The company at a glance
Scandinavian Wave is a privately held company with offices in Stockholm and Tokyo. We help Swedish companies discover new markets in Asia and establish or increase sales either in the local or foreign markets.
We do this by building and promoting brands, as well as facilitating effective communication in a variety of media. Our clients are found primarily in design but we’ve worked with many different enterprises, always adapting to suit each client’s specific needs.
We know how much a small, flexible and effective team can achieve, and welcome any challenge.
Putting experience to work
Our founders include alumni from the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce, Stockholm School of Economics and Invest in Sweden Agency (ISA) Tokyo as well as senior partners with backgrounds in design and advertising.
We’re a blend of both native Swedish and Japanese specialists in business, technology, design, language, PR & communication. Our multi-lingual team include speakers of Swedish, English, French, Japanese and Chinese.
Read more about the people of Scandinavian Wave
Who have we helped?
Previous clients include global giants such as IKEA Japan, Vodafone, and SUN Microsystems, organisations like Association of Swedish Designers and Invest Sweden as well as smaller private enterprises like Koishikawa Print, Hipp!, Mori & Mimosa and Striking Design.
Values and extended network
We work with strict ethical and environmental guidelines, in close collaboration with relevant governmental bodies and organizations such as the Swedish Trade Council, The Association of Swedish Designers, International Council of Graphic Designers Associations (ICOGRADA), Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), The Swedish Embassy in Tokyo and other key players.
We’re an equal opportunities employer and believe an organization is best served by mixing people of different gender, age, ethnic origin and social backgrounds.
If you represent a company or organization and want to know more about a possible collaboration with Scandinavian Wave, please contact us at partner@scandinavianwave.se
Opening doors to Asia
Designers these days are often well in tune with current global trends, and relish the prospect of bringing their products to a wider, global audience.
However, although design have excellent growth potential, lack of resources, relevant experience and connections makes it difficult to internationalize a success on the home market.
The substantial investment in time, hard work, steep consultant fees and pressure to secure adequate funding has also been strong deterrents for many entrepreneurs eager to test their wings in foreign markets.
A professional team in your corner
In order to help meet the above mentioned challenges Scandinavian Wave offers a wide range of specialist services, targeting primarily the developed markets of Japan and China.
We can help you with everything from advice, establishing business contacts and performing pre-studies or surveys to project management and handling contact with relevant authorities. We could even help you with the process of opening a showroom, registering a representative office or any one of the many operative tasks you may need handled professionally on site.
Our expertise in east asian business culture, language, communication and design can be an invaluable help in the effort to establish your brand or product in the Japanese market.
For more on what we can do for your business, please see services or contact us at info@scandinavianwave.se
What people say about us
“From inception, Scandinavian Wave has worked committed and successfully to promote Swedish design in Japan. In a relatively short period of time, the company has become one of the most exciting new voices in Swedish cultural export.”
This was made abundantly clear to us during the preparation for Swedish Style in Tokyo’s 10-year anniversary. Stefan and his staff were extremely prepared, pro-active and professional in the way they approached their work, and absolutely vital in the contact with Japanese principals and volonteers on site in Tokyo.
They produced – on very short notice, I might add – a beautiful and functional web site for the event, designed invitations and press material in both Swedish and Japanese and managed contacts with the local PR firm. Thanks to their lingual and cultural competence, structured organisaton and efficiency we could open our exhibition in Space O Omotesando Hills on time, with press from some of the biggest magazines and several local radio stations covering the event.
Scandinavian Wave’s wide network and understanding of Japanese culture has already led to several exciting collaborative design projects, and I personally believe companies like them are the future for Swedish design exchange, both with Japan and the rest of Asia. These young entrepreneurs move effortlessly in environments that’s long been closed for westerners, brokering contacts between designers and corporations, interpreting, aiding negotiations and acting as good ambassadors for Swedish design.
Receiving personal guidance and hands on support when entering Japan, is an amazing opportunity for both designers and companies – and something even bigger and more established players can have a hard time matching!
Ewa Kumlin
CEO, Association of Swedish Designers
Ewa Kumlin | CEO, Association of Swedish Designers