Swedish Spotify is the Most Personable Brand in the United States

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May 21, 2020

Do you feel like you have a special bond with your favorite brands? Whether it’s Nike, Apple, or something else, there’s actually a name for that bond: brand intimacy. And Spotify recently came in first place for the brand with the most brand intimacy among U.S. consumers.

A recent study from marketing research firm MBLM noted that the music streaming platform, which has more than 286 million total users, has been working hard to form an emotional connection with their listeners.

One of the most popular methods that Spotify used was personalization: for example, the company is testing a new widget that would allow users to create a group queue. Another interesting feature is “Tastebuds,” which would help users find recommendations based on their friends’ listening history.

In a move similar to Instagram and Snapchat, the company also tested out a “Stories” feature that enables influencers to add small video snippets into their public playlists. Thanks to all of these features, users can feel more connected and engaged to each other and to Spotify.

In MBLM’s study, the second place for Social Platforms went to Pinterest, with Apple Music, Facebook, and Instagram taking third, fourth, and fifth place respectively.

Do you feel a connection with Spotify? Let us know in the comments!

China Buys Stake in Norwegian Air

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Luda Berdnyk

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May 21, 2020

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The future of struggling Nordic airline, Norwegian Air, is looking brighter thanks to a new investment from China.

The airline, who was faced with possible bankruptcy after the coronavirus crisis wiped out the travel industry, just underwent a major restructuring.

BOC Aviation, a Singapore-based company, which through an investment arm of Bank of China is owned by the Chinese government, is now one of the new investors in the budget airline.

A notification to the Oslo Stock Exchange read; “Upon completion of the conversion [of lease obligations], BOC Aviation will hold 389,053,742 shares in NAS [Norwegian Air Shuttle ASA], representing 12.67% of the outstanding shares and votes in the Company.”

Another major owner, Ireland-based aircraft leasing company AerCap, bought a 15.9% slice of Norwegian Air.

Following another set of financial changes, Norwegian Air recently announced that it secured a 3 billion NKR ($290 million USD) package from the Norwegian government as part of a restructuring plan. A spokesman noted that the company “converted NOK 12.7 billion of debt to equity and laid a solid foundation for the future.”

However, Norwegian Air isn’t out of hot water just yet.

“… the months ahead will remain challenging and with a high degree of uncertainty for the industry. Norwegian will still need to collaborate closely with a number of creditors as the company currently has limited revenues”, said Norwegian Air’s Chief Executive Officer, Jacob Schram, according to Forbes.

SVT’s economic reporter Kristina Lagerström weighed in on the deal: “[The deal is] very important. China is a special owner, the Chinese state is special and can drive Chinese interests very strongly.”

According to analysis, the deal was a power move: should the Chinese government remain major owners in Norwegian Air, it could redraw the entire scheme of the Nordic aviation industry, especially with flights between Europe and Asia.

What do you think of this deal? Let us know in the comments!

Virtual Finnish Friend Will Teach You How to Be More Finnish

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Luda Berdnyk

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May 18, 2020

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It seems like Finland has it all. It’s one of the safest countries, has one of the highest life expectancies, and it was recently named the happiest country for the third time in a row.

And now, we can learn the secret to happiness from Finns firsthand. The government of Finland has created the “Rent a Finn” campaign, which promises to share some tips on “how to become happy like a Finn — no matter where you are physically.”

During the month of May and June, there will be five live broadcasts with Finnish “happiness guides” that will teach you how to live like a true Finn. The five topics include Relax with a Finn, Spend Time with a Finn, Stay Active with a Finn, Eat with a Finn, Be Happy with a Finn.

Those who are interested in tuning in can watch on the campaign’s website as well as on Visit Finland’s Youtube and Facebook channels. There will also be a limited number of virtual one-to-one sessions with the happiness guides at the end of June.

As the tourism board notes, “this is our way of welcoming you to Finland – virtually. Welcome on board! Tervetuloa mukaan!”

Will you be tuning in? Let us know in the comments below!

Swedes Who Are No Longer U.S. Residents Received Stimulus Check – The IRS Wants It Back

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Luda Berdnyk

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May 15, 2020

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Former U.S. residents Swedes who received a $1,200 stimulus checks may now have to give it back, according to the IRS.

