Local business, Heymat | New price for Heymat

This year’s Design Industry Conference took place in front of a packed hall in the National Museum in Oslo. Here, the awards for Export Company of the Year, Product of the Year, Brand Builder of the Year and the Classic Prize were awarded.

Heymat came out on top in competition with Devold and Lundhs, according to a press release.

Continues to impress

The jury states that Heymat continues to impress with its products, and that they put new Norwegian design on the international design map.

“Since the first collection was launched in 2016, Heymat has had an uncompromising plan for export, including strategic participation at international fairs and meeting places. After the company was established, they have had a large increase in turnover, much of which is export-driven. Their products have become very popular, especially in the USA where exports have grown significantly, and were doubled in 2023. The export share is increasing, and last year was 54 per cent,» writes the jury in its verdict.

Thoughtful

Over the course of a few years, Heymat has changed the doormat from being a necessity that receives little attention, to becoming a design object that is in style with the rest of the home.

– Our recipe for success is to combine solid expertise from the professional doormat industry with collaboration with skilled Norwegian designers, says founder Sonja Djønne.

At the same time that Heymat mats adorn the entrances of more and more Norwegian homes, most of the start-up company’s growth takes place outside the country’s borders.

– Our export rate was 54 per cent in 2023, a significant increase from the previous year. The USA is our biggest market. Our mats have really been well received here, and last year we doubled our sales on the American market, says Cecilie Garfalk, CEO of Heymat.

But although the atmosphere was good in the wake of the award ceremony, the backdrop is more somber. Norwegian design is experiencing uncertain times.

– In the last six years, we have increased the export of Norwegian design goods by a whopping 65 per cent, but this does not translate into value creation or jobs in Norway. Compared to our Nordic design competitors, we have too poor framework conditions. We will be trailing behind them, says Egil Sundet, branch manager of Norsk Industri Designindustrien, who presented the four awards.

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