In great memory

Today should have been another chapter in the story of my life in the glove business. I am so happy that I started this process, bringing out all the memories and the respect I have for my father.

In the morning of the 28th of April he passed away in his sleep after having been sick in COVID-19 for a couple of weeks. He was almost back in shape, but being almost 90, it was too much for his body in the end. 

I will continue my journey of writing about us and our story. There will be laughs, tears and memories of all the problems we had working together, father and son. But most of all there will be a lot of love. I will always be thankful for the tough times, but most of all for his belief in me. I have learnt so much from him and I have seen him being proud of me, as well as over my family. Together we made a small piece of history.

He was a big man and will be greatly missed!

The transformation! (12)

It is time to board the plane taking us half across the globe. My father is here in the seat next to mine. For the first time we are going on a business trip together. I take out my notes and look at the names of the companies that I am going to visit. It was hard work just to find them. The Swedish Business Council had lists and I found an export magazine where I got a couple of names. When I arrive in Hong Kong I will try to find the yellow pages. I must be able to find more suppliers that way.

The dinner on the plane is over and we take a whisky after the meal. Saying cheers - as equals this time. I can see that my father expects a lot from me. I have decided to take all the meetings alone, to show him that I am worthy of his support. My father has other meetings to attend. He has promised to show me around Hong Kong and I am so eager to see everything

The stewardess comes over to ask us if we want something else, but I close my eyes and drift away, dreaming about the trip I have waiting for me. Tomorrow I will take a step from being just a 22-year old man to be a true businessman. Hong Kong here I come!

The journey begins! (11)

I am back in my father's office. He looks at me with a patient smile. OK, he says. Your idea. You will be responsible for everything - finding suppliers, products, customers. The whole chain. I will help you with the money. I will lend you enough to fill a container. Time for research!

During the mid-eighties there is no such thing as the internet. I have to work in a totally different way. There is a magazine you can get with suppliers for different types of goods. Since my father already is buying from China I look for suppliers in the same part of the world. Yes! There it is! I find two or three suppliers in Hong Kong. Meetings are booked and I am ready to fly.

I have been in China and Hong Kong with my parents when I was younger so there is nothing strange in travelling to Asia. I feel like I own this. Now is my time to shine and come back with excellent gloves and show everyone what a businessman I am.

Finally I can give my ideas wings and see if it is better to be my own employer instead of working for someone else. What I don't know at this moment is that from now on it will always be me and gloves, like a life-long marriage. Me and my gloves.

The idea (10)

I am back at home, 22 years old, considering what I should do. Sometimes I talk to my friends to get ideas. One day I have my friend Mats on the phone. A friend from the military service days. He is now working as a carpenter. I listen to him talking about his job and all of a sudden I'm alert and my brain starts sending out strong signals to my body. He said gloves! Gloves - a thing that is used and thrown away. A product that workers need every day.

All of a sudden I am back at the family dinner table. Wait now! What was it my parents always said? Consumable goods..! Here it is and what a great idea! Gloves it will be.

I am ready to return to my father and present the idea. Hopefully he will like it as much as I do!

Today I can smile at how I was back then. As a dog after a bone. So happy to have found something, but maybe not so many thoughts around the whole thing. No planning, just the product. The glove journey started right here, but the road would be long and winding. Something I did not realize at the time :)

The challenge! (9)

I sit relaxed in a big chair in my father's office, telling him about my idea of starting to work in our family business together with him. Waiting for him to jump for joy. But nothing goes as expected.

I am met with silence. And then - a big NO. I am in shock. What just happened? My father is a smart man. He understands that if I come back, just starting off with the same things he does, there will be fights and disagreements. His answer to me is to go home, find a business idea of my own, plan it and then come back to him for new discussions.

I have taken everything for granted, always succeeded in getting a job. This is the first time I get refused, and by my own father. My reaction is dismay, disbelief and I can hardly take it in.

But my father wants more for me. He teaches me not to take life for granted but to earn it. To stand on my own two feet. And when I am ready, he will listen, give advice and help me. But I have to do my lesson first. I will rise to the challenge. I will not let him down!