In 1990, Laurits Th. Larsen embarked on an adventure in the family garage in Sønderborg. 36 years later, his son, Marius H. Larsen, is now carrying a strong global company forward.
“Can you get me 300 strings?”
That was the request Laurits Th. Larsen received from an American colleague in 1990. The task proved too extensive, so Laurits made a decision. He would try to make the strings himself, and 18 months later, he had created his first cello A string.
36 years later, Larsen Strings is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of strings for cello, violin and viola. From its state-of-the-art facilities in Sønderborg, the company ships strings to large parts of the world and is in a strong position.
In 2022, Thomas Petersen was appointed CEO, and now the time has come for a new owner as well. The company is being passed from father to son. From Laurits Th. Larsen to Marius H. Larsen.
A decision he had to make for himself
Although Marius H. Larsen grew up surrounded by strings and classical music, he chose a career in medicine. His studies took him beyond Denmark, and he went on to live and work as a doctor in the UK.
So when the possibility of taking over ownership began to draw closer, he had to think carefully about whether it was the right path for him. He took a major step and returned to Denmark to become part of the day-to-day life at Larsen Strings:
– I didn’t feel I could take over without first being an active part of the company. It is such a special and unique business that you cannot simply sit back and watch from a distance. It has been incredibly exciting, and I have been able to bring many things with me from medicine that I enjoy putting into practice, says Marius H. Larsen.
For Laurits Th. Larsen, it has been important not to put pressure on Marius to take over.
– But I would not have offered him the opportunity if I hadn’t known that he could see himself as the next owner. And if I hadn’t had confidence that he could be a good owner, he says.
Marius H. Larsen worked in several different roles within the company, and any doubts gradually disappeared. As a father, Laurits has also enjoyed watching his son take on responsibility and grow into it:
– It only confirms the belief I already had that he would be able to do it, says Laurits Th. Larsen.
New winds, new opportunities
Marius H. Larsen is looking forward to putting his own stamp on Larsen Strings in several areas. Among other things, there will be an even greater focus on systematic processes, branding and visibility across more platforms.
A great deal of work by both the owner and employees has opened the door to new opportunities, and there is absolutely no reason to stand still simply because the company is in a strong position.
– We must continue to be the people musicians can turn to when they face challenges. With the tools at our disposal, we must help them sound as much like themselves as possible. They need to be able to tell the musical stories that matter to them, Marius H. Larsen emphasises.
Former owner Laurits Th. Larsen remains part of the journey through his role on the board. He still enjoys being part of everyday life in Sønderborg, but it should not be on his terms.
– It is Marius’ decision whether I should be involved. The day he feels that my input is no longer useful, he is more than welcome to take a different path. I am happy as long as I feel that I have something to contribute. It has to be relevant to the company, not to me.
The team has to perform
Larsen Strings is in a strong position today, and according to Marius H. Larsen, there is one particularly important reason for that:
– It is our employees! We are incredibly proud of the dedicated people we have. They are the ones who carry our knowledge forward and enable us to maintain consistently high quality while continuing to develop. They take on a great deal of responsibility, and we give them the freedom to do so, he says.
The strong sense of togetherness is also something Laurits Th. Larsen values, as is the technological development the company has undergone since its days in the garage in Sønderborg.
– Those were the kinds of things I always thought ought to be possible. My grandfather was interested in technology and had what was, at the time, a very large market garden on Funen. My father was also technically minded, so I grew up seeing possibilities, he says.
With the change of ownership, the baton has now been passed on – with room for both new ideas and new opportunities.
Facts
- Larsen Strings was founded in 1990 by Laurits Th. Larsen.
- The company is headquartered in Sønderborg and also has facilities in Vienna, producing strings for cello, violin and viola.
- Strings are shipped from Sønderborg to a large part of the world, and Larsen Strings products are available in more than 40 countries.
- Larsen Strings produces its strings using some of the world’s most technologically advanced machinery, developed in close collaboration between Laurits Th. Larsen and Larsen Strings’ partners.
- Marius H. Larsen is now the owner of Larsen Strings, while Thomas Petersen is the company’s CEO
