Rapunzel of Sweden – Winner of Digital Gazelle 2013

Earlier this week, hair extensions company Rapunzel of Sweden was awarded the prize of Digital Gazelle of the year 2013.  Dagens Industri (Swedish equivalent of Financial Times) arranged a gala award ceremony for the 14th consecutive year in a row.  Rapunzel is only the second company ever to win the prestige filled prize which was presented by Gustav Radell, Google.  The gala was arranged in Stockholm’s concert house, Sweden.

On Monday evening it was announced that hair extensions company Rapunzel of Sweden is the winner of this year’s Digital Gazelle. The prize awarded by Google and Dagens Industri is to honour companies that have used the internet to develop their business. Google’s Gustav Radell was on stage at the Concert Hall in Stockholm, Sweden to hand out the award to Rapunzel of Sweden stating the motivation being:

“Today’s winner belongs to a generation that has digital awareness in their genes, the children of the 80’s, or as they are also worldwide known, Generation Why.  But despite there being very few from any generation who can pride themselves on having completed this journey, today’s winner has done it - and what a journey it has been! Coming from a tiny e-commerce company based in Umeå in the North of Sweden, our winner has managed to make her way in the entrepreneur’s world with what seems to a be a seemingly simple approach; to follow her own needs and behaviour patterns. Six years ago going by her own instincts, she started her own company aged only 22, and the rest, as they say, is history.  The past three years the company has grown by 366% and reached a turnover of a fantastic 80 million SEK.  There are 21 employees and they sell to customers in 60 countries.  We often talk about entrepreneurs and think we know what kind of person this is refers to. This year’s Digital Gazelle is the true definition of the word, she is truly a company founder. We not only want to congratulate you, above all we want to say thank you for you really are a Generation Why.  You inspire, hopefully even the next generation, Generation Why Not.” 

Criteria for being a Gazelle

In order to be awarded the Gazelle prize companies need to fulfil all the following criteria.  The Gazelle research is always based on companies last four Annual Reports. 

A Gazelle has:

• a turnover exceeding 10 Mkr 
• at least 10 employees 
• at least doubled their turnover, when comparing the first and fourth years
• increased turnover each year over the past three years                                             
• a positive combined operating profit                                                                                      
• substantial organic growth, rather than through mergers or take-overs.  
• healthy finances

Source: Di.se

For more information and background on the award go to:

http://www.di.se/artiklar/2013/11/27/saljer-har-over-hela-varlden/

http://www.di.se/artiklar/2013/12/4/debatt-vem-blir-den-sista-digitala-gasellen/

http://dagensindustri.se/gasell

For more information contact:

Rapunzel of Sweden +46 90 70 60 70

or email:

emma.jonsson@rapunzelofsweden.com

Rapunzel of Sweden is a success story. Something which both the name and the figures prove. Today Rapunzel of Sweden is an important and well known company operating mainly through the internet with around 40 employees and customers in 36 different countries. The company uses its own brand, Rapunzel® and delivers hair extensions, wigs and hair care to thousands of customers all over the world. Apart from the large online business with its head office in the city of Umeå (Northern Sweden) Rapunzel of Sweden also has initiated the Rapunzel® Store Concept, and the foundation Rapunzel vs Cancer.

Tags: