Pictured above is Marie exhibiting at our fair Fashion Week Trade in Stockholm Fashion District, February 2023.
Tell us about Addme, how did it all start?
It all started with me selling the seven stores in Stockholm that I had run for 13 years. After the sale, I didn’t really know what to do but I was soon contacted by one of the bag suppliers I worked with during my time at the stores.. They wanted to hire me to start selling accessories for Panos Emporio. I needed to think for a few days but ended up accepting the offer with the condition that I would start a new company of my own and become an agent. After starting up by selling bags for Panos Emporio for a couple of months, Panos himself called me up. He asked if I could consider selling his swimwear as well. I agreed to take up the sales of swimwear as well and ended up doing that for 12 years. It was a very exciting time, Panos Emporiors had its “heyday” during this period and a lot of fun things happened at the time, with many celebrities and big parties. I was also the one who managed the first Panos Emporios store in the Gallerian in Stockholm, I ran it in parallel with the agency for 3.5 years.
After working with Panos Emporio for 12 years, I decided with Martin, my current colleague whom I have only known since I ran the stores, to start working together. I resigned and we entered into a collaboration together with his brand, NYPD, which sold bags. Since then we have had a fantastic partnership, together we have sold different types of products but right now we only sell NYPD, Springfield, Delsey Paris, Biba Barcelona and myself Ciclon from Madrid.
Which type of products do you sell and which market do you target?
We sell bags, suitcases and jewelery and are present in the Swedish, Norwegian and Danish markets. You will find our products in various retail stores that sell bags, clothes interior design and shoes, but in addition to this, our products are also available at airports, on boats and in several online stores.
What do you think are the most important ingredients to succeed in what you do?
A good collaboration between us and the customers is an absolute must, but also of course having good products, and we always strive to make them even better We listen to our customers to a great extent and make the changes they want. Additionally, we are constantly looking for new customers, as there is often someone who closes down or disappears. We always aim to have good products that the end customer appreciates.
What does your industry look like today and what does the development look like going forward?
Everyone needs bags and suitcases and we never have to worry about the weather or similar circumstances, which is very nice! I think investing in more recycled materials in both bags and suitcases is a must for the future. Regarding sales in stores, it is, of course, the case that they oftentimes close down, but we also see that new ones are popping up all the time.
What is the most enjoyable part of your job?I would say that the absolute most fun is meeting my clients, that’s when I enjoy myself the most! Then I think it’s a lot of fun to produce the new collections for the coming season.
Addme on social media:
Instagram: @addmeab