ABSTRACT
Fashion is the core product line of OTTO, the German multichannel retailer, which was established in Hamburg in 1949 as "Otto Versand." Since then, OTTO has developed into an international business and furthermore into a globally active trading and services group, the Otto Group. The company played a part in the multi-stakeholder process of Social Accountability International with the development of the SA8000 standard, which was initiated in 1997. As part of its Market Development Programme, which the Otto Group has been running since 2003 in all relevant markets, suppliers are qualified through subject-related workshops and training courses and factory visits. A key factor for success was that the project was top-management responsibility right from the start and the buyers agreed on clear procedural guidelines. The timescale that was set was ambitious. At the end of February 2007, the Buying Area informed the various offices and their social officers about its social requirements as part of the pilot project.
