The past year has been a 'different furniture year', says Henrik Karlsson CEO at Hans K, reflecting on 2024. Despite economic challenges, the Swedish furniture brand managed to expand its reach globally, selling its unique Scandinavian designs across many regions. With the Stockholm Furniture Fair on the agenda, we interviewed Henrik about the past year and what the Swedish company's plans are for the fair and the rest of the year ahead.
Henrik Karlsson.
When asked about the biggest challenge for the industry in 2024, Henrik notes the industry faced significant hurdles, particularly rising transportation costs and shifting consumer priorities. 'The consumer focus has shifted from renovating the home to experiences outside the home like vacations, sport activities, etc.,' Henrik notes. 'This has led to less overall consumer spending in the furniture industry.'
Still, looking ahead to 2025, Henrik is optimistic about Hans K's plans, which include a strong presence at the Stockholm Furniture Fair, a cornerstone event for the company. 'We've been showcasing our concept at the Stockholm fair for decades, and it's going to be an interesting week,' Henrik explains. While acknowledging that the fair has become smaller, he remains excited about the opportunity to connect with the 'many interesting suppliers and brands focusing on Scandinavian design'.
Stockholm Furniture Fair
At the fair, Hans K will introduce several standout pieces, including the K5 chair by Sami Kallio, ZigZag by Markus Johansson, and the updated Racquet collection by Jannis Ellenberger. Henrik highlights the K5 chair's pedigree, designed by Sami Kallio, who also created the award-winning Y5 Chair. The ZigZag chair is another popular product, which is available in many different colours. 'With our spraybox, customers can pick their own colour, making ZigZag even more unique on the market.'
Racquet collection, with Jannis Ellenberger.
Over the years the Racquet collection has grown from a media bench to a comprehensive furniture range, including sideboards, dining chairs, tables, and lounge furniture. The collection draws inspiration from tennis rackets, incorporating natural cane material. But also designing the Racquet collection was like a tennis match. The ideas bounced back and forth between Jannis Ellenberger and Hans K for nearly two years, starting just before the first COVID lockdown in March 2020.
As the year unfolds, Hans K is doubling down on adding value to its products, offering options like ELMO leather, Svensson fabric, and finishes in both oiled and stained solid wood. Henrik believes the future of furniture lies in sustainable, solid wood designs, with Scandinavian craftsmanship leading the way. 'There's hope for the furniture industry,' he concludes. 'We believe there will be a huge demand in the coming years for solid wood furniture. More and more consumers will come to appreciate the beauty of sustainable solid wood furniture in Scandinavian design.'
More information:
Hans K
[email protected]
www.hansk.se
Sweden