A recent article in Aftonbladet, a popular Swedish daily newspaper, ran interviews with Swedes who received checks that were part of the $290 billion CARES Act stimulus bill.

One of the interviewees was “Anders,” who had lived and worked in New Jersey for three years until he chose to move back to his native Sweden last year. He left behind a US bank account and an inactive social security number.

Then one day, he got an unexpected surprise:

“I kept an account [in the US] because I would get some tax money back, but since then I have not checked the account. Then [my friend, who also worked in the States] asked if I had also received $1,200.” Sure enough, as soon as Anders checked his account, there it was.

“I haven’t lived there for a year and a half, I pay no taxes, have no belongings there. The only thing I have is a bank and a pension account. It’s sad that [the government] doesnt have better control, as there are others who need that money more.” he says.

After the article was published, Aftonbladet received several statements from other Swedish citizens who received the stimulus money, including those who haven’t been back in years.

Some say they quickly transferred the unexpected check to their Swedish bank accounts, while others have left them sitting in their US accounts in fear that the US tax authority, the IRS, will demand the money back.

Aftonbladet, who did their own investigation, contacted the IRS for a quote in response to the situation. The IRS’ message was simple: the money should be refunded.

“A foreign person who is not registered in the United States in 2020 is not eligible for the payment. Foreign citizens who have received a payment must repay the money to the IRS, ” stated one email.

The IRS website has instructions on sending back the money. However, not everyone is on board.

“If it were a simple solution, I would gladly send the money back,” says Anders. However, he fears bureaucratic hassle, which he already has experience with.

“I tried to cancel this [US] bank account some time ago but then I was referred to my local office. Then it became tricky.”

Aftonbladet reached out to the IRS and asked about the consequences people face who don’t return the money. However, they have still not received an answer.

Iceland to Open Up to Tourists in June, But Only Under Certain Conditions

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Luda Berdnyk

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May 14, 2020

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In a recent press conference, Icelandic Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir announced new conditions for tourists visiting the island.

At the moment, there is virtually no tourism presence in Iceland: those who enter the country must go into a mandatory 2-week quarantine, while tourists coming from outside the Schengen Zone may not enter at all.

However, there are some new rules coming into effect that will gradually loosen restrictions. Starting on May 15th, citizens of the Faroe Islands and Greenland will be able to visit without the need for mandatory quarantine.

From May 25, there is also the possibility of significant changes. This means that tourists from the Schengen Zone who are planning to visit Iceland have three choices: go into a mandatory 2-week quarantine immediately, get tested for the coronavirus, or present a clean bill of health from the health authorities in their home country. In addition, tourists will also be requested to install the Rakning C-19 contagion tracing application on their phones.

From June 15th, Iceland will open up to non-Schengen Zone tourists as well. However, it is likely that they will also have to follow the aforementioned conditions.

The Prime Minister also stated that Iceland’s health authorities are working hard to prepare tests and temperature screenings so that they will be ready by the beginning of June.

The news comes as an important announcement for Iceland’s economy, which is heavily reliant on tourism. In fact, tourism is responsible for nearly 30 percent of the country’s revenue.

The only problem left to solve is how tourists will actually get to Iceland. Currently, the majority of global airlines are grounded with very little service available. The three most popular airlines that fly to Iceland don’t look too good either: Norwegian Air stated that they will remain in “hibernation mode” until 2021; British Airways mentioned that they will not have any “meaningful service” until July; and Iceland’s own national airline is facing bankruptcy. Currently, Icelandair is operating just three routes: Boston, London Heathrow, and Stockholm. While an expected increase in demand would logically lead to more flights, the airline is still on the brink.

Will tourism season come fast enough to save Icelandair — and the company’s economy? Only time will tell.

Iceland’s Whaling Industry May Shut Down Permanently Amid Coronavirus

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Luda Berdnyk

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May 12, 2020

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This week has brought us a slew of good news, from Sweden going completely coal-free to Denmark beating its own recycling record. Now their Nordic neighbor, Iceland, has its own accomplishment to be proud of.

Both of Iceland’s only two whaling companies have ceased operations. The first, IP-Utgerd, has announced that it is ending whaling forever and shutting down.

