Artek launches showroom in New York, plans small-scale production in the United States

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The Finnish furniture and design company Artek, originally set up in 1935 by architect Alvar Aalto and his wife Aino Aalto, is opening a new showroom in New York City.
      Surrounded by a white minimalist space and dozens of Aalto stools, a few tables, and some armchairs, Mirkku Kullberg, the Managing Director of Artek, is speaking about the company’s launch in the USA to some 20 American journalists who represent various architecture and interior design publications.
     
The situation is somewhat exceptional, as the current recession has forced many design companies to pack up their things and leave, while Artek is launching its US unit today - Thursday.
      ”One has to be brave, particularly during a crisis. There are more prospects here than elsewhere”, Kullberg argues, explaining the unorthodox timing to Helsingin Sanomat.
      ”There is no going back from here", outlines Kullberg, who has been the head of the company since 2005.
     
The parent company has been a loss-maker over the past few years, but when it comes to New York, Kullberg has high hopes. In fact, profits are expected already inside a year.
      The showrooms launched now in New York and recently in Stockholm are an alternative for trade fairs and exhibitions.
      In Kullberg’s view, even the opening of new flagship stores is history.
     
The Swedish capital investor Proventus, the present owner of Artek, has also encouraged the furniture design icon - which this year marks up 75 years in business - to keep its eye on new opportunities.
      Kullberg stresses that Artek is by no means starting from zero in the USA, as the company has been represented there by a number of agents for many years.
      ”But only an independent organisation is able to handle all matters and to know all clients”, Kullberg notes.
      As an example, she mentions Apple, a major client that might have been served better if the two companies were not located in different time-zones.
     
Artek even plans to launch small-scale production in the United States.
      Kullberg believes that the making of the surfaces of for example chairs and tables could well be entrusted to American carpenters.
      ”The production could be launched in three years’ time, depending on the growth of sales. There are many good carpenters in America. First we will have to organise a local maintenance and repair network”, Kullberg notes.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  New age dawning at Artek (31.8.2004)
  Tom Dixon´s patient approach to furniture design at Artek (30.9.2008)

Links:
  Artek (Wikipedia)
  Artek

Helsingin Sanomat