Lindström (company)
Encyclopedia
Lindström Group is a Finnish multinational B-to-B textile services provider. Established in 1848, the company is one of the oldest existing companies in Finland
. Lindström offers mat, hygiene, towel, workwear, restaurant textile, personal protective equipment
and corporate gift services.
Family-owned Lindström is headquartered in Helsinki, Finland. In 2010, the company’s revenue was 249 million euros. The same year, the company employed, on average, 2400 people. Lindström operates in 20 different countries in Europe and in Asia, and it has over 200,000 customers.
In the 1920s, the Lindström family sold their shares to the Roiha family who maintain ownership and control over the company today. In the 1930s, the company focused on the textile dye and laundry business. 1940s the company experienced major setbacks during and after the Winter War
and the Continuation War
. Industrial laundry services experienced a drop in demand when the availability of textile products suffered. In the 1950s, the demand for industrial laundry services dropped, which made Lindström offer laundry services to consumers. The company also began investing in and focusing on the textile rental services business.
In the 1960s, Lindström started actively marketing its textile rental services to companies as it was seen as a source for potential future earnings. In 1974, Lindström bought its biggest competitor in the textile industry, market leader Lainatekstiili Oy from Tampella Oy.
In the beginning of the 1970s, the demand for consumer laundry services plummeted as the popularity of home washing machines increased. In the mid-1970s, Lindström started offering more cleaning services. Due to this shift in focus, the company bought Laite-Siivous Oy in 1975. Lindström began matt and mop rentals in 1971. In 1976 the company closed its textile dye unit because the business had become unprofitable.
Through acquisitions, Lindström Oy was evolving into a holding company. After mid-1970s, Lindström Group decided to focus on the development of the Lindström brand, which is why it started marketing many of the businesses it owned jointly under the Lindström name.
In the 1980s, the company was involved in several mergers and acquisitions. In most cases, Lindström was the buyer, although it also sold some companies it had bought earlier, but which had since turned out unprofitable.
In the 1990s, Lindström gave up cleaning and waste management services, as well as its laundry shops, and directed its full attention to textile renting services. In the same decade, the company began pursuing an aggressive international expansion strategy.
In the beginning of the 2000s, Lindström created Comforta Oy. It also began textile sales to its customers, in addition to rentals. In the beginning of 2002, Lindström handed the ownership of Lindström House over to Lindström Invest Oy. In 2002, Lindström’s module laundry was patented. In 2007, Lindström signed a four-year partnership agreement with UNICEF. In the agreement, the company commits to supporting a hygiene and sanitation program in India. In practice, the funds are donated to 250 schools in the Indian state of Bihar, benefiting around 60,000 school children. In 2009, Lindström’s subsidiary Vision Design Clothing Oy merged with Lindström. As a result, a new Design & Brand Management unit was created within the company. The unit concentrates on design and visual planning, as well as the research and development of workwear and corporate gifts.
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
. Lindström offers mat, hygiene, towel, workwear, restaurant textile, personal protective equipment
Personal protective equipment
Personal protective equipment refers to protective clothing, helmets, goggles, or other garment or equipment designed to protect the wearer's body from injury by blunt impacts, electrical hazards, heat, chemicals, and infection, for job-related occupational safety and health purposes, and in...
and corporate gift services.
Family-owned Lindström is headquartered in Helsinki, Finland. In 2010, the company’s revenue was 249 million euros. The same year, the company employed, on average, 2400 people. Lindström operates in 20 different countries in Europe and in Asia, and it has over 200,000 customers.
History
Lindström was founded by Carl August Lindström in 1848, in Helsinki. The company was originally in the textile dye house and it was called C.A Lindström & Son. In 1891, Carl August Lindström handed the company over to his son, W.E. Lindström. In 1918, Lindström Oy was turned into a joint stock company and the name was changed to AB W.E. Lindström Oy.In the 1920s, the Lindström family sold their shares to the Roiha family who maintain ownership and control over the company today. In the 1930s, the company focused on the textile dye and laundry business. 1940s the company experienced major setbacks during and after the Winter War
Winter War
The Winter War was a military conflict between the Soviet Union and Finland. It began with a Soviet offensive on 30 November 1939 – three months after the start of World War II and the Soviet invasion of Poland – and ended on 13 March 1940 with the Moscow Peace Treaty...
and the Continuation War
Continuation War
The Continuation War was the second of two wars fought between Finland and the Soviet Union during World War II.At the time of the war, the Finnish side used the name to make clear its perceived relationship to the preceding Winter War...
. Industrial laundry services experienced a drop in demand when the availability of textile products suffered. In the 1950s, the demand for industrial laundry services dropped, which made Lindström offer laundry services to consumers. The company also began investing in and focusing on the textile rental services business.
In the 1960s, Lindström started actively marketing its textile rental services to companies as it was seen as a source for potential future earnings. In 1974, Lindström bought its biggest competitor in the textile industry, market leader Lainatekstiili Oy from Tampella Oy.
In the beginning of the 1970s, the demand for consumer laundry services plummeted as the popularity of home washing machines increased. In the mid-1970s, Lindström started offering more cleaning services. Due to this shift in focus, the company bought Laite-Siivous Oy in 1975. Lindström began matt and mop rentals in 1971. In 1976 the company closed its textile dye unit because the business had become unprofitable.
Through acquisitions, Lindström Oy was evolving into a holding company. After mid-1970s, Lindström Group decided to focus on the development of the Lindström brand, which is why it started marketing many of the businesses it owned jointly under the Lindström name.
In the 1980s, the company was involved in several mergers and acquisitions. In most cases, Lindström was the buyer, although it also sold some companies it had bought earlier, but which had since turned out unprofitable.
In the 1990s, Lindström gave up cleaning and waste management services, as well as its laundry shops, and directed its full attention to textile renting services. In the same decade, the company began pursuing an aggressive international expansion strategy.
In the beginning of the 2000s, Lindström created Comforta Oy. It also began textile sales to its customers, in addition to rentals. In the beginning of 2002, Lindström handed the ownership of Lindström House over to Lindström Invest Oy. In 2002, Lindström’s module laundry was patented. In 2007, Lindström signed a four-year partnership agreement with UNICEF. In the agreement, the company commits to supporting a hygiene and sanitation program in India. In practice, the funds are donated to 250 schools in the Indian state of Bihar, benefiting around 60,000 school children. In 2009, Lindström’s subsidiary Vision Design Clothing Oy merged with Lindström. As a result, a new Design & Brand Management unit was created within the company. The unit concentrates on design and visual planning, as well as the research and development of workwear and corporate gifts.