Gunnar Jonsson, managing director for IP-Utgerd, stated, “I’m never going to hunt whales again, I’m stopping for good.”

The second whaling firm, Hvalur, said it will not go whaling this year due to export problems and coronavirus-related issues, such as social distancing requirements.

Advocates welcomed the good news. For example, Fabienne McLellan, co-director of international relations at the conservation nonprofit Ocean Care, noted “This is indeed terrific news that for a second straight year, vulnerable fin whales will get a reprieve from Hvalur hf.’s harpoons.”

However, it’s not a cause to celebrate just yet. McLellan added: “This said, fin whaling has been suspended in Iceland in the past, only to resume. While it looks promising that whaling in Iceland might stop for good, the temporary cessation of fin whaling must become permanent.”

It isn’t Iceland’s first time when they had to cancel whaling. In 2019, there were no whale hunts in the country due to low demand from Japan and the need to repair ships. Due to declining demand, whaling may soon go extinct. In fact, thanks to a widespread International Fund for Animal Welfare campaign in 2011 with the message “Meet Us Don’t Eat Us,” the number of tourists who ate whale meat declined from 40% to 11%.

Besides Iceland, only two other countries — Japan and Norway — are hunting whales, although that may soon change.

Hygiene of Sweden is Bringing Swedish Technology to the United States in Hopes of Bettering Hand Sanitizing Options

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Swedes in the States

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May 12, 2020

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Amidst the coronavirus crisis, many people are looking to protect themselves from germs and prevent the spread of COVID-19. Since country-wide lockdowns were announced, supermarkets and grocery stores have been constantly selling out of important items like soap, toilet paper, and hand sanitizer. The Swedish company, Hygiene of Sweden, entered the U.S. market with its most popular product, Biopocket right before the pandemic hit, and have since then done their very best to keep up production in order to make the product available to anyone who would need or want it.

The company was created in 2016 by Philip Wilhelmsson, a bioscientist, and his father, Ulf Wilhelmsson in Landskrona, a city 50 km from Malmö. The company originally started small scale with a few staple products, but have grown to be sold all over Sweden, expanding their product range — and recently opening distribution in the United States.

The company’s best-seller is the BioPocket, a small, pocket-sized spray that comes in a variety of uses. From Sun Care (a sunscreen spray) to Rest (a spray with melatonin that helps sleep), to even Boost (a natural energy spray), the BioPocket is well-loved by customers for its quality and convenient pocket size.

However, the crown jewel of the Biopocket collection is Hygiene of Sweden’s Screen & Hand spray, which is enriched with Vitamin B5, Aloe Vera, and Biopolymers and kills 99.99% of bacteria without drying hands.

HOW TO FIND: Hygiene of Sweden’s Biopocket Spray is available at Swedes in the States very own curated e-commerce store – The Nordic Collective.

Glenn Helen, who heads distribution in the United States, noted that “the most important thing for us is the customer experience and the chance for people to prevent themselves and others around from getting sick without damaging their skin.”

What sets the BioPocket apart from other sanitizers is the alcohol-free formula, which is standard for many other sanitizers, that is skin-friendly and proven to be more effective against germs.

It was important for the founder that the spray has a long-lasting effect. Being a bioscientist, he made sure the spray would provide a protective layer on the skin that keeps killing viruses and bacteria even after being applied. The formula was also developed with technology in mind, as it is perfect to use on phones, tablets, and laptops without damaging the screen while leaving it streak-free.

Glenn notes, “The products are made in Sweden, owned by Swedish people, and invented by a Swedish scientist.” Besides consumers, the company’s products are used by famous athletes (they’re official partners of the Swedish athletics team) and the Swedish Royal Court.
Glenn’s final words were optimistic and summarizing the brand Hygiene of Sweden: Spread love, not germs.

This article is made in collaboration with The Nordic Collective – Swedes in the States very own eCommerce, curating the best Nordic brands for you!

Coronavirus May Have Arrived in Sweden As Early As November

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Luda Berdnyk

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May 11, 2020

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There is a new theory floating around that the first case of a coronavirus infection could have happened as early as November, and not in January as previously reported.

Originally, news outlets noted that the first diagnosed case of coronavirus in Sweden was a woman from Jönköping. She tested positive on January 31st after coming back from a recent trip to China, stayed in self-isolation as instructed, and has since recovered.

