Country Director for Poland celebrates 25 years at JYSK
Piotr Padalak, Country Director for JYSK Poland, celebrates his 25th anniversary, and soon the anniversary of the company’s presence in Poland.
Twenty-five years ago, a young man from Poland decided to try to join JYSK and called the head office in Silkeborg, Denmark, to ask for a meeting with founder Lars Larsen. At that time, he had no idea how that moment would change his entire life.
Passion and interest in Denmark
Denmark and the Danish language were Piotr's first choice during his studies in Poznan, Poland. As a graduate of Danish philology, he naturally directed his first professional steps towards the role of a teacher and left Poland for Denmark, unsure of whether he would ever return.
In 1999, however, Piotr found information in a newspaper that the founder of JYSK, Lars Larsen, was planning to open JYSK stores in Poland. After twelve years in Denmark, Piotr returned to Poland, which was undergoing many economic and political changes at the time. Poland was still outside the European Union.
“It was a very interesting and challenging time because we were building everything from the scratch. I think that my Polish-Danish experience was a great advantage in building a JYSK in the first country behind the Iron Curtain," Piotr says.
From first store to first place
In March 2000, JYSK opened its first store in Gdansk, Poland, and today, JYSK Poland is one of the 3 largest players on the local market among home furnishing companies. Next year, the company will celebrate 25 years in Poland.
“We are constantly developing JYSK in Poland. We have 300 stores, and we want to have close to 500," Piotr says.
Piotr Padalak
- Born: 1964
- Lived in Denmark for 12 years
- Now lives in Gdynia, Poland
- Married with five kids, aged: 33, 31, 21, 18, 12
- Jazz enthusiast with a collection of many guitars
Such an important anniversary also raises questions about the future and further professional plans.
"We are in the top 3 in Poland, we strive to be on the podium, in the highest position,” says Piotr. “I’m sure in a few years we will succeed," he adds.
And Piotr plans to stay in JYSK together with his valued colleagues:
“I both like and respect the company I work for very much. I appreciate the people I work with for their commitment, ambition and for the way they are as great colleagues. And for these reasons I can't imagine any other place to work than JYSK.”
