Sajaco Nordic is making a name for itself in the Nordic bag trade
Stockholm Fashion District is home to many prominent brands, one of them that holds a permanent showroom here is Sajaco Nordic. From its roots in the 1970s, it has grown to become a leading player in the Nordic bag industry. In recent years they have doubled their turnover and continue to grow. Sajaco Nordic is a great example of how experience, innovation, and cooperation can drive success.
Espen Flyvholm, co-owner and one of the key people behind Sajaco, shares the company’s journey and success factors. Having worked in the industry for over 40 years, it is clear that his experience has played a major role in the company’s development.
“Sajaco has chosen to keep its organisation down to earth and cost-effective, which has given us the financial robustness and flexibility to grow in a sustainable way. An expression I like to use is “Experience leads to quality” signifying that our long experience in the industry results in good quality,” says Espen.
Sajaco Nordic is headquartered in Halden, Norway, and through strategic partnerships with both retailers and the footwear industry it has managed to broaden its distribution. One example of this is their ‘Bagfokus’ concept, which involves shop-in-shop solutions in shoe stores. The concept, launched in autumn 2020, has proven to be a success, with over 38 stores in Norway and 18 stores in Denmark. Sajaco Nordic has also expanded the concept to Sweden, where they have opened in Karlstad and Örebro, among others.
“The bag industry has had a tough time over the last ten years, but we have succeeded well anyway. Part of this success is due to our strategy to cooperate with shoe stores. We also have our own stores, which in Sweden are named Lundberg’s bags. Additionally, we have also chosen to acquire established brands,” says Espen.
The growth in turnover speaks for itself. In 2019, the total group turnover was SEK 180 million, while in 2023 it had increased to SEK 480 million. And it doesn’t stop there – for 2024, Sajaco Nordic aims to have a turnover of SEK 700 million, a goal they are already halfway to achieving.
“Our team is a crucial success factor. We have around 500 employees, including contractors, and we have built a strong organisation where every employee contributes to the whole,” says Espen.
Sajaco Nordic’s journey is an inspiring story of how a company can flourish by combining tradition with innovation and cooperation. They continue to be a strong representative of Nordic quality and design. Stockholm Fashion District is proud to highlight a brand that has not only survived but thrived in a changing industry.
Text: Isabelle Käck Wedelin
Foto: Linda Ekström
