Employee interview

Melker Marklund

Melker Marklund has worked in sales at Nomo in northern Sweden since 1997.

Amanda Pettersson, our previous guest in this series, asks: What is your favourite travel destination?
I love travelling to Parga on the coast of Greece, I've been there three times.

How big is your sales district?
My district is half the size of Sweden. It extends northwards from Sundsvall and Östersund.

That's a lot of miles in the car every year?
Yes, I drive between 5,000 and 6,000 kilometres per year. I’m based in Arvidsjaur and it’s about 400 kilometres to Kiruna and 500 kilometres to Sundsvall.

What is it like to work in such a large geographical area?
Previously, I travelled alone and moved frequently throughout the district for many years. Now I mostly stay in Malmfälten, Gällivare and Kiruna where we have many MRO customers.

Which customer segment do you mainly work with?
Mainly the mining industry, steel mills, but also the pulp and paper industry along the coast.

Describe your journey over the years at Nomo?
In the beginning, I worked with all customer categories, so there was no split between OEM and MRO customers. I visited companies manufacturing components and customers who needed our products for maintenance, repairs and operations in their business. As a senior salesperson now, I feel that I have more to offer, not least to customers with whom I have worked for a long time.

What sparked your interest in Nomo in the first place?
Since the early 1990s, I was a travelling salesman for the industry, but was based in Arvidsjaur when we had children. When the children got a bit older, I saw that Nomo was looking for a salesperson and when we met, everything went well so that was that.

What has given you the most professional development?
Working on our products, which in turn can be incorporated into other products at manufacturing companies. It has been challenging to help and guide customers in such diverse environments and in different industries. Not to mention meeting lots of nice people at customers, but also at Nomo.

Nomo's best product?
Our best product is the company itself, with all its skilled employees.

Your most memorable event over the years?
The feeling of receiving a large order which you have worked towards for a long time is indescribable. One such memory is when I received my largest single order for railway wagon stock.

What do you do in your spare time?
I own some woodland in a village outside Arvidsjaur where I spend a lot of time. I also have three grandchildren who sometimes need me to help.

What is your favourite food?
Home cooking, for example palt (meat-filled dumplings) are good. A meat dish with elk or raindeer is also appreciated.

The best song in the world ever?
I’d say Lynyrd Skynyrd with Sweet Home Alabama.

Our next guest is Stian Aleksander Fremo; he works in sales in Norway, what question would you like to ask him?
How often do you eat palt(kumle/raspeball)?