Stockmann proposes Women's Day as a national flag day

Stockmann, Press Release 6 March 2025 

International Women’s Day is not an official flag day or public holiday in Finland, unlike in almost 30 other countries around the world. For Stockmann, women's rights are an important part of history and especially of the future. For this reason, Stockmann  submitted a proposal to the Ministry of the Interior on 6 March 2025 to make Women's Day an official flag day also here in Finland.

According to the SDG Gender Index* (2024), positive progress on women's rights is either stalled or declining for one billion women and girls worldwide. Stockmann will fly the Finnish flag on International Women’s Day 8 March and encourages others to do the same for women’s rights.
 
“Equality does not happen by itself. On the contrary, women's rights are partially going in the wrong direction. Equality and equal rights must be fought for. That is why we also encourage other companies, housing associations, government agencies and individuals to raise the flag on Women's Day," says Tia Rantanen, Chief Brand, Customer and Sustainability Officer at Stockmann.
 
Finland has seven official flag days a year and 15 established ones. Women's Day is not one of them. International Women’s Day is celebrated on 8 March, but the significance of the day varies from country to country. On 6 March 2025, Stockmann submitted a proposal to the Ministry of the Interior to make Women's Day an official flag day in Finland.
 
“Stockmann has a long tradition of creating and fostering equality. The decline in women's rights is something we cannot stand by and watch. Women's Day is about equality for all genders. That’s what we want to raise the flag for, now and in the future," says Rantanen.
 
Women’s rights, part of the history and future of the department store
 
As early as the 1940s, Stockmann set up its own sales school, helping to make it possible for women to enter the world of work. As there was still no municipal daycare in Finland after the war, Stockmann set up a creche for the children of its employees in Munkkiniemi. The creche continued to operate until 1977.
 
“Companies have a responsibility to ensure that we enable career development and the combination of work and home life for all genders. At Stockmann, we can be proud of the unique career stories that are created within our walls, for example through job rotation," says Rantanen.
 
Stockmann’s commercial management is 100% female, with 67% of department store directors and 80% of all employees.
 
For its customers too, Stockmann has historically stood for independence and freedom. At a time when women could not, for example, go to a restaurant without a male escort, they were welcomed to Stockmann to do their shopping or to enjoy the café and restaurant services. Today, 73% of Stockmann’s loyal customers are women.

Stockmann has spoken up for women in the past too. In 2018, Stockmann changed its name to Stockwoman using it on everything from department store signage to receipt rolls to remind us of the importance of equality in our society and to celebrate femininity. 
  
Source: SDG gender index 2024 

Further information:
Stockmann MediaDesk, tel. +358 50 389 0011, info@stockmann.com
Tia Rantanen, Chief Brand, Customer and Sustainability Officer, Stockmann, 
tel. +358 40 802 0878

Stockmann is a marketplace for a good life, founded in 1862. Its department stores are known for high-quality selections of fashion, beauty and home brands. In the Baltics, Stockmann also offers quality food and beverages. Stockmann has eight department stores in Finland and the Baltics and an online store stockmann.com. Stockmann is part of Lindex Group plc, which is listed on Nasdaq Helsinki and had a turnover of EUR 940 million in 2024. www.lindex-group.com.