Varner-Gruppen

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Varner-Gruppen AS
Type	Private
Founded	1962
Founder	Frank Varner
Headquarters	Oslo, Norway
Area served	Northern Europe
Industry	Retail
Revenue	NOK 7,609 million (2006)
Operating income	NOK 895 million (2006)
Net income	NOK 648 million (2006)
Owner	Turid Varner Marius Varner Petter Varner Joakim Varner
Employees	7,442
Website	www.varner.no

Varner-Gruppen AS is the largest actor in the textile retailing trade in Norway with approximately 500 stores around the country, including Bik Bok, Carlings, Cubus, Dressmann, Solo, Urban, Vivikes, Wearhouse and WOW. The stores are located throughout Scandinavia, the Baltic Countries, Germany and Poland. The group has more than 1,100 stores in total, and operates all of them themselves, without the use of franchising.

[edit] History

Varner-Gruppen was founded by Frank Varner in 1962 when he opened his first store. Five years later he launched the Dressmann chain. In 1985 the group entered women's clothing, with the launch of Carlings. This was followed by the purchase of Cubus (1989), Bik Bok (1991) and Vivikes (1994). During the later part of the 2000s Varner has had an average store growth of about 80 outlets. The company has since been taken over by Frank Varner's children Marius Varner, Petter Varner and Joakim Varner. The company is privately held and unlisted.