Friends for life (20)

In the late 80's English is not widely spoken in China. When we are at the Canton Fair there are a lot of young guys, like myself, helping out as translators. They study at universities and have part time jobs during the fair for business meetings with many of the glove producing companies. Since the translators don't actually work for the companies, they are not supposed to mingle with the customers. However since they are the only ones speaking English, they are the only ones I can talk to.

Back then, I was a big smoker. A perfect way of getting to know other people. Once in a while during the day after the exhibition I will go out to have a cigarette. By coincidence one or two of the young translators do the same thing - and we start talking. I offer them my Marlboro cigarettes and they are eager to try the American brand. A couple of nights later I join them for a game of pool and some beers at a pub.

These small gestures - a cigarette, a friendly game and an interest in each other's way of life - have taught me how little there is needed to start a life long friendship. Don't be afraid of different cultures - in so many ways we are the same. A few guys enjoying a smoke, beer and a game of pool.

Canton Fair (19)

Canton Fair started in 1957. Now it is 1989 and from being an exhibition for raw materials when it started, you can now see exhibitors from all over the world coming in thousands. It is a huge market place and it feels like you can find almost whatever you might be looking for.

I am again travelling with my father and I am almost overwhelmed as we enter the big exhibition halls. My father has been here before and he knows how to attack the place in the right way. We visit suppliers for his own goods and then for mine.

What strikes me is that my father is treated with so much respect. The coming year he will turn 60 and in Asia, there is an enormous respect for older people. Back in Sweden, and in many other countries around the world, the older ones are supposed to give way for the younger generation. Here they appreciate the wisdom and experience from someone who has been around for a long time. I try my best to make my voice heard, but see many of the suppliers turning to my father for important things. This is something I will cherish and remember. Hopefully I will be treated the same at a later stage in life. 

Learning (18)

Life is so much easier now having a colleague at work. I start to travel more and visit customers all over Sweden. Most of the people I meet are much older than I with my 25 years. This is the late 80's and there is a lot of drinking at lunch and after work for many. I don't mind taking a beer now and then, but since I just started, and with my young age, I try to find other ways to get to know my customers. I start bringing my badminton gear and my golf clubs. The exercises give us a good time and I can see how much better I do my work after a game of badminton.

Meeting new customers also comes with challenges. In two out of ten meetings I know that I can supply the gloves they need but for the other eight I cannot. The ask for gloves and functions that I have never heard of, still being inexperienced. I bring a big note book on my travels and write down everything that is being asked for.

I realize I still have a lot to learn. Where would be the best place? A plan takes form. I need to go back to China, get to know some more suppliers and learn from the source. Where to meet them? Of course, The Canton Fair.

My first office (17)

The months pass by and my glove business is actually becoming a proper business. My father´s garage is getting too small for all the gloves coming in from China. I also need a colleague to help me with my glove business. To be a purchaser, warehouse worker, seller, sender, invoice-maker and bookkeeper all-in-one is becoming a bit too much.

The location I eventually find is on Andrégatan in Gothenburg. It is a very run-down place but it is what I can afford at the moment. All the warehouses are quite small and I need to rent two of them as well as an office. The warehouses are on floor two and four so it will be a lot of running up and down. The office is small, but enough for two people. It is located in a small side building, connected to the bigger one, and it is covered in graffiti.

Some of the other tenants are a bit different in their way of doing business and when we need to work late we look over our shoulders when needing to go up to the warehouses. However, we are only 23 years old, and there is not much that scares us.

Today I look back and smile, very happy that I don't have to be in that office any longer.