Just Be Happy

BAZAR RO YAL/LEI PZIG. In the beautiful Mädler Passage, located in the heart of Leipzig, Torsten Mansfeld has realised his dream of owning a store. Since 2008, he also operates an online shop from the same premises.

Text: Kay Alexander Plonka, Photos: Bazar Royal The history of the Mädler Passage dates back to the 15th century. It was extensively renovated in the 1990s and still houses - thanks to Johann Wolfgang von Goethe - Auerbachs Keller, one of the most famous restaurants in the world. In the southern corner shop on the exit towards the Neumarkt, one can find the baroque ceiling fresco titled “Helios’ Sun Chariot”, which was discovered during the demolition of Auerbachs Hof and subsequently transferred to shop number 18, the home of Bazar Royal since 2003.

Mini Multichannel

Owner Torsten Mansfeld switched to the premium textile retailing business in 2003 after working as a craftsman and publishing agent. The online shop - which is run as a purely in-house project - opened in 2008. It initially only offered Belstaff jackets, but today it stocks more than 25 brands from the portfolio of his store in Leipzig. “If we hadn’t opened the online shop, we could not

purchase for the stationary store as we do. For instance, it would be too risky to stock Prps jeans or Shoto boots in a pronounced diversity in Leipzig”, Torsten Mansfeld explains. “When the flood hit the region last year, people had other things on their mind than clothes shopping for quite a while. During that period, the online shop literally kept us afloat”, Torsten Mansfeld recalls the spring/summer season 2013. In addition to regular customers who sometimes come from as far as Dresden or Chemnitz, Bazar Royal also often welcomes artists or actors with a guest appearance in the city, as well as people visiting Leipzig for the book fair. “Leipzig is attracting an increasing number of tourists and many of them are thrilled to find owner-managed retailers holding out in the Mädler Passage”, the 44-year-old says. He is particularly proud of his employees, who are always friendly and customer-oriented while treating each other like a little family. The ratings on the independent shop review portal eKomi speak for themselves. The customer satisfaction rating stands at 4.9 of 5. Here is an excerpt: “It’s just fun to shop at Royal Bazar, both online and in the store in Mädler Passage. The latter is sales culture at its finest!”, says one of the 420 customer ratings.

Innovations for 2014

“We visit the Bread & Butter and Premium to view new collections”, Mansfeld explains. Since the beginning of the year he has Filson Garment, Merz bei Schwanen, Princess Goes Hollywood, Frogbox, Cervolante, Nigel Cabourn, Matchless, Daniele Fiesoli, Mala Alisha, and Muubaa in his label portfolio. New brands will be added this coming autumn; among others Manifattura Ceccarelli, Tellason, Spiewak, Holubar, Luis Trenker, Primeboots, The Last Conspiracy, AG Adriano Goldschmied, Drakewood, and Free Rain. “We’ve added more brands than ever for the 2014 season. The customers have become more open for smaller and lesser known brands, as long as quality, exclusivity, and price are in the right proportion”, he explains. “In August we will renovate our store for the first time in eleven years and we are very pleased to be able to make our customers happy in a new ambience.”

Bazar Royal

Grimmaische Strasse 2-4 - Mädler Passage 04109 Leipzig/Germany www.bazarroyal.com Owner: Torsten Mansfeld Employees: 7 (incl. online shop) Sales area: 100 sqm Brands: 7 For All Mankind, Aeronautica Militare, Ari Denim, Barbour, Barena, Belstaff, Bleu de Chauffe, Blonde No. 8, Campomaggi, C.P. Company, Denham the Jeanmaker, Dukes Finest Vintage Artisan, Edwin, Fame On You, Fil Noir, Freds Burder, Frogbox, Gilded Age, Harris Wharf London, Hartford, Hemley, Hüftgold, Johnson Motors, King Baby Studio, Met Jeans, Moma, Moschino, N.d.c., Nudie Jeans, Paige Denim, Parajumpers, Preventi, Prps, Red Wing Shoes, Rich & Royal, Rosemunde, Ruderiders, Shoto, Stetson, Striessnig Wien, True Religion Brand Jeans, Woolrich