A year ago, the conversation went something like this: "I think this year will be a year of calmer growth." Things may be going badly elsewhere, but not here in Finland. At Dimex, business was going relatively well. There was a fair amount of luck involved, because we anticipated the future and took strong actions to change the situation. It did change. In this way, we achieved results in 2008 and through that, the foundation was strengthened for 2009.

Last August and September were really good months in terms of sales. Then since October, sales have not been profitable. In early autumn, I still convinced myself that since the factory is very close to the 5-way, the recession would make a turn for us. It didn't. It hit the spot.

In October, I realized that the situation was indeed getting worse day by day. My first thought was: “Oh my god, is this what happened here again and why?” The next thought was that WE WILL NOT GIVE UP. Then I thought that fortunately our company has a strong foundation. We have been able to do development work over the years. We have the capacity to absorb.

I'm not the right person to analyze the reasons for the recession. I can still try. I'm a Finnish man. I guess the rules of the game weren't completely messed up in the world's financial markets? Or were they?

Once, someone close to me said, "Does it have to be such a hard struggle all the time?" Last fall, I thought, "Thank goodness it's been a hard struggle. Otherwise, I wouldn't have figured it out." Of course, you can also struggle by smiling. I got the Smile Statue in the second grade of middle school, but not by smiling. Probably with irony.

In my next article I will tell you how we have adapted to these times. Alas, these times. But, we will not give up!

Have a good March,

Jukka Krogerus

managing director

P.S.

Job title: please contact me when you feel like it.

jukka.krogerus@dimex.fi