Well, for instance, like this:
And on top of that, rugs, bedding, lighting…. And above all, the summer furniture.
Well, for instance, like this:
And on top of that, rugs, bedding, lighting…. And above all, the summer furniture.
I’ve never really thought of Sotka and Asko as Tokmanni’s competitors, but I think there’s a good point here. I don’t think we’re talking about anything massive on Tokmanni’s scale, but Tokmanni could benefit quite a bit in a category like outdoor furniture. In many smaller towns, the options for buying outdoor furniture might have previously been Sotka and Tokmanni. Perhaps Prisma and/or Cittari are also in the same waters. Next to my nearest Tokmanni, there was both a Sotka and an Asko.
A strong hunch, without knowing anything for sure. Actually, Tokmanni has very few rugs; I believe Ikea is where “the cheap ones” are bought, and those who have the cash have bought from Asko/Isku and will move to Veke, Vepsäläinen, or the like (or online).
In garden furniture, Masku is the biggest, and again, the customer base for Isku/Asko is quite different from Tokmanni’s. I strongly believe these too will move elsewhere rather than to Tokmanni.
Isku and Asko have mainly been used by “middle-income earners”; I strongly believe some will move to IKEA because it’s easy and you get the stuff right away. Or to Vepsäläinen (expensive, and you get the goods eventually).
At least I don’t see any circumstances where these would compete with each other for anything.
I could be wrong, of course. But at least I’ve bought beds and sofas from Isku (as clearance items with an 8-12 week delivery time ![]()
) and other furniture then from Ikea/Vepsäläinen/Veke.
In my world, Tokmanni’s biggest competitors are Puuilo, Jula, and Biltema. And these don’t compete for more than 1% max of the same customer segment.
I haven’t thought of Asko that way either, but in my opinion, Sotka is already quite close in terms of image and style. Fairly large commercial spaces are also coming onto the market through Sotka and Asko, so what would stop Tokmanni from expanding the availability of furniture in their stores at suitable locations, at least locally. I am mainly referring to the products in the category range I linked above, which can be ordered online but are not available in-store. Of course, I don’t expect Tokmanni stores to carry a selection of bed- and sofa-sized items, even if they are sold online.
This could also be a risk for Tokmanni if Jula and Rusta start grabbing these spaces.
Further up north, Ikea isn’t really an option for many if you want to check out rugs in person with little effort before buying. For many, Sotka/Asko have been the go-to places for more affordable rugs, and Tokmanni seems to have products in this exact segment in their stores, so sales could grow. In the latest flyer, they were just offering those twenty-euro rugs for 8 euros.
Dollarstore is strongly pursuing the position and image of the lowest-priced operator. In Sweden, price comparison results have been prominently featured on the homepage in a short and punchy way: “Billigast.”, meaning the cheapest. The message to consumers is clear, without any unnecessary explanations.
In Finland, a similar image is being built through the “Suomen halvin” (Finland’s cheapest) campaign, where individual products are marketed with the promise that they cannot be found cheaper elsewhere. This is an effective traffic-building mechanism, especially when the label is applied to everyday basic products. Currently, the campaign seems to focus on branded and specialty products, such as deodorants, olive oil, small engine gasoline, and Moomin mugs. Highlighting individual products may not necessarily be enough to build a broader price perception of overall low prices, but it still serves as an effective way to draw customers in.
The “Finland’s cheapest” campaign is the best thing that has happened at Tokmanni in years. A differentiator after the Tokmanni truck and bucket, which were launched years ago. And Tokmanni needs a draw more than anything, because at the moment, not many people are wandering into the stores.
As for the bankruptcy of Sotka and Asko, I would personally lean towards the negative side for Tokmanni. Or it’s hard to say, because according to some studies, apparent competition in adjacent stores can increase the commercial performance of both, whereas deserted neighboring stores will surely actively drive consumers away.
And if Puuilo, Rusta, and Jysk move in next door, it would be interesting to hear if there would still be positive traffic or if Tokmanni will be left as a wallflower. ![]()
There’s about to be a direct practical example of this. In Heinola, Puuilo recently opened its store next to the existing Tokmanni; Jysk was already there, and Rusta is apparently opening in the same location this month as well.
Who drops out first? Time will tell.