Even though Sweden’s election is over, there are plenty of changes and new ideas hanging over the country. Case in point: Jimmie Åkesson, the leader of the far-right Sweden Democrats group, has frequently mentioned setting a referendum in motion that would have Sweden leave the European Union, à la Brexit-style. With the Sweden Democrats being the third largest party in Sweden, it’s worth speculating in an eventual exit.
But what would happen if there actually was a “Swexit”?
Thanks to a new article from the Oxford Economics, we can (hypothetically) find out. Let’s take a look:
The biggest impact of Sweden leaving the EU would be a loss of more than 70,000 jobs and a four percent drop in GDP.
“Swexit would reduce the supply of labor from the EU and […] make it more difficult for businesses to find the right skills. Overall, this impedes growth,” notes the Oxford Economics article.
The report also suggested that Sweden would become less open to trade (both exports and imports) and outside investments. Since Sweden is the EU’s seventh-largest economy, the exit would ultimately have a detrimental impact on productivity and the overall economy. Household finances would also suffer, losing a total of 30,000 kronor ($3,300 USD) in the 10 years after Swexit.
However, there’s some good news: out of the eight Swedish parties currently represented in parliament, only the Sweden Democrats are actively campaigning for a Swexit. Several polls suggest that the majority of Swedes are still in favor of membership: more than 80 percent of citizens would prefer to stay in the European Union.
“Although the option of leaving the European Union does not hold majority support amongst the Swedish population,” a report from Oxford Economics stated, “the topic has garnered increasing attention since the Sweden Democrats announced their intention to hold a referendum on membership after the 2018 general election.”
What’s next for Sweden? And how would you feel about a hypothetical Swexit? Let us know in the comments!
What started out as a joke on the Swedish satirical show “Svenska Nyheter” “Swedish News“, has now turned into quite the awkward situation for Swedish-Chinese diplomatic relations.
After a rather comical mishap with two Chinese tourists being escorted away from the premises of a Swedish hostel, the Chinese government publicly criticised Sweden asking them to start ensuring the safety of their citizens and warned Chinese tourists from traveling to Sweden.
Below you can see footage from the night Chinese tourists were escorted off Generator Hostels property in Stockholm.
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The short video was jokingly made to show Chinese tourists how to properly be a tourist in Sweden as a response to the news that Chinese government had banned some of their citizens from traveling abroad after “misbehaving” while on their trips. One Chinese citizen was, for example, caught defecating outside the Louvre in Paris.
After the hotel incident, the video might just have been what broke the camels back, and the Chinese government has now directed harsh criticism towards the Swedish government, including the Chinese Embassy in Stockholm formally threatening the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs to take further action if a formal apology from the channel SVT and the show was not given to them.
“We have answered them by stating that freedom of speech prevails in Sweden,” said Buster Mirow Emitslöf, a representative from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“It looks like we’ve embarked on a diplomatic crisis with a superpower,” “Svenska Nyheter” show host, Jesper Rönndahl tweeted.
Below you can see the episode in which the Tourist Guide-video was aired. (Subtitles can be turned on in the youtube menu below)
The season where the majority of us start passing judgment on people who drink Pumpkin Spice latte’s excessively, the short period of time where we feel gratitude over cooler temperatures before complaining about it being too cold and, most importantly, the time to start making your home more fall cozy.
This fall, the trend is all about earthy tones and wooden, bronze and leather accents. H&M home offers us a simple way to keep things stylish and budget-friendly while still keeping our homes very Scandinavian sleek.
These are the best fall pieces from H&M Home that we are clicking home right now.
The Swedish sock and underwear brand, Happy Socks, recently revealed their latest collaboration: the Happy Socks x Wiz Khalifa collection.
The brand, which was founded in 2008 in Stockholm as a bold, extravagant and small sock company, has over 100 employees at their Stockholm headquarters alone and products available in over 12,000 locations across the globe.
Happy Socks explains the reason for the newest collab on their website: “like Happy Socks, Wiz uses his creativity to spread happiness across the world. Inspired by his trippy, flower-patterned Party Shirts, this collaboration celebrates our colorful, passionate nature.”
We can’t other than agree. This collaboration is far from the Swedish “lagom” with their exotic prints and designs!
Have a look at some of the poppin’ pieces from the collection below:
All photos belong to Happy Socks.
