Much has already been said and written on the subject of "conscious consumption," also or especially in the area of merchandise retailing, because by its very nature there is plenty of room for debate here. Our customers share our claim that goods are manufactured in a resource-conserving and socially responsible manner and are durable. They prefer products of timeless appearance as well as regional origin. In short, they are no longer concerned with purchasing products alone, but also with the level of commitment and responsibility with which a company masters the social and ecological challenges of our time.