics manufacturer Origins launched
a mutual project. With the purchase of an Origins product a new tree is planted by the
“WikiWoods” organization. In total, 6,000 trees have been planted in the Stechlin nature
reserve in Rheinsberg in Brandenburg. Hussel is also committed to protecting the forests.
More than half of the packaging of the Hussel confectionery products bear the FSC seal.
Social responsibility
The DOUGLAS Group’s social commitment encompasses diverse activities. Such as
in prior years, the company donated a total of 25,000 EUR on the occasion of its Annual
Shareholders’ Meeting in 2010. The foundation “Evangelische Stiftung Volmarstein” received
a donation of 12,500 EUR, the child protection department of the “Diakonisches
Werk Ennepe-Ruhr/Hagen” and the soup kitchen (Suppenküche Hagen e.V.) each received
funds of 6,250 EUR. In the new 2010/11 fiscal year, the DOUGLAS HOLDING also
supported the 33rd German Protestant Church Day in Dresden in 2011 by sponsoring a
sum of 10,000 EUR.
As a company in Hagen, the DOUGLAS Group is actively involved in local assistance
projects. This includes active involvement since 2006 in the “Local Alliance for the Family”,
an initiative established by the German Federal Ministry of Family. Support is provided
both financially and through hands-on-activities as well. Moreover, the human resources
department of DOUGLAS HOLDING has assisted the Employment Office in Hagen since
2006 with the job application training of long-term unemployed and mothers returning
to the workforce after maternity leaves.