For a look at the full collection, prices, and sizes, visit Happy Socks’ website here.
The Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce in New York had the honor of welcoming H.R.H The Crown Princess Victoria to their latest project Gateway, an Innovation platform, launching this fall to support Swedish companies with their expansion into the New York market.
In addition to the team at SACC New York, which included President Anna Throne-Holst, Leif Pagrotsky, the Swedish Honorary Consul in New York, was there to welcome the Crown Princess.
Today, the Crown Princess will be attending a memorial service in honor of Kofi Annan at the UN headquarters in New York.
The office space, located in Midtown, Manhattan, will be offering office spaces in form of private offices, dedicated desks, a co-working space, and even an event space.
The Swedish cafe first opened its doors in 2006. 12 years later and 20 stores later, fika time is over.
FIKA was started by Lars Åkerlund (read Swedes in the States interview with him here) and David Johansson back in -06, and it was an immediate hit. Scandinavians, happy to have a piece of home in New York, and the rest intrigued by the cinnamon buns and Swedish coffee, flocked to the Manhattan cafe. The FIKA concept proved itself to New Yorkers and not long after, the chain was spreading like wildfire throughout the city. At its peak, FIKA had 20 locations around Manhattan.
However, the Swedish “fika-tale” started seeing a harsh decline in 2016, which Adam Stein-Sapir, a bankruptcy expert at Pioneer Funding Group, said is not surprising. “The retail coffee space is brutally competitive and with minimum wage going up, it’s only going to get worse,” he said to The New York Post. “Due to the nature of their business, they’re required to be in high-rent, high-traffic areas.”
In March last year, FIKA still had 14 locations open. Today only 7 of those are left. Unfortunately, it won’t be for much longer. In their bankruptcy filing, FIKA states that their debts amount to around 10-50 million dollars, while their assets are worth less than 1 million dollars.
The London-based research firm, Brand Finance, recently announced their ranking of the top Nordic brands. The report consists of 20 Nordic brands and the rankings are made based on 3 three factors: marketing investment, stakeholder equity and the effect of these on business performance.
All Nordic countries are highlighted on Brand Finance’s top 20 list with Sweden topping the chart with no less than 11 brands and with IKEA defending last year’s top position as the most valuable brand. Number two on the list is one of the world’s leading fashion companies and also the former highest valued publicly traded firm in Sweden – H&M.
Finnish brand Nokia takes home the 3rd place on the list and is also the proud lone representative of Finland. Its mobile phone brand has since last year grown its brand value by an amazing 63% and is now the third most valuable Nordic brand.
Norway comes in a close fourth place with top firm Equinor. The energy company is re-branding the corporation towards becoming a broader company and has therefore now changed their name from Statoil to Equinor.
At a fifth place, we find Denmark’s brand Lego, which is one out of five strong Danish representatives on the list. Also worth mentioning, though not yet on the list, is a very fast moving Danish company called Nykredit. It managed to achieve an upswing of 41% in brand value since last year which earned them the title as the fastest growing brand in Denmark.
Here are the complete list and the 20 most valuable Nordic brands according to Brand Finance:
I’m sure we’ve all wondered how it’s possible for Scandinavians, with their white walls and minimalist designs to still have some of the most beautiful, and ultra cozy and inviting homes?
Simple: It’s Scandinavian design, and this is how you easily bring it in to your home!
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Source: http://www.scandinavian-homes.se/
HISTORY OF SCANDINAVIAN DESIGN
It seems like Scandinavian style is a recent trend: Even though the term “Scandinavian design” officially came from a design show that traveled around the United States and Canada from 1954 to 1957, its history started more than a century ago!
In the 1930’s, when functionalism and Dadaism were flourishing, there were several exhibitions that showcased early Scandinavian style furniture. One of the earliest was the Stockholm Exhibition in 1930, where artists, designers, and companies showcased their latest creations.
After World War II, new ideas of democracy and freedom were spreading through Europe. There was a strong demand for design and furniture that everyone could access, and gone were the days of luxurious rococo designs (such as the ultra-fancy Victorian furniture). This was when Scandinavian design really began trending thanks to its beautiful, simple, clean designs, inspired by nature and the northern climate.
