– No, I have never regretted my move, absolutely not! The quality of life in Piteå can't be found just anywhere. It's easy to get around, and when the mood strikes, we have both trains and buses nearby. Visiting family or friends down south is simple.
Cecilia Lindström from Gothenburg is a true gourmet. She and her husband, Daniel, started the restaurant Järnspisen when she was just 23, shortly after moving to Piteå.
– We had been considering starting our own business somewhere in Sweden and were choosing between Uppsala and Piteå, where Daniel is from. Around the same time, the owners of the former restaurant Bryggargatan in Piteå contacted us and asked if we were interested in starting up here. And we were!
In 2011, barely a year into her relationship with Daniel, Cecilia found herself running their new fine-dining restaurant in Piteå and thoroughly enjoying it. Studies in restaurant management at Umeå University and practical experience in both Sweden and Norway gave her a solid foundation, both theoretically and practically.
– Those were exciting years, what a start!
Those years made Cecilia one of Piteå's most well-known entrepreneurs. As incoming entrepreneurs, they closely followed the city's and the market's fluctuations over the years. The couple developed and elevated fine dining to a new level during their years in the restaurant industry. When they started a family and wanted a different pace of life, they dared to sell their business and try something new. Something that turned out to be another success! Today, the couple runs the attractive and exclusive store Järnspisens Matbod in the city centre. The store has opened a completely different type of customer interaction and collegial work than the restaurant industry did. The couple also has more room to work on innovation and establish new industry contacts.
As an incoming entrepreneur in a new city, Cecilia advises others to seek support from local actors to enter the business networks. Finding a mentor, which can be done with the support of the municipality's business department, is a fantastic tool for developing both oneself and one's business, according to Cecilia.
– I have always wanted to have a say in my industry and my city. Organizing with both like-minded and differently-minded people creates fantastic opportunities for participation in matters such as flows, competence supply, and premises in the city, or for meeting industry colleagues.
Cecilia is currently active in Företagarna Piteå and also works as a trade developer for the retailers in Piteå and project manager for Piteå Giftcard. Her commitment to the city's business development shines brightly and contributes to visits from potential newcomers who dream of establishing themselves in Piteå.
– Of course, to some extent, we are competitors, but we all care deeply about a vibrant and sustainable Piteå.
– As an entrepreneur, one often talks about milestones. Daniel and I have probably settled into working towards five-year goals. I want to keep up with the economic fluctuations of society. Awareness of the world is of utmost importance for Järnspisens Matbod, which is our optimal business and has grown much larger than I thought.
– Running fine dining as a 23-year-old was cool and valuable for the future. Daniel and I continue to invest in what we believe is perfect for the region and the time we operate in. So far, it has hit the mark, and I both believe and hope that future ideas will land just as well.