Victor Halvarsson: A Unique Perspective on Luxury E-tail and Entrepreneurship
Victor Halvarsson is the CEO and Founder of VANBRUUN, a luxury online specialty retailer that offers a stunning collection of fine jewelry and diamonds. With a blend of experience in Private Banking, Company Valuation, and entrepreneurship in the e-tail sector, Victor brings a unique perspective to the world of luxury retail. He has a remarkable passion for excellence and strives to offer only the best to his customers. Under his leadership, VANBRUUN has become a fast-growing brand, and Victor's insights and expertise have played a significant role in shaping the company's success.
Tell us about yourself Victor?
I grew up in a small town in Sweden and have always been very curious since day one. My father was an entrepreneur who inspired me to be business-minded. I even started a bicycle workshop as an eight-year-old. Today I own and manage the biggest online jewelry house in Scandinavia, VANBRUUN—a luxury brand with the customer as core and endless options.
Victor, tell us about your greatest strength as a professional.
My focus. To be great at anything, you must spend a tremendous amount of time. I like the 10 000 hour concept by Malcolm Gladwell. The idea suggests that you have to spend a great deal of time on something to be great at it, and I can do that without getting bored.
What inspired you to set up your business?
I got inspired when I was looking for an engagement for my girlfriend. I was browsing the web and noticed that the industry was very traditional, with few options and high prices. I saw a gap in the market and felt the urge to fill it. I found inspiration from multiple industries. For example, when buying a car, you test drive it before buying. The same should be with jewelry, especially engagement and wedding rings. Therefore we offer our customers to borrow mock-up rings before making a purchase. I also have a passion for great hotels, and I love a good concierge. I implemented the same in VANBRUUN. We have an online concierge to chat and talk daily between 8 am to 10 pm.
How did you fall in love with diamonds, and why?
What can enhance the beauty of a person more than a diamond? I have always been fond of things of beauty, no matter art, food, architecture, or people. So naturally, I fell in love with diamonds.
What are the 3 most important things people should know about VANBRUUN?
1) Everything is possible. All our products are made to order, which makes each piece unique and customizable when it comes to the choice of metal and diamond. If one would not find what they are looking for in our wide range of possibilities, we also offer the service of custom designing from scratch via CAD (computer-aided design).
2) Our business idea may be Scandi-simple, but the brand belongs south. We find eternal inspiration from the stunning Coté Azur, its nature, and, nevertheless, its way of living.
3) As I mentioned earlier customer is core. We are here thanks to our customers. Therefore, we always try to make everything as good as possible for them. We have great policies for returns, exchanges, and service. We see our relationship with our customers as long-term, not a one-nighter.
Is there something that you try to communicate through your brand?
Our ambition is not only to sell but to educate our customers. Many jewelry brands today have an opinion and preach to the benefit of it. We have chosen to be objective by presenting the information and letting the customer decide. However, we can recommend specific options—for example, lab grown vs. natural diamonds or 18K vs. 14K gold. Yes, but we still offer 14K to the customers who want it.
What is your favorite part of being in the jewelry industry?
This is a tricky question; I admire so many things about the industry. However, my favorite part of it all is the future. When I visit fairs or talk to suppliers, I notice that the future is not only full of trends but of innovative ways of producing and designing jewelry.
You are a true multi-talent. What motivates you?
My motivation is having fun and enjoying what I do. Work with great colleagues and meeting new people who would not have been possible without the company.
How do you define success?
In my opinion, success is being happy where you are in life. So whether your goal is building a big company, winning a championship, or being the best parent, there is. As long as you are happy, you are successful in life.
All creative projects have their challenges. What challenges does VANBRUUN face?
Our number one challenge is keeping up with quality, increasing it, and at the same time, being able to grow as a company. Our goal is to become the number one jewelry house in the world. Second to none!
What is your time management philosophy?
If it takes less than 5 minutes, do it straight away. Always take action or dismiss, and never have an open loop of thoughts. Have a “to-call” list when you get an unexpected time, like a flight delay. Instead of just sitting off the time, take those calls you haven't had time for. Always work when traveling, on a plane, bus, train, or if someone else is driving. Working while traveling is one of my best ways to get a lot of things done.
