We enjoyed visiting Skandinavisk, a candle and fragrance company on our final day in Copenhagen. This visit was truly intriguing, thanks to the company’s creative approach and inspirational vision. Unlike many other companies we encountered, Skandinavisk centers its mission around the emotions its products aim to evoke. This unique perspective sets them apart in the business world. Shaun Russell, the kind founder, shared his belief in a common bond among Scandinavians. Contrary to the prevailing perception of the region being solely dominated by forests, Russell emphasized the diverse natural landscapes that Scandinavia encompasses. By capturing the essence of these various areas through scents, he seeks to share the Scandinavian experience with people worldwide.
Russell hopes his products will offer a glimpse into what it truly means to be Scandinavian and dispel stereotypes held by individuals worldwide. He understands the powerful connection between scents and memories. He believes that people will relate to these Scandinavian fragrances, even if their personal memories aren’t directly linked. The company’s aesthetic culture is equally fascinating. Skandinavisk has curated a distinct look that seamlessly combines its mission with the Scandinavian style. Their minimalistic yet chic logo is the result of dedicated efforts, including close collaboration with a graphic designer. None of the companies we’ve encountered prioritized their aesthetic identity to such an extent. Coming from a creative background myself, it was truly captivating to witness a company leveraging the talents of creatives to promote its brand.
Russell also spoke at length about the Scandinavian identity and how individuals within the region often focus on their differences rather than their similarities. He hopes his brand can help locals recognize the shared fragrances and lifestyles that unite them. While the brand primarily aims to enlighten outsiders about Scandinavia, it can also foster a sense of unity among fellow Scandinavians, helping them rediscover their love for their respective countries.
Copenhagen has been an intriguing experience. With its status as a global hub and the abundance of praise I had heard, my expectations were exceedingly high. However, I was taken aback by the city’s apparent dirtiness and compactness. Initially, I was more inclined to leave than explore. Yet, after listening to Russell speak, I decided to give the city another chance. We ventured out and immersed ourselves in all that Copenhagen has to offer. This outing allowed me to discover the city’s charm. From quaint cafes to fantastic shopping and breathtaking waterfront views, Copenhagen revealed its true allure. I could sense the essence of “Hygge” (togetherness) that Russell had mentioned, as the city’s connectedness inspired our group to bond in a new and meaningful way, for which I am truly grateful.
As our journey draws to a close, I find myself excited to move on to our final stop, Gothenburg. With this being my sixth and last blog post, I believe providing a brief wrap-up of our adventure is fitting. This trip has been a gratifying experience filled with ups and downs. Among the cities we visited, Stockholm stands out as my favorite due to its pristine cleanliness, awe-inspiring vistas, and remarkable museums. Nevertheless, each city possesses its own unique charm in its own way. Throughout this journey, I had the opportunity to forge strong bonds with my cohort, make new friends, and immerse myself in a range of novel experiences. It allowed me to explore a place I may not have discovered otherwise and embrace new opportunities. Overall, I am immensely grateful for being a part of this trip and having the chance to delve into Scandinavian culture and business.
Thanks,
Sam Hartman
WELCOME TO ETHAN’S LAST POST!
Vince Carter. Half-man, half-amazing. Has absolutely nothing to do with this post other than I wanted to use the quote. Though he did play for my hometown Memphis Grizzlies for minute there.
Regardless. I got one more blog post to write and it’s the one we’ve all been waiting for (at least all two people who read our Blog Post 4 and the intro to my 5). This is the one where I actually spend a lot of time on the business that we visited as opposed to the experiences I had outside of them. It will be a tough road sure. The hardships will be real. My mind may break under the pressure of changing how I write. I will have to persevere through it all. I will need to do mental exercises to ensure I’m strong enough. In the end, two questions remain. Can I do it? Maybe. Am I stalling? Yes.
