Jan Trygve Jensen: 40 Years of Improving Lives Through Sleep
In 1983, Jan Trygve Jensen graduated university and began a 40 year long (and counting) career at Jensen Beds – Norway’s most famous and distinguished bed brand.
Working in a family business creates a sense of pride in contributing to the continuation of a family legacy. For Jan Trygve, his roots are from Svelvik, which is why it has always meant a great deal to him and his family, that the production of Jensen beds has always remained there.
The first Jensen factory opened in 1947 in what was more of a small workshop than a factory. The beds were built a bit differently around that time, using animal hair such as “kröllehår” and wool. At the time, they specialized in making beds for babies, quilts, and other types of furniture.
Jan Trygve grew up close to the old workshop and one of his first memories from his father’s workplace was when he was first allowed to walk around the production area. His first job was packing bed legs which he did during summer breaks. When he had finished studies at university, he was determined to charter his own path, at least during the onset of his career with a plan to venture into the family business after a few years. But his father needed his help right away and thus he began a career at Jensen that would span over 40 years and counting.
Jan Trygve always had a great working relationship with his father, “my father was never a controlling manager, he allowed space for his employees to thrive and grow within their respective fields”, said Jan Trygve Jensen. While his father would focus more on operations, Jan Trygve would allocate more of his energy and time on the commercial side of the business.
This was also around the time when the bedding market saw a great shift in Norway.
“Before I joined the company, beds were primarily sold via small independent furniture stores and within a few years of my tenure there was a fast development of retail chains assuming a larger share of the market.”
Jan Trygve saw early on that this is where the business landscape was heading and therefore put much effort in nurturing relationships with the emerging chains. Today there are very few independent players in Norway.
Today, the home of Jensen looks (not surprisingly) much different than it did back in 1947. In their fourth factory they produce around 100.000 premium beds and bedding accessories on an annual basis that are shipped to sleepers all around the world. It is one of the most highly recognizable bed brands in the Nordics with an impressive assortment that is developed based on the “Jensen philosophy”. A philosophy grounded in an innate passion for improving people’s sleep comfort and with a clear intention of providing maximum support that helps people wake up fully rested, every morning.
“We have always focused on quality materials with a lot of emphasis around the knowledge of building a bed, how a bed affects your body and ultimately your sleep.
Jan Trygve has seen plenty of developments and innovations within beds, mattresses and sleep.
“There were two technologies back in the day that really changed the perception of innovative beds; air and water. The waterbed changed the way ergonomics could be applied and this really interested me. Soon after this we employed a physical therapist to focus on the ergonomic aspects of our beds. During the 90s we had achieved a strong competitive advantage and we started a very successful export journey, and it opened the doors to the rest of the Nordic countries. Back then people were sleeping on mattresses not beds. We introduced the continental bed in Sweden for instance. We were the ones who named the continental bed “continental”. In the US and UK, the continental bed already existed, but there it was called a “Divan”, and when we introduced it to the Nordics, we wanted a different name and thus decided on “Continental bed” whilst the more traditional spring bed was named “Nordic bed”.”, commented Jan Trygve Jensen.
Today at the factory in Svelvik, the work to develop the most optimal beds continues. Jan Trygve and his team are continuously testing and introducing several new pressure-relieving materials and new ways to build beds and mattresses. A system of springs divided into zones is one of many examples, just like their further optimization of the zone system using stretch fabrics. Recently, the team launched “Lean” a new product series that represents the latest in adjustable technology and design.
Jensen factory in Svelvik
Jensen Lean has all the advantages of an adjustable bed – but without the “bulky” design. The low base gives an elegant impression while our new Ease-concept provides unique qualities in both sleep comfort and bed care. The mattress and frame are assembled as a single piece of furniture, preventing the mattress from sliding while you sleep. The innovative Ease-concept also features a connected double spring system that does not need turning the mattress to keep its lifespan intact.
Looking towards the future, Jan Trygve and the rest of the Jensen-team will continue to develop and build beds that can help people get better sleep and ultimately live a better life. The work continues.
“During the last couple of years, I’ve had the pleasure to work closely with Jan Trygve and I could not wish for a better colleague. He knows the business exceptionally well, he’s well-liked and respected by the team and with his deep knowledge he plays an instrumental part in growing the business. To many of us, he is somewhat of an institution when it comes to the Jensen brand and the Norwegian market. Staying at the top of your game during several decades is no small feat and I want to take the opportunity to thank him for his contribution and congratulate him on 40 successful years in the bedding industry”, commented Henrik Sjögren Group CEO of Hilding Anders.