Ulla Popken
Popken Fashion Group · Germany
Ulla Popken is a German womenswear label and retailer focused on larger sizes. It is the best-known brand of the Popken Fashion Group, formed in 2012, and traces its roots to a textile business founded in Hamelin in 1880.
| Founded | 1880 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Johann Popken |
| Owner | Popken Fashion Group (formed 2012) |
| Headquarters | Rastede, Germany |
| Segment | Mass market and fast fashion |
| Online store | Since 1999 |
| Website | ullapopken.com |
What is Ulla Popken?
Ulla Popken is a German fashion brand and retailer for women, best known for its plus-size ranges. It is the lead brand of the Popken Fashion Group, which was formed in 2012 and also includes Gina Laura, JP1880 and Studio Untold.
History
The company's origins go back to 1880, when Johann Popken founded a textile business in Hamelin, Germany. The business later developed into a fashion retailer and today has its headquarters in Rastede, in the Ammerland district of Lower Saxony.
Business model and distribution
Ulla Popken sells largely through its own channels rather than through third-party wholesale. According to public reference sources, the brand operates more than 320 stores across Europe and sells online. Its online store was launched in 1999, which makes it an early mover among German fashion retailers in e-commerce.
- Own stores: more than 320 stores across Europe
- E-commerce: online store operating since 1999
- Catalogue: a printed catalogue business, documented for the US market, where a store also opened in Towson, Maryland, in 2000
International presence
Outside Germany the brand has built a presence through stores in several European markets and through catalogue and online sales to customers in the United States. Its first US store opened in Towson, Maryland, in 2000, a little more than a year after the launch of its online shop.
Why it matters
Ulla Popken is one of the larger European specialists in extended sizing, a segment that mainstream fashion chains have only gradually addressed. As the anchor brand of a group with several labels covering different customer groups, it shows how a family-rooted German company has combined a store network, catalogue heritage and online retail.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Ulla Popken from?
Ulla Popken is a German brand. Its roots go back to a textile business founded by Johann Popken in Hamelin in 1880, and the company is headquartered in Rastede, Germany.
Who owns Ulla Popken?
Ulla Popken is part of the Popken Fashion Group, which was formed in 2012 and also includes Gina Laura, JP1880 and Studio Untold. Details of the shareholder structure behind the group were not verified for this profile.