Volvo. The car my mother had when I was growing up. The so-called “Mom-car”, “Mom-mobile” if you will. What did I know about the company going in? That’s about it. Also they are highly recognized for their safety. Yeah, I’m not really a car-guy. That said, this was a really cool experience. Let’s get into it.
So, we started the day at Volvo Cars which had a great set of display rooms. There was a heavy focus during this part of the presentation on electric and autonomous vehicles. Starting with EVs, we were able to see a C40 Recharge model up close and were given insights into the 10 design principles that the company tries to fit into each model. They like clean-cut lines and an uncluttered look and work to make sure that each car is distinctive to the brand. There are also bends in the metal which are used both to strengthen it and also to play with light that hits the car. Although Thomas, our guide, said he didn’t like the design of the display car, he was happy to show us some concept art of his favorite design the Volvo ever made: the Volvo Concept Estate. Unfortunately it did not make it into the product line.
Next, we moved to the autonomous car exhibit. The designs were super cool and the video we were shown was very informative on the route Volvo Cars was trying to with them. They mentioned possibly being able to hold meetings in them and doing pickup jobs. To ensure their safety on the roads, they would give visuals and auditory signals through light bands and directional noises. They had thought of bikers, random pedestrians, and legislative issues that they would need to work on. It seemed like a real possibility that these could be on the road somewhere in the next decade or two.
Once we were done there, we went through a light safety demonstration that involved a slow moving car seat on a ramp and a very touching video that they had released a few years ago that pushed their new in-car cameras as a necessary feature in stopping drunk or tired drivers. Even when they revealed the reasoning behind the ad at the end, I was hesitant. Privacy is important, but they said that cars using this feature have already been sold and are on the road. I will probably have to read more about it to ease any concern, but for now I’m uncertain on my feelings towards this.
Once we were done there, we went on a factory tour (no pictures allowed sadly). Let me tell you, this factory is huge! They had over 1,000 people and 1,000 robots going during any given shift. It seemed like it would never end. The robots reminded me of the lab we saw in Lund and seeing them in use made me appreciate what they do even more. Also in use here were automated vehicles. They would transport materials from point to point and would go to a designated charging point themselves when their battery was low. When one was headed straight for our little tram, everyone in my car turned their heads to ensure our group members behind us weren’t hit. It stopped in time thankfully.
One thing I didn’t appreciate about the factory was the fumes. I talked to Mario about it and he said it used to be much worse, but he also noted certain safety concerns with workers not wearing earplugs or with hard hats used sparsely. We also both thought to ask what the plans were for the future of the factory. This specific one produces only cars with internal combustion engines, but Volvo Cars has a goal to be fully electric by 2030. Unfortunately, our guide was uncertain of any talks going on and I don’t remember her mentioning any re-training plans.
After the factory tour, we moved onto lunch and presentations at Volvo Group, a separate company under the same brand that does everything but cars. Our talks were heavy on electric and energy use in the future. We did a group activity where we looked to plan out the energy landscape in 2040 and how Volvo Group should look to position themselves in the market to be the best transport company for that future. We looked into several areas (at worksites, on the road, in cities, and at sea) where energy would be a key factor and tried to find trends and challenges using specific roles that we blindly chose. I picked moderator both times so my job wasn’t that bad. I tried my best to keep the conversation and ideas flowing, but thankfully my groups were filled with smart and professional people so I rarely had to jump in.
That was our last visit and we left around 3 in the afternoon. The next few hours were strange. It felt right that it was ending, after all we’d been expecting it, but you never want it to. Being in such a great group and being able to experience such great cultures and cities is unmatched. To end, I spent time drinking and enjoying the peaceful day at a park near the hotel with a few friends. Later, we went to meet some Swedish friends of Niklas and all joined for dinner at a place that served a lot more fish than I would have liked. Still, I had so much fun.
I’m going to miss this group, but I’m really glad I got the chance to spend such a great trip with them. Thanks Niklas and Mario for everything. Y’all made it unforgettable.
And so, here I go. Signing off for the last time. I got no more in me.
Ethan
