In this quarterlyStützle, Karo once again talks to Vanessa Stützle, CEO of the LUQOM Group, about the most exciting developments in German e-commerce right now. Every three months, the two jointly assess market trends, challenges and opportunities, this time with a particular focus on market sentiment, profitability and geopolitical shifts.
Vanessa gives an insight into LUQOM's recent business development. Despite a challenging environment, the company recorded EBITDA growth of 50 percent last year and in Q1 — a sign of clear strategies, efficient structures and strong teams. Together, Karo and Vanessa discuss why niche players are doing well right now and how companies are mastering the balancing act between price pressure and brand loyalty.
Another key issue is the planned US tariff increases and their impact on global trade. While LUQOM is not directly affected, it shows how strongly Asian providers such as Temu, Shein and JD.com are ramping up their activities in Europe, including logistics development and aggressive advertising strategies. The two analyse openly and differentiated what this means for competition and how European companies can position themselves.
Beauty news also has its place. Shein cosmetics label SheGlam will apparently soon be listed in DM stores, a move that raises new questions about responsibility, target group relevance and product range strategy. Vanessa assesses the news from a retail perspective and certainly sees opportunities for everyone involved.
The usual honest, strategic and well-founded look at e-commerce.
Our key insights about the QuarterlyStützle podcast:
📈 Systematic profitability: A clear strategy, strong teams and a focus on efficiency make LUQOM an example of growth in a difficult market environment.
🌐 Global pressure: US tariffs and China expansion are changing competition. platform-
Players like JD.com are pushing for Europe and Shein is relying on stationary presence via dm.
🧠 AI, content & customer centricity: Real differentiation is achieved through empathic e-commerce, data-based management and brand loyalty instead of a price battle.
💄 TikTok & SheGlam as a reality test: Young target groups are changing buying behavior. dm therefore focuses on relevance through frequency providers rather than maximizing sales.
🛍️ E-commerce is not a diesel engine: Anyone who today curates smartly, thinks vertically and uses economies of scale can also grow in saturated markets.
