Marie and Annica Eklund are the third generation owners of Swedish family run business, Bolon AB, founded in 1949. Annica is Managing Director, and her older sister, Marie, is Head of Design and Marketing.

Annica describes the firm as a creative workplace, filled with optimism and family spirit.

"There needs to be a great feeling of tolerance in order to keep the creativity alive. I am also very meticulous about the employees receiving clear and intelligible information. This is a way of creating openness and candour everywhere. My hope is that the employees will feel interested and involved in the company."

It is important for the Eklund sisters that Bolon’s image and sensibilities are never lost and so they oversee the entire chain production. Marie is involved in the choice of raw materials, design ideas and development into marketing concepts as well as their choice of partners. She has daily contact with customers, suppliers, business partners, colleagues, designers, architects and the press.

"The job suits me perfectly. Apart from the fact that I have a channel for my creativity, I have the opportunity to meet many different people. Social networking, and establishing and maintaining contacts are important parts of my work."

Bolon AB offers unique Swedish design flooring for public areas such as hotels, offices and shops. Innovative in their marketing and image and focused on design, Bolon was the first company to present wall-to-wall woven vinyl flooring on the world market.

www.bolon