In this episode of eCoffee with Experts, host Victor interviews Albert Varkki, Co-founder of Von Baer, a company specializing in high-quality leather products. The conversation covers Albert’s transition from a finance career to entrepreneurship, the challenges faced in starting a business, and the importance of customer feedback and marketing strategies. Albert shares insights on market expansion, particularly in the U.S. and other English-speaking countries, and discusses the significance of maintaining product quality and customer service. The episode concludes with lessons learned and thoughts on future trends in e-commerce, including the potential of augmented reality.
Takeaways:
- Albert transitioned from finance to fashion due to a personal need for stylish leather products.
- The initial challenge was creating a product that was both functional and aesthetically pleasing.
- Starting a business without external investors allowed for more creative freedom and less pressure.
- Market expansion was crucial due to the small internal market size in Estonia.
- Customer feedback is vital for product development and improvement.
- Quality and customer service are key differentiators in a competitive market.
- Marketing strategies include email reminders and social media engagement to retain customers.
- The company focuses on a limited number of new products each year to maintain quality.
- Listening to gut feelings can guide business decisions effectively.
- Combining market research with intuition can lead to successful product development.
If you’re going to use any product, why not to have it as beautiful as possible?
Albert Varkki
Co-founder of Von Baer
