Helping a Norwegian Retailer Upgrade the Tax Refund Experience
How Active Brands Switched to Pie VAT After Using Global Blue
The Client
Active Brands brings together a portfolio of premium Norwegian sporting brands including Kari Traa, Dæhlie, Sweet Protection, Johaug, Bula, Åsnes, and Vossatassar. Since its founding in 2009, Active Brands has expanded to over 250 employees in Oslo, Voss, Gothenburg, Trysil, Copenhagen, Helsinki, Denver, and Shanghai. We spoke with Sandra, the Store Manager at the Kari Traa Outlet Stavanger, Norway. This popular harbor town draws tourists visiting fjords as well as outdoor adventurers.
The Opportunity
Active Brands initially used Global Blue for tax refunds when they first opened. However, paper forms were creating headaches for staff and tourists. Sandra explained some customers even shopped elsewhere to avoid the refund hassle.
Our Solution
When introduced to Pie VAT's digital-first solution, Sandra advocated adopting our platform. Now her team processes tax refunds easily through their POS system, whereas customers complete most of the steps on their smartphones at a convenient time later.
The Impact
Since switching from Global Blue to Pie VAT, Active Brands has:
Made tax refunds effortless for staff and tourists
Seen international sales growth with the simplified process
Improved customer satisfaction and service quality
Enabled quick mobile refunds without hassle
"It's so much easier to use," Sandra raved. Pie VAT platform's ease of use and automation has been a total "game changer" compared to Global Blue.
