Work & Business
Shout Out to Stockholm-based Electrolux For Making Our Lives 500 Times Easier
Many a time, the trusty old vacuum helped us clean up after a broken glass, suction up scary critters and keep our floors clean. While vacuums are a staple in American households today, they haven’t been around forever.
In 1901, AB Lux, Stockholm was born. The business’ main offering was a kerosene lamp for outdoor use, and after experiencing a lot of success, AB Lux wanted to break into other products.
The company partnered with Swedish entrepreneur Axel Wenner-Gren. Wenner-Gren had seen cumbersome, heavy vacuum cleaners when traveling in Vienna, but there was nothing on the market that was functional for domestic use. He spent some time learning in Vienna, brought his ideas back to Sweden, and in 1912, collaborated with AB Lux to present the first household vacuum the world had ever seen: the Lux 1.
Sales company Elektromekaniska AB handled the selling of the AB Lux vacuums, and in the good old days, salesmen would drag the product around to homes and demonstrate its capabilities to the homemaker. Since we’re talking about the 1930s, men had to be home to approve their wives’ purchase.
In 1919, Elektromekaniska AB changed its name to AB Electrolux – a combination of Elektromekaniska and Lux, as the sales arm and manufacturing arm came together to be more efficient and profitable.
After the rebrand, the company rolled out an even easier to use vacuum dubbed the Model V and then solved another common household issue: keeping food fresh. What folks in 1925 called “a wonderful box,” we know today as a refrigerator.
And in 2001, Electrolux introduced the Trilobite, the first robotic vacuum cleaner.
Today, Electrolux is one of the leading global appliance companies, providing refrigerators, dishwashers, washing machines, vacuum cleaners, air conditioners and small appliances to homes everywhere. Each year, it sells more than 60 million household products in more than 150 markets.
The company’s brand’s slogan is “At Electrolux, we shape living for the better.” And from kerosene lamps to vacuums to refrigerators, the Swedish brand is doing just that.
