Then & Now

Arvid Nordquist H.A.B 125 years 1884-2009

Next strategic insight – Relations
Arvid Nordquist passed away on 8 September 1922 at the age of 64. His son Bengt was only ten at the time and for him nothing would ever be the same again. During the first Christmas after his father’s death, Bengt worked in the shop for the first time. At the age of 22, he started focusing full-time on the company. The shop remained the hub of the company, although the imports and sales to restaurants were also important. In the 1930s, knowledge of foreign languages was limited in Sweden. All the purchases of imported goods were made through agents, which meant that the company had no direct contact with the foreign export companies. The insightful CEO of Arvid Nordquist, Ernst Thelén, sent young Bengt to London, Paris, Hamburg and Berlin to learn how the import/export business worked. This time had a decisive impact on Bengt Nordquist’s career and the company’s development – cementing his ability to build long-standing business relations and to realise their importance.




 

Bengt learned that business can only be conducted if a relationship is created between people who have the authority and the willingness to make decisions. The personal commitment of a smaller company can mean more than major financial resources. A little sign on Bengt Nordquist’s desk summed up his motto: “Business is people”.

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