"My work is my hobby and has been for almost 40 years"

The journey with Bohus - as told by the founder

It actually all started when I was 16 years old. I got a summer job as a window cleaner, and even then I realized that I liked working - especially on piecework. It suited me, to see direct results of the effort. As high school approached, I felt that I wanted to work for a year first. That year turned out to be... longer than I expected.

At 18, I had a driver's license, was living at home, and had managed to save up some start-up capital. Then I thought: "Why not try starting my own business?" There was no well-thought-out business plan, no grand vision - just a willingness to work hard and see what could happen. And yes, here we are today.

The early years - from door-knocking to long-term thinking

The first few years? It was really just getting out there and trying to get customers. I was knocking on doors, quite literally. It went well and I got some customers. Pretty quickly I realized that if you're going to build something that lasts over time, you have to think about building a regular customer base with repeat orders.

So I started thinking in terms of subscriptions - fixed cleaning contracts. It was stable, predictable and allowed me to grow Bohus' business. And above all - it was a way to build something that could last for a long time.

From one-man business to 600 employees

Today, we are close to 600 employees and our turnover is approaching 400 million. It sounds big, but it hasn't been about magic tricks. Just the usual: happy customers, happy employees, a relevant offer, profitability, reinvestment of profits and so - time.

We have been patient. Instead of chasing everything everywhere, we have chosen to focus on Gothenburg and the surrounding area. When we have expanded, we have done so with full focus. This has meant that our local roots have become a strength. We want Bohus to be perceived as a smaller company on a slightly larger scale.

The culture that keeps people around

Many of our customers and employees have been with us for a long time. I think it's because of our culture. We attract people who like quality, stability, clarity, a long-term approach and local roots. Those who share this approach - they thrive and stay. This applies to both customers and staff.

We try to create a working environment where common sense, respect and responsibility prevail over fine words and fluff. It is appreciated. We also work hard to stay anchored in our values: we love service, we respect each other, we are cost-conscious, we take responsibility and we help each other.

How it should feel - as a customer and as an employee

It should feel good to be a customer or work with us. We want to be easy to deal with. Although we are businesslike and results-oriented, we want to retain the family feel - good relationships, a fair climate. No quirks and minimal hassle.

Leading and growing as a human being

As a leader, I think I have developed the most by making fewer mistakes over the years.
I try to treat people in a good way. Sometimes you have to make decisions that are not popular - but if you do it with respect and explain why, it works.

I want to be liked and respected! I believe I achieve this by being a role model in leading in line with our values.

The drive - still strong
What drives me, so many years later? I like it here. I have no plans to sell or retire. I like to build, to improve, to see people grow. As long as that feeling is there - I'll keep going.

The future of Bohus
We have a strong position in Gothenburg, and there is still a lot of potential here. We recently launched the Bohus Store, which has already received a good response from customers - and we believe this will contribute to our growth and strengthen the relationship with our customers.

There are never any guarantees, but we are well placed to continue building an even stronger company.

And in 10-20 years...?
My hope is that Bohus will still stand for long-term thinking, reliability and quality - both in what we deliver and in how we treat people. Simplicity and responsibility go quite far, actually.

And in your private life - how do you relax?
For me, it's important to be able to unwind. I read a lot, volunteer, spend time with my family, go out on the boat - and try to watch Frölunda Hockey as often as I can.

For those who want to build something of their own...
Avoid shortcuts. Always act so that time is on your side. Always be honest. Work hard. Take care of customers and staff. Develop your offer. Reinvest your profits.
It's not very complicated. But it does require patience and discipline.