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Choosing a made-to-fit suit without setting a foot outside the door. It is within the bounds of the possible at the virtual clothing store Possen.com. No more distress of busy shopping streets, waiting in line and importunate salesmen. A single visit to one of the Fashion Rooms is sufficient. While the client stands in his underwear between two screens, the body scan takes the measurements after which they are converted to a three-dimensional image. Subsequently the client can make his wishes known from behind his computer at home..
The body scan data goes directly to workshops in Germany and Italy, where computers cut the selected fabrics. Skilled tailors then put the clothes together. This working method guarantees a faultless suit, but it still remains man's handiwork. The client himself carefully selects everything, from the type of suit and fabric to the number of buttons.
Owner Bas Possen (30) gives the impression to even being able to sell a fridge to an Eskimo. He is filled with enthusiasm when he talks about his Fashion Room. "Our suits are reduced to fifty percent when compared to the price of a made-to-fit suit from a traditional tailor. "We do not have any stock expenditure. A traditional store will have to do its best to sell everything on the shelves, we don't. Everybody can determine his or her own fashion. Information technology makes it possible for items to be delivered upon demand."
Possen.com has been open for a year now. Behind the screens they have been working on this concept for three years.
Since September the fashion store also has a fully equipped truck at its disposal. This truck has been designed to be a mobile Fashion Room. Possen pays a visit to companies and institutions with his truck. Possen's clients include important corporations such as Cisco, IBM, the Rabobank and the Nyenrode University. Even though the company strongly leans on the application of the Internet, it is not the most important sales channel. "You can use the Internet as an instrument, but selling clothes through the Internet does not work. New economy, old economy... who cares. It is all about the service for your customers. And my clients always need personal contact."
Possen.com gains from repeated purchases. The first order hardly yields profit. The database of customers is the only guarantee. Each client is given his own space on the website where he can consult his track record. In the future, the client will be able to virtually try-on clothes besides the actual online choosing of fabrics and making appointments. The company has establishments in Amsterdam and Nuth (South of Limburg). Shops in The Hague, Maastricht, Antwerp and Brussels will follow. Possen: "We would like to grow. But not at the expense of everything. You will see that this will be the common method within five to ten years."
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