Kirsti Paakkanen, interview

Kirsti Paakkanen

Interview of the woman who saved the disappearance Marimekko

(automatic translation...)

Kirsti Paakkanen is known for having saved from bankruptcy Marimekko, which was declining since the death of its founder Armi Ratia in 1979. She remained the director notified until 2008. The interview excerpts below are from a few months before its withdrawal in favor of Mika Ihamuotila.

The reputation of Marimekko is bigger than the company, says its owner and CEO Kirsti Paakkanen. That does not mean that the company would not have deserved its international reputation. On the contrary. Marimekko awakens feelings and manages to give her such a sense of humanity that we begin to take for a person. Now, fifty-two years after its creation, that Marimekko saw its best period. Despite this Paakkanen said that nothing is done.

When we read the results of Marimekko, it is satisfied that the company is doing well: "Sales of Marimekko experiencing strong growth. The result of the group is excellent. The Finnish market has exceeded all expectations and exports market surprisingly well despite the economic situation. stock value of the company almost doubled. Marimekko continues to improve its result ... "

Economically, functionally and spiritually Marimekko saw his time the greatest, confirms Kirsti Paakkanen.

When Kirsti Paakkanen bought Marimekko there twelve years ago, the company did not go as well. One of its merits is to have continuously improved the profitability of the house and exceeded targets for business units. It has strongly developed the new product development, strengthened the position of designers and marketing improved, streamlined organization and improved efficiency of activity and quality control at all levels.

I wanted to create a safe workplace. Our employees have always been faithful and we do not share willingly with us to go elsewhere. We are strong: we have been able to give back to Marimekko's place in the world and it is very important, "she assures.

While in the eyes of a stranger, Kirsti Paakkanen strongly embodies Marimekko itself speaks using the collective we. He often asked her who, true to form, dressed in black and, at most, white and decorates his house the same colors, how can it work in the middle of patterns and colors as powerful. Furthermore, we also wondered if Marimekko often resembles its director. Marimekko is it like Paakkanen Paakkanen or she is born for Marimekko? They say that the resemblance is seen in the values and attitudes. Paakkanen Marimekko and agree to each other.

The design primarily

We used to tell those who do not know that the house Marimekko, founded in 1951, is a large Finnish company design in textiles and clothing. It designs, manufactures and markets in Finland and abroad garments of high quality, upholstery and clothing accessories under the Marimekko brand.

The source of his activity has been since the beginning of creativity. The founder of Marimekko, Armi Ratia, said that the essence of Marimekko products are not his strength but his creativity where ideas are born that materialize in the form of products. Kirsti Paakkanen raised design and product design at the top of the organization as the rest of the house supports and serves.

I consider that the duty of Marimekko is to maintain the shape of Finnish design and export. The design must show excellence in Finland. Finnish nature is nowhere else in the world and nowhere else can arise, for example, printed patterns like home.

It ensures that designers Marimekko was the brightest around. When a new designer enters the house looks with him playing Marimekko, the basic theses of Paakkanen, after which he was free. These ideas were crystallized in words feelings, respect, truth, enthusiasm, rewards, teamwork, global responsibility and esteem of others.

All designers have so assimilated the essence and spirit of Marimekko it was never necessary to recall the rules of the game

Daily sunshine

The general concept of management by Kirsti Paakkanen has also aroused interest also in Finland. It has done many studies of Marimekko, the philosophy of action and functionality of Marimekko. Companies have also been interested in the results of new thinking conducted in Marimekko's marketing and organization.

The work by Kirsti Paakkanen has also received numerous accolades: he was awarded the title high "business consultant" who, in Finland, recognizes a business leader who distinguished himself in his estate, she was chosen as Woman of the Year, Business Woman of the Year and Entrepreneur of the Year. In 2001 the Graduate School of Decorative Arts was awarded an honorary doctorate.

Paakkanen teaches us that Marimekko is an example-and acts itself as such. Excited, she calls, improve, assure agrees, looking for new, recognizes the truth and ensure that everyone knows what direction we are heading. - The key is to respect the customer. The human being is always in the foreground. We continue to act on the same principle weapon Ratia, ie we produce joy and light, quality products to brighten up the everyday people.

