Signa has started outlining some of the changes it will implement as part of the consolidation of Kaufhof and Karstadt department store chains in Germany. In the last quarter of 2018, Kaufhof announced sales down 4% on the previous year's quarter, and online sales were also down 1%.

Administration and management of Kaufhof will be transferred from Cologne to Karstadt offices in Essen. Cologne will become a digital centre and will also include the food business. Around 1000 jobs are expected to be lost in the headquarters. A further 1600 losses in stores are expected but have not been announced yet.

The Saks Off 5th, which had been introduced by Hudson's Bay, will be transformed into Karstadt Sports stores. Hudson's Bay, which acquired Kaufhof in 2015, now controls 49% of the business.