GUM to follow London's Harrods and Berlin's KaDeWe example
Minsk's landmark department store GUM plans a great rearrangement that also includes a parking lot.
Minsk GUM has started realizing a new project of section zoning.
“Look at London Harrods or Berlin KaDeWe,” director of the store Mikalai Karachun said. “Big goods like TV-sets, refrigerators, etc. are sold in the third or upper floors. However, they are usually sold in the ground floor in our store for some reason. Perfumes, small wares, jewelry and food are sold in the ground floor all over Europe for quick shopping.”
The changes will not affect the principles of GUM, Mikalai Karachun noted. The department store will keep cooperating with Belarusian producers and selling goods for family shopping.
“It will be easier to divide GUM into sections and give them to European brands,” the director continued. “However, I think that Minsk has more than enough of them. We are focusing on domestic industry and producers for now.”
The administration of GUM is also considering the possibility of creating its own parking lot (probably in the inner yard). However, the project has not been approved yet and no details are known.
The rearrangement will take 3 or 4 years – it is needed to avoid closing the department store in this period.
