In mid-January, four entrepreneurs will go on a study trip to northern Germany's largest lifestyle and fashion fair, Nordstil in Hamburg. The aim is to get ready for their own international venture in the future.  

• This is a great opportunity to see how an international fair works. To gain knowledge about what I should consider and see what might be relevant for me and my company. This trip reduces the big step to exhibiting there myself one day," says Ulrika Edholm who runs the company Bosse and Ester. 

German customers are fond of Swedish design and if the products are also made in Sweden, it is even more interesting. Northern Germany can therefore be a good first step when a designer wants to go international. The entrepreneurs who travel to Hamburg have designed their own products, which are also manufactured in our area. Swedish design on the road to export. 

• It will be interesting to see how my design would stand up in an international environment. To take the temperature a bit and see if I should tweak anything before I take the plunge, and if so, how I can use what I learn on the journey to move forward," says the designer. Victoria Säker.  

Entrepreneurs will be given a guided tour of the fair by Mattias Dahlquist, Nordstil's official representative in Sweden and Norway. They will also have plenty of time to experience the fair for themselves, be inspired by all the exhibitors and make new contacts. In addition to inspiration from the fair, they will also experience art and culture in the city.  

• Hamburg is a real city of culture with cool architecture, street art and many great art exhibitions so I will really try to experience both the fair and the city. I will also take the opportunity to visit shops that could become potential retailers and make new contacts for my company. Ulrika. 

Nordstil is organised by Messe Frankfurt and will take place in Hamburg on 14-16 January 2023.  

The four entrepreneurs going on the study tour are: 

Emelie Lundmark, Dinie Design 
Karin Holmberg, Ängsfälla 
Ulrika Edholm, Bosse and Ester 
Victoria Säker, Victoria Säker   

Text: Maria Persson