READ: First Case of Coronavirus in Sweden Confirmed

However, according to a story reported by Swedish news outlet The Local.se, it appears that a man from France was infected with the coronavirus on December 27th — a full several days before the first case was “officially” discovered in China on December 31st. The man was originally diagnosed with pneumonia, but a sample taken at the time has now been tested positive for COVID-19. The patient has also fully recovered but is reported to have said that he has no idea how he caught the virus.

Sweden’s state epidemiologist Anders Tegnell has considered this news and noted that there was a possibility of infected individuals in Sweden at that time as well.

“There wasn’t any spread [of infection] outside Wuhan until we saw it in Europe later. But I think that you could find individual cases among Wuhan travelers who were there from November to December last year. That doesn’t sound at all strange, but rather very natural,” said Tegnell.

According to Tegnell, the country won’t investigate further.

“It’s not something that’s being discussed in a structured way,” noted Tegnell. “At the moment it feels like we don’t want to burden the healthcare sector with this type of investigation. They have a lot of other things to do, and this would not lead to any measure.”

Tegnell continued: “Instead, what could be interesting to find out is how the virus spread in China and how it behaved in the early stages of its spread. If it was an individual spread from an animal to a person or if it spread to a group of people over a longer period of time.”

Tegnell finished by nothing that ultimately, this could help with fighting new viruses in the future: “It would be valuable to see how people could protect themselves against this type of development in the future.”

Sweden Shuts Down its Last Coal-Fired Power Plant

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Luda Berdnyk

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May 7, 2020

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Sweden has officially stepped out of the coal power business by shutting down its last coal-fired power station, two years ahead of schedule.

Joining Belgium and Austria, Sweden becomes the third country in Europe to bid farewell to coal.

According to Stockholm Exergi, the owners of the coal power plant and also a company partly owned by the city of Stockholm, the shut down of the power plant means the C02 emissions of the Stockholm Exergi will be cut in half. This is a huge milestone and a big step towards clean energy in Sweden.

Anders Egelrud, chief executive at Stockholm Exergi said: “This plant has provided the Stockholmers with heat and electricity for a long time, today we know that we must stop using all fossil fuels, therefore the coal needs to be phased out and we do so several years before the original plan.”

Sweden, along with Belgium and Austria, are role models for other countries who are planning to do the same. This is evidenced by Europe Beyond Coal‘s campaign director Kathrin Gutmann, who said:

“With Sweden going coal-free in the same week as Austria, the downward trajectory of coal in Europe is clear. Against the backdrop of the serious health challenges we are currently facing, leaving coal behind in exchange for renewables is the right decision, and will repay us in kind with improved health, climate protection, and more resilient economies.”

In fact, six more countries are expected to follow in the steps of Sweden, including France (2022), Slovakia and Portugal (2023), the UK (2024), Ireland (2025), and Italy (2025). Sweden’s Nordic neighbors, Finland and Denmark, are planning to suit in 2029 and 2030 respectively.

Nowadays, more than half of the energy used across Sweden is from renewable energy sources. With the way things are going now, we can expect this number to rise.

Fredrik Eklund Adds Swedish ‘Hessle Manor’ to Collection of Exclusive Listings

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Swedes in the States

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May 6, 2020

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Fredrik Eklund might be one of the most famous Swedish real estate brokers in the United States. From being on the high performing Eklund – Gomes team at Douglas Elliman, to being one of the stars on Bravo’s hit show Million Dollar Listing New York, it is hard to have missed this charismatic Swede.

Being Swedish, it might not be too surprising that Fredrik Eklund also owns one of Sweden’s more exclusive real estate agencies, aptly named Eklund Stockholm New York, with offices in Stockholm and Gothenburg.

Recently, Fredrik announced on his social media the addition of Hessle Manor, a Swedish country dream on the market for a whopping 95 million SEK, around $9.7 million. The agent in charge of the listing is Niklas Berntzon, one of the founding partners at ESNY.

This beautiful house dates back to the 1700’s and is located less than an hour away from Stockholm. Included in the hefty price tag is a wine cellar, a pool, a gym, and surprisingly – a jazz club.

Image credit: Eklund Stockholm New York