Taking a bigger bite than we can chew (41)

We have now reached the year of 2002 and we are still celebrating our success. Still young and hungry wanting more, we decide that only gloves is not enough. Little do we know that this idea will make us suffer for years to come.

As a pioneer we start a portal for all you need regarding workwear. We are talking gloves, shoes, workwear and every type of protection. This will be big. Our customers now only need to go to one place to buy all that they need.

What we didn't realize then, almost twenty years ago, was that it is very hard to be good at everything. How could we imagine that we, all of a sudden, would know everything about shoes, clothes and the rest?

The lesson came down hard. It took us around eight to ten years to realize that it was all a big mistake and it cost us a lot.

For everyone out there starting your own business: Make sure that you know your products and don't get too greedy. Now we are back, strong again, but it took a few years.

What we learnt? Stay with that you really know and do it as well as you can!

A day to remember

Today I wake up to the memory of a friend who left this world way too early, 16 years ago.

We met in the late nineties when he wrestled with my future brother-in-law at a bachelor party that I had arranged. Very quickly he became a close friend of mine. He always showed great interest in what I was working on and always wanted to hear what I was doing. We had a lot of discussions about what he should do after his career as an elite wrestler ended. He had a lot of ideas and we tried to find opportunities for his future. We turned all possible stones and even thought about working together in the glove business.

In 2000 the opportunity came to take over the GT wrestling competition and he was the driving force that convinced me to go in and change the competition name to Soft Touch Open. We were both very enthusiastic and happy to finally do something together.

The same year he went to Sydney to represent Sweden in wrestling. After having won the World and the European championships he now succeeded with his biggest dream - winning the Olympic gold. I watched him on TV with my family from our couch in Sweden. We were all so wonderfully happy for him. When he came back home we met and he brought his Olympic gold medal to show. I was allowed to hold it and it was a big, very big moment.

We all remember him as an amazing person with so much kindness and warmth. Forever missed.

R.I.P.

Soft Touch Open (40)

Boys and girls of all ages have come together. They have travelled from all parts of Sweden to Gothenburg to compete in wrestling. The biggest competition is the GT Wrestling which started in 1933. It has a long history.

To me, sports have always been extremely important. It is good for your health but also for the way it brings people together in common goals and in friendship. When we 2000 get the possibility to be the new main sponsor for this prestige wrestling competition we are very excited and jump to the idea.

The competition is renamed and from 2001 it will be known as Soft Touch Open. Swedish wrestling is among the best in the world and it is an honor to be part of it. To help these young people develop their athletic skills as well as building friendship, feels great. Next to a thousand wrestlers come to Gothenburg to compete each year and Soft Touch Open will become a big name in the wrestling world.

As I look back, the year of 2020 would have marked our 20th year in the game, but unfortunately, for the first time, the competition, like so many other things, has been cancelled due to the corona virus. We will make it even better next time!

Starting to be overconfident (39)

I slowly put down the phone. I cannot really believe what just happened. I sit quietly by my desk and just digest the call I just had. Really? They called us?

The caller was a man from Gore-Tex. Of course we know the brand. It is gigantic and such a big brand for sportswear. Obviously they now have a client who wants gloves with Gore-Tex and they called to ask if we could help to produce them. They will give us the lisence. What an honor! The client is DeWalt, another huge brand.

I just start shouting and walk into the warehouse to tell my co-workers. We give a high-five to each other and just stand there smiling in awe- his proves that we can do anything. We are invincible. We are just in the beginning of the new millennium. It couldn't have started better.

We have been asked for four different models with Windstopper and Gore-Tex. The production and the development of new gloves take a gigantic leap. We have been seen! We have been recognized!

Once again we believe that we can do anything. We don't even have to chase down the customers.