As a visitor, you are greeted by many signs at the entrance. We knock to find out more about the Business House. Brothers Anders Stenberg and Jan-Erik Häll, who own the property, welcome you and tell you more.
Anders started Stenbergs Profilkläder on Sollerön in 1991 and H & A Brodyr in Borlänge in 1993. Since 2000, Anders has been running Inter Quality AB on Sollerön with the product digital embroidery cards.
“I have built up good contacts with Russia for many years. And there are my programmers who deliver the cards digitally, which works very well,” says Anders. “However, the competition from China and also the USA is starting to get tougher. In the beginning, I met many customers and sold, but today all contacts are made digitally. But it used to be built on personal contacts. Norway is my single most important market,” says Anders, showing on a computer screen how customers themselves place their orders online.
Jan-Erik has been running Soldbrodyr for 17 years. “Companies with branded clothing are my customers and are located in places such as Malmö, Uddevalla and Södertälje. And locally I have collaborations with several companies in Mora. Here in the workshop I embroider emblems, badges and logos on caps, hats, jackets and polo shirts, which are most popular. I buy thread from England but we will see how it will be after Brexit. I will probably have to change suppliers. All thread is made in Asia.”
Why do companies hire Soldbrodyr? "Yes, you might wonder. Well, I keep a reasonable price point and I am flexible and always solve customers' problems. However, I notice that customers' order volumes were higher a few years ago than they are today. Sales are seasonal. There is a full rush for Christmas and up until the summer holidays. Today, all my contacts with suppliers and customers take place digitally. Previously, it was a lot on the phone."
In addition to Soldbrodyr, Jan-Erik also runs Hälls Gym down in the basement. A popular "hangout" for those who want to exercise between the ages of 14 and 82 before the pandemic hit. "The pensioners had started well but have now taken a break. The gym is open and you get in with your own key. Monthly or half-yearly cards are what you need to get stronger, more flexible and have more energy."
We take a tour of the Company House. Soldbrodyr has its warehouse upstairs. In addition to Hälls Gym, the Local Heritage Association's unique Textile Collection with parish costumes, etc. is in the basement. Sollerö Vävstuga Emgart operates around 20 looms on the ground floor. "Business is up and running and there is always someone there weaving," says Jan-Erik. Furthermore, the brothers' mother – Birgit Stenberg – runs the company Bibbi Skon, which sells handmade shoes for folk costumes and folk dance, and does charity work with collections for the Friends of Moldova. There is also a rented apartment in the house and the possibility of renting office space.
We thank them for the interview and ask if they enjoy being their own business owners and living on Sollerön. “Yes, we are happy with our businesses and living here. It’s close to everything. Great school for the kids. Nature. Calm and no stress,” say Anders and Jan-Erik.
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