Last month, we told you about the arrival of the Tiger of Sweden store in Toronto – the newest retail addition to the Ossington strip. The store is a go-to for young professionals worldwide for everything from suits and dresses to refined basics. We had a chance to catch up with David Thunmarker, the young CEO behind the rapidly growing brand. In November 2008, at the age of 31, David became CEO of Tiger of Sweden after holding the position of Marketing Manager for four years. He was ranked as one of Sweden’s “101 Super Talents” in 2009 by the Swedish business magazine VA/Veckans Affärer. Thunmarker shared insight on everything from the new Toronto store and why Tiger of Sweden is so popular with YPs, to life as a young CEO.
How did you decide on the Ossington location?
We visited Toronto last August to check out different locations, together with our Toronto-based partners from SlavinRaphael, and we fell in love with the Ossington area because of its interesting mixture of people, bars, restaurants and stores. All of that together made us feel and come to the conclusion that Ossington and Tiger of Sweden are a perfect match.
What, in your opinion, makes the brand so attractive to young professionals?
Our brand philosophy is really to make 24/7 fashion that suits 24/7 people. Tiger of Sweden is a brand that you can wear to work, to the bar across the street, or even to the nightclub, and still look sharp, which brings important versatility for the young professional’s lifestyle. We enjoy subtlety, and I think that appeals to a lot of people.
What are some of your top picks for both men and women currently in-store?
Evert Suit ($799 for blazer and pant)
Brook Blazer ($599)
TW SS13/1304:
Devan Long coat ($549)
Alice shoe ($229)
Dabria blazer ($429)
Meka dress ($259)
Do you have any other Canadian locations planned?
We opened our first store in Montreal in 2009, the second now in Toronto. Canadians have been very receptive to the brand, and so we definitely anticipate that more will come.
Can you offer any advice to other young CEOs?
Trust your instincts. It is okay not to know everything – who does? Surround yourself with people that are better than yourself, it helps compensate for your own shortcomings, which we all have.
But the true question is, who am I to give advice to young CEOs, being 35 years old myself? Is that considered young or old? 😉
What does success look like to you? How do you measure success?
Happiness is all I strive for, it’s the biggest reward and success you could possible gain.
Tiger of Sweden can be found at over 2,100 selling points around the world, in 19 countries including Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Germany, the United Kingdom and South Africa.
Photo credit: Ryan Emberley/rock-it promotions