Pete walks to the beat of fashion and dance  

Pete Rahikainen is responsible for Stockmann’s selection of men’s design fashion and spends his free time dancing. He wants shopping at Stockmann to be an experience for customers.

What do you do at Stockmann and how did you end up working here? 

I started working here in the spring of 2023. I read the job advertisement and realised that this was the job I wanted. I have always worked in retail, most recently as the country manager of a men’s clothing chain. In my role as a buyer and assortment manager for men’s fashion at Stockmann, I build the best possible product selection for our customers. I am responsible for designer brands and men’s suits. My work involves a lot of budgeting and examining commercial terms, but also a more creative aspect, where the buyer’s own vision is important. 

What is the best thing about your job?

The best part of my job is traveling to visit our suppliers all over Europe. I get a lot of joy and inspiration for my work from these trips. Fashion purchases are made in four cycles and planned a year in advance. Of course, the choices are made in collaboration with the brands, but the buyer must also have their own vision for the selection. I’m inspired by old movies, TV series and everything around me. At the moment, men’s fashion is all about the old money style that can be admired in films such as The Talented Mr. Ripley. Giorgio Armani passed away this year, and it will be interesting to see how his legacy will influence fashion. 

Share one surprising thing your colleagues don’t know about you.  

It’s no secret that I’m also a professional dancer. Dance is a great source of inspiration for me, and I spend almost all my free time dancing. This has also given me the opportunity to work with various artists and TV productions. When I go on a vacation, I choose a destination that has nothing to do with fashion and offers no related stimuli. Once, I drove a thousand kilometres from Marrakech in Marocco to the Sahara. 

Your most memorable moment at Stockmann?

I think of the times when I’ve had good feedback from our suppliers. We have almost 50 suppliers, so I always wonder  if I’m able to give them enough of my time. It also felt like a great achievement when my temporary contract was made permanent pretty quickly. 

What is the best way to wow customers? 

I like to create a lasting impression on customers, even if they don’t make a purchase right away. I know I’ve succeeded when a visit to our men’s fashion department is an important and inspiring moment for the customer. I also try to find brands for our selection that are sold exclusively at Stockmann. 

read more about stockmann people:

Cilla Eklund

Read career story

Stefan Fyhr

Read career story