The company that's life

This idea of Paakkanen the company that's life fits human nature Marimekko. She often says that there are two types of people: those who work to live and those who live to work. It belongs to the second category.

Marimekko has always had a rich life with its ups and downs. During various periods, the success has always depended on knowing how the identity of the company, its business and the impression it drew coincide with reality. The world is never ready, it requires continuous adaptation. When Kirsti Paakkanen said that "we still have before us many opportunities unused," she repeats it immediately in another form: "nothing is finished.

In my definition, the happiness of my life is gratitude. I am thankful for the moments and issues that each day brings. The dark days are also important because then the other days that do seem brighter.

The words are not used Paakkanen verbiage. Fairness, enthusiasm, concern for others, intuition, respect, knowledge, feelings, positivity, strength, joy and daring, this is Paakkanen and Marimekko.

Everyone knows Marimekko

The fame of Marimekko surprised Kirsti Paakkanen. - The masses know surprisingly well Marimekko, Finland, of course, but also in New York, Tokyo or Madrid, "she said. -Marimekko enjoys in the world of a celebrity than what its size might suggest. In 2002 its turnover has resulted in nearly 50 million euros and it employed 340 people.

- We will conquer the world peacefully. We have grown each year and open shops with caution. We value our capital ratio and wish to maintain. We will be taking a reasonable and safe.

We have 25 retail stores in Finland and in Stockholm, Sweden. We have subsidiaries in Sweden and Germany, sales agents and importers in twelve countries. Exports account for a share of about 27 percent, our main buyers are Sweden, the United States, Germany, Japan, Russia and Norway. Marimekko has also had the succèes markets that are generally more quiet as Australia, the United Kingdom and Spain. Marimekko has about 800 resellers around the world.

Be Armi Ratia or yourself?

Kirsti Paakkanen is the founder of Marimekko, Armi Ratia, in high esteem. - The idea of Armi Ratia is brilliant, recognizes Paakkanen. - When I got here, I have long thought about my role. I asked myself how I could respond to the legacy of Armi. Eventually it became clear that I will continue the work and legacy of spiritual Armi being myself. I will continue the magnificent work she had started but I will stay myself.

The deep faith in the future, the creative freedom, joy and allied force already in the original idea. Ratia had found in 1978: Marimekko was first printed fabric because it is the opportunity that was immediately to hand. The idea could very well materialize in the form of music, poetry, architecture, why not a new bread, textiles, furniture, ceramics, glass, jewelry, cars, shop a florist, ice cream and toys. It is nice to know that, and keep in mind when one thinks of the future of Marimekko, and the present. "

- At meetings of the board was used to talk a lot of numbers. I often tell myself that if one has nothing else to say, there will soon be more than these numbers, and they are not sufficient alone.

When Paakkanen bought Marimekko

They say that life sustains you. Paakkanen said it, that is "supporting Marimekko Finland". Without the moral and economic support it has received over the years, Marimekko not exist today.

Conversely, it can also be said that Finland supports Marimekko. - Finland is to me that there is better. I am so than in Finnish Marimekko can be no compromise on that, "she says with passion. It has been necessary to relocate part of production abroad but, as she says with a shrug: "very little".

For Paakkanen, the world would be terribly empty without Marimekko. Anything that comes from your heart lighter heart, "she said, quoting Socrates.

When bought Marimekko, there was a moment of national emotion. She remembers the man who, after the announcement of the new, telephoned him to unburden himself on his shoulder, he seemed the man had been recovered in Karelia.

Paakkanen is relaxed, friendly and fair with others. That may be why it approachable. One day in the street, threw a maverick after recognized, "you're a nice girl Paakkanen", to which she replied "thank you but what you read women's magazine to know that?".

There is just one Marimekko

According Kirsti Paakkanen, the feelings are the greatest natural resource in the world. The duty of Marimekko not leave people indifferent but rather to shake the level of feelings.

You can feel the pride and Marimekko Marimekko people consider as well, something like "this is us. Marimekko is a symbol of Finnish nature. If no Marimekko be missing something in the Finnish national identity.

There is no other Marimekko. Marimekko is like the boy or the girl next door. We are not above anybody, we're like friends, buddies, and a friend that does not let go.

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