GRS

The company Grodås Møbler AS (Grodås furniture AS) started in 1983 by Håvard and Oscar’s parents Oddvin and Anne-Lise Haugen in the basement of their house. The business grew too rapidly for the house so, in 1985 they invested in a separate factory building. The company became well known for its high-quality products. And their smart and effective solutions delivered in production and products through the passion infused into the company through Oddvin Haugen. Håvard and Oscar worked in the factory after school hours almost every day thus being taught the skills of young entrepreneurs. The passion rubbed off.

From early on, both Håvard and Oscar had a passion for shooting and hunting. Håvard bought his first guns and ammo magazine in 1985 – when he was 11 years old. Both brothers read eagerly and it sparked the passion for the weapons industry. Oscar is still a passionate hunter, shooter, and fisher. Håvard is more of the shooter. -He was never bitten by the big game of hunting, Oscar grins.

Håvard worked in the family company after graduating from college and in the late 1990s started to work with CNC programming and machining. This was a revolution in the industry giving almost limitless possibilities.

Håvard’s ability to take an idea and create it into a product is amazing. -He surprises me again and again, Oscar says. -When challenged, he delivers the most excellent solutions I have ever seen. What makes up the uniqueness of the GRS brand is the symbiosis of Håvard’s brilliant mind on R&D and development combined with Oscar’s field experience and business sense.

Oscar worked outside the company for a couple of years after graduating in 1997 and in 2000 he joined the Norwegian Army on mandatory service for one year. 2 days after finishing the mandatory year he was enrolled in the Norwegian National guard where he immediately started in the specialist branch because of his army background. Oscar worked as an instructor for National guard sharpshooters for 3 years and was a QRF sharpshooter Team leader for 7 years until the contract ended in 2010. Oscar is still active in the national guard and has the rank of Lieutenant. 

Oscar took over as CEO and part owner for the family company in March 2010, and Håvard took over the majority of the shares. Whilst their parents kept a small share position. The 2008 to 2010 period of the company’s history could be summarized with one word – Crisis. The Norwegian furniture market crashed almost completely during the financial crisis and we had to turn it around to survive.