Local Market Expertise Fueled a Smooth Recruitment for Growth in Finland
When Scandinavian Photo set out to expand its presence in Finland, the company turned to us to find a B2B Key Account Manager. A key hire to accelerate growth in a new market.
After 40 years in business, Scandinavian Photo has become the Nordic leader in photography, video, and audio solutions. Recently, the company renewed its strategy to better support today’s diverse ways of creating content. It has evolved into a technology partner for all creative professionals.
Now, Scandinavian Photo serves both business and consumer clients: from production companies and public sector organizations to online retailers, content creators, and hobbyists.
“We’re in a growth phase, and our plan is to grow even more,” says Kajsa Ögård, HR & Communications Manager at Scandinavian Photo.
Growth Demands New Skills and a Stronger Local Presence
To reach its ambitious growth goals, Scandinavian Photo needed new commercial capabilities and a deeper foothold in new markets.
One of the company’s key focus areas is Finland. It’s a market where Scandinavian Photo has operated online since 2009 and continues to see strong potential. With the opening of its first physical store in Helsinki, Kajsa Ögård partnered with us to find the right person to lead B2B sales efforts.
“I was convinced right away,” Ögård says. “You were fast, proactive, and made everything easy.”
Local Market Insight Prevented Challenges Before They Arose
Two of our recruitment consultants led the assignment.
During the kick-off meeting, we and Ögård explored Scandinavian Photo’s business goals, values, and skill needs. We also discussed the motivations that would attract the right candidate to join the company.
“The team’s passion for their products, collaboration, and commitment to quality service truly stand out at Scandinavian Photo,” one consultant says. “Understanding that culture helped us do our job better.”
While Scandinavian Photo already had a clear role profile based on previous Nordic recruitments, the Finnish candidate market and communication style were unfamiliar territory.
“You supported us wonderfully. You advised how to best position the opportunity in Finland and what kind of questions candidates would expect,” Ögård explains.
A Strategic Role and a Discreet Search
The B2B Key Account Manager role was one of the most strategically critical positions for Scandinavian Photo’s expansion. It also came with several challenges.
First, the company’s market entry in Finland was not yet public. This meant the search had to be conducted discreetly, without paid or organic visibility.
Second, candidates who matched the specific commercial and technical profile were rare in Finland.
“We validated our skill requirements early on with example profiles from the market to fine-tune our search,” the consultant says.
Despite the tight timeline, our team quickly created professional candidate materials. These presented the company, role, and rewards clearly. We then moved efficiently to direct sourcing.
Adapting to the Market Strengthened the Employer Brand
The recruitment process followed our structured model, combining precision with warmth.
We identified and approached potential candidates, engaging them in early conversations to uncover motivation and fit. Later-stage discussions focused on business acumen and growth potential.
“Understanding a person’s motivation is essential,” the consultant notes. “If money is the only driver, they’ll move on as soon as the next offer comes along.”
Scandinavian Photo found the right talent. Ögård highlights three things that stood out throughout the process:
- Seamless communication
The Scandinavian Photo team was always up to date on progress. Candidate documentation was thorough and well-prepared, even when translated into English. - Strong employer branding “In the final interviews, I could tell candidates had the right impression of us and the role,” says Ögård.
- Ease and partnership “I’ve worked with many recruitment partners, but it’s never been this easy.