Although Scandinavian design went into decline between the 1980s to 2000s, it quickly made a comeback in the mid-2010s thanks to interior design and Scandinavian bloggers, showing off their homes on social media. As of now, #Scandistyle has more than 260,000 photos on Instagram (and counting!)
Thanks to its easy to follow format, clean lines, and minimalist chic style, Scandinavian design is something that everyone can do. Let’s break down the elements of this style in the next section.
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Source: Decoist
ELEMENTS OF SCANDINAVIAN DESIGN
If Scandinavian design had to be described in only two words, they would be minimalism and functionality. With this in mind, let’s break down the individual elements of this style:
White walls – Simple, clean, and the perfect starting point for Scandinavian style.
Neutral color palette – Shades of white, gray, and black are important for creating a cohesive and minimalist look…
Unexpected pops of color– … but that doesn’t mean Scandinavian style can’t have fun! Adding one or two colorful decorations still keeps the design on point but with an unexpected twist.
Natural textures – Wood, stone, concrete, tile, fur, brick, plants, and so on. Scandinavians are connected with nature, and even bring some of these elements into their interior design.
“Raw” elements – Speaking of elements, Scandinavians also like to work with what is already available. Many homes will have a lack of window treatments, carpets, and walls, which means you’ll see natural wood floors, exposed brick walls, and original windows.
Simple and non-fussy layouts – To tie it all together, Scandinavian homes like simple, clutter-free, and cohesive interiors that emphasize an elegantly minimalist aesthetic.
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Source: Interior Design Ideas
SCANDINAVIAN DESIGN: HOW TO DO IT YOURSELF
Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s dive into the fun part: decorating!
Here you’ll find the exact products you need to start your Scandinavian home (or room!) plus a few styling tips. Scandinavian design also follows a Swedish concept called lagom, which literally translates to “just the right amount.” It’s better to underdo – rather than overdo – your decorating.
Source: cathinthecity.com
Back to Basics
Let’s begin with the most basic element of Scandinavian style: clean and neutral colors. White, black, and 500 shades of gray are all you need to get started. Try to keep furniture and decor in this palette, like this simple, minimalist, white table or Eames-style chair.
For countries who have harshly cold winters, staying cozy and warm is essential. You’ll see touches of fur and other warm materials in many Scandinavian homes, such as one-tone blankets, soft rugs, and plenty of plush pillows. Get the look with your own fur rug and blanket.
Design tip: Drape the fur rug over the white chair (previous tip) for maximum Scandi style!
Source: Porin Kalustetalo
Pops of Geometry
In order to make the eye “walk” around the room, Scandinavians like to add little pops of geometry. If you’re into gardening or plants, an easy way to do this is to add a terrarium with a cute succulent or cactus. Take it up a notch with this minimalist bed frame and chic wall sculptures.
Don’t judge a book by its cover: Scandinavian design is both stylish and functional. For example, take these cool floating shelves and add monochromatic posters or colorful little figures. If you want to up your interior design game, this metal garment rack belongs in your room.
Finish off your new Scandi home with natural elements like fur, wood, touches of metal (copper, silver, etc), marble, and more. One easy way to do this is to cover old tabletops with marble adhesive film, add a few metal cups, and hang this copper finish mirror above. Voila!
On the 22nd of July, 2011, the Norwegian terrorist Anders Behring Breivik detonated a car bomb outside Regjeringskvartalet (= the government quarters), in Oslo only to make his way on to Utøya, where the Norwegian Arbeiderpartiet was hosting their annual summer camp for the party’s youth organization.
On Utøya, Breivik shot and murdered 69 people, the vast majority of them teenagers, and severely injured many more. This dark day will be etched into the history books as one of the largest and most horrific terror attacks that a Scandinavian country has ever experienced.
The film not only emphasizes the attack but the aftermath of the survivors, and how Norway survived the worst act of terror in their country’s history. “I was originally going to make a film about the immigration crisis, but I felt that I should do something about how the whole western society is being driven towards the right. It’s very dark times with the populist movement driving the other parties, and since I got the idea to make this film, it’s only gotten worse,” said Greengrass to TT.
“Now I’m proud to be able to offer the film to the audience in hopes of it serving as an argument for powers of the right.”
22 JULY premieres on Netflix October 19. Watch the trailer below.
Earlier this year, Catrin Anckarman stepped into the new position as CEO at one of the most active SACC organizations in the US, the Swedish American Chamber of Commerce — San Francisco.
