€650,000 in Workforce Cost Savings Over Two Years
How the traditional fashion house Garhammer from Waldkirchen uses SEAK to reduce staffing costs, maintain exceptional in-store consultation quality, and give employees greater work-life balance through fairer scheduling.
Garhammer at a Glance
Modehaus Garhammer is a family-owned fashion house based in Waldkirchen, Bavaria, situated at the crossroads of Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic. Founded in 1896 and now in its fourth generation of family ownership, the company has built its reputation on an unwavering commitment to customer satisfaction and exceptional service.
Team
450 employees and 20 apprentices
Space & Assortment
9,000 m² — Leisure, Business, Young Fashion, Shoes, Accessories, Lingerie
SEAK customer since 2008
Workforce Planning, Staff Scheduling, Employee Self-Service Portal
Numbers, Data, Facts
Cost reduction in personnel expenses during the first two years post-implementation
Personnel cost ratio over two years (−0.7% in the year of implementation, −0.6% in the following year)
Employees across 6 sales divisions plan independently with SEAK
uses SEAK's workforce demand planning and scheduling solution
The Challenge
Until 2008, Garhammer outsourced its annual workforce planning to an external consultant. The consultant would translate management targets down to the department level and enter them into the existing workforce planning software. It worked — but it was costly and lacked the precision the business needed.
Five specific pain points were holding them back:
High Consulting Costs
For planning that only happens once a year.
Lack of Understanding
The consultant lacked an understanding of our specific processes and service standards.
Frames Too Broad
As a result, HR managers were unable to use these for meaningful workforce analytics and controlling.
Know-how on the Go
The expertise for workforce planning resided outside the company — not within Garhammer's own administration.
Minor Employees
They were left completely out of the equation when it came to credits.
Alexander Grindinger – Authorized Signatory & Head of Administration – Modehaus Garhammer
"The targets were so broadly defined that meaningful headcount controlling was impossible. Managers could meet their quotas without any real effort — especially since marginally employed staff weren't counted toward the figures at all."
The Decision: How We Connected with SEAK
Online Research, Recommendations, and Retail Industry References
Garhammer wanted to bring workforce planning expertise back in-house — and roll out a sound understanding of cost-effective staff scheduling across all locations. Initial contact with SEAK came through online research and conversations with partner companies already using the solution.
The deciding factors were SEAK's strong retail-specific reference list and the consistently positive feedback from within their industry network.
The Rollout: How SEAK Was Implemented
Workforce Planning and Scheduling Across Sales Departments
The introduction of SEAK prompted Garhammer to overhaul its entire scheduling process. HR managers across all six sales departments were trained and given direct ownership of their planning responsibilities. Since then, each department manages its own scheduling independently — based on the annual plan and the revenue and productivity targets set by senior management.
What the software actually covers
Annual Planning
Staff hours and staffing requirements across the year — seasonality, public holidays, school breaks, and promotional campaigns are all mapped within the system.
Automatic Shift Suggestions
Per day and department — demand-driven, with optimal distribution throughout the day. Fully adjustable by store management.
Qualifications & Features
Required qualifications and employee roles are automatically factored into every scheduling decision.
Contract & Preferences
Contractually agreed hours and individual employee preferences are fully incorporated into the scheduling process.
Justice Factors
Scheduling that works for everyone — including the fair distribution of free Saturdays — instead of one-size-fits-all rules.
Gross & Net Working Hours
Gross and net working hours across your entire planning period — with automatic adjustment for public holidays, vacation, and sick leave. Instantly highlights overstaffing and understaffing.
Alexander Grindinger – Authorized Signatory & Head of Administration – Modehaus Garhammer
"Implementing this software prompted us to overhaul our entire scheduling process. For the first time, we could actually measure our staffing needs — and gut-feel decision-making became a thing of the past."
The Result: What Has Changed Since Then
Data-Driven Decisions, Not Gut Feelings – With Measurable Impact
The results speak across four dimensions: business performance, leadership effectiveness, employee satisfaction, and customer perception.
Business Management
Leadership
Employee Satisfaction
Customer Perception
Alexander Grindinger – Authorized Signatory & Head of Administration – Modehaus Garhammer
"SEAK helps us ensure that our well-trained staff are available on the floor in sufficient numbers whenever customers need them. And customers notice the difference."
Which Garhammer modules are in use
Alexander Grindinger – Authorized Signatory & Head of Administration – Modehaus Garhammer
"I'm genuinely impressed by SEAK's service — especially the support team. Every interaction stands out for its friendliness, deep expertise, and fast response times. To me, SEAK means one thing above all: outstanding support."
Let's talk about whether SEAK is the right fit for your business
In a 30-minute introductory call, we'll assess where your business stands today, identify which modules are the right priority for your situation, and outline a realistic implementation roadmap.
Alternatively, you're welcome to reach out via our contact form — we'll get back to you promptly. Or give us a call at: +49 40 238 348 – 000
The Trade Trusts SEAK
From fashion and food retail to building materials and specialist trade: retailers across Germany rely on SEAK to manage their workforce.
One of Germany's most iconic fashion retail brands
Founded in 1896 in Waldkirchen, Garhammer is today a fourth-generation family business. With around 450 employees and 20 apprentices, it ranks among the largest employers in the tri-border region of Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic.
Across approximately 9,000 square meters of retail space, Garhammer offers a curated selection of casualwear, businesswear, occasionwear, young fashion, footwear, accessories, and lingerie. Widely regarded as a benchmark retailer in the German fashion industry, the company has built a strong reputation for outstanding customer service and a client-first approach — recognized through numerous awards earned over the decades.