Swedes in the States founder, Natalie Söderberg, sat down with her to discuss the Nordic eco-system in San Francisco, which direction the Chamber is heading under her leadership and how they can best support Swedish citizens living in the San Francisco/Bay area.
SACC SF/SV CEO, Catrin Anckarman and Swedes in the States founder, Natalie de Silva Söderberg.
Tell us more about the SACC organization in San Francisco. What are the main focuses and goals of this chapter?
SACC SF has been a leading facilitator for trade and knowledge exchange in the Bay Area for 70 years. We are a non-profit, non-governmental, 100% independent, business-focused organization, by professionals for professionals.
Our main focuses are connecting Sweden with San Francisco and the Bay Area and
strengthening the Swedish American business community in their settlement and development in the Bay Area.
We achieve this by creating professional and social events, we offer business services and we help promote our partners and professionals. Each year we offer internships for Swedish students who want to experience the American Business culture and grow their network in this fast-paced environment.
How has the organization changed since you stepped up as the new CEO a few months ago?
I have increased collaboration with other Swedish organizations and as a result, we have upcoming events such as Women in Tech where Sweden’s Ambassador, Karin Olofsdotter will attend as the opening speaker.
In October, we are launching a new speaker series, Learning From Leaders. Former U.S Ambassador to Sweden, Azita Raji will share some of her thoughts on the current and future path for Swedish-American business relations. With elections in Sweden and here, it will no doubt be an interesting evening.
We will launch a new concept where we will invite our members to smaller and more tailored networking events. Events are the engine of San Francisco and the Bay Area, there is a lot to choose from. We want to offer smaller networking opportunities and gather professionals with common interests or experiences.
SACC SF/SV’s office. Notice the Swedish fika neatly served on the table.
San Francisco and Silicon Valley are two important places for Nordic entrepreneurs. For many, it’s the ultimate city to expand to when moving into the U.S. market. What type of support can the SACC organization offer these entrepreneurs and startups?
Our member network includes many different types of industries whom all have a vast experience of doing business here.
We can quickly connect them to the business network and the local services and contacts they need. Knowledge sharing and a network are fundamental. In addition, we help promote them through our channels and customized events.
We also offer conference space and virtual office here in San Francisco needed by companies before making the decision to move.
What is your previous experience of working in Silicon Valley and San Francisco?
Everywhere I went I would see people constantly searching their bags for their phones, I decided I had to solve this problem. I started my mission to design a handbag that would store my iPhone and let me use the screen without removing the iPhone from the bag. I started from scratch learning all there was to know about manufacturing and design. I created prototypes here and in China and learned very quickly learned 3 things – Don’t do things on your own, move quickly and ask for help!
At the same time, I had many requests from my network regarding business connections and it felt like a natural step to create a business with a focus on creating customized executive business trips for Board of Directors. Together with a fellow Swede, we started Locglo. And very soon collaborated with companies such as Bonnier, Beiersdorf and Sweco. At the same time, some friends needed help with their startup and I went to work for a Swedish startup called Iperial, now called Idenfendo.com.
Catrin Anckarman and Erik Rockborn.
Tell us more about the monthly events that SACC SF hosts. Apart from our Executive business events we also provide the Swedish – American Community with events such as European Startup pitch nights, a Swedish Heritage Night with the San Jose Sharks hockey team and our Annual Christmas Event. The Christmas Event is appreciated by many, it’s a chance to catch up with friends, enjoy some traditional Swedish food and invite colleagues to a taste of Swedish culture
What advice would you give to anyone looking to move or expand a business into San Francisco? Do your research! Things move faster here and you have to be ready for that. Plan several visits to extend your network and really understand the unique business culture. Business is more transactional here and people change jobs and places more often than in Sweden.
The office space of SACC SF/SV.
Are there any young companies in the Valley that we should keep an eye on? We have many promising companies here along with promising people within Swedish and US companies. Out of obvious reasons we tend to focus on tech when we talk about the Valley but we also have successes within industries such as the wine industry, restaurants, VCs, startups, to our corporates such as Ericsson.
We see an increased focus on in autonomous transportation, FinTech along with the focus on collaboration between academia and corporates. Some interesting companies that have a presence here are Coala Life, Idefendo.com, Synch Law, Jayway and Combain.
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