Nexhat has built his company through grit

It can be worthwhile to socialise whilst out on the town. Nexhat has been a regular at Café de Luxe for a long time and it was here that he got to know the owner Nils Hector.

– I first met him in 2014. We started talking and due to my trade, I advised him that the stairs needed repair. A few years later I was commissioned to fix the doors on their porch which was followed by several projects.

The biggest project so far is the renovation of Villa de Luxe, the old assistant vicar residence in the middle of Växjö which has undergone a thorough renovation, and which has now been transformed into an atmospheric retro-inspired restaurant.

– We began renovating in May last year, took a break during the summer and resumed our work in September. Everything was finished by the end of March.

Insulation, stairs, doors and walls were just an assortment of things that has been replaced. When the renovation was at it’s most intense Nexhat tells us that at times things were chaotic for him, however there was always a clear picture of the endgame.

– Nils Hector and his associates had a very clear idea of how it should look, and the result looks just like they planned, everyone is happy with the turnout.

Nexhat's journey from unknown entrepreneur to established businessman started in 2011. That was when he arrived in Sweden. He had the experience and expertise as a craftsman with him from Kosovo and from his stint working in Germany, however getting into the Swedish market was not as easy as one might think.

– I was living in Lessebo and got around on a bike offering my services to various construction companies, alas they all turned me down. I was told my Swedish wasn’t good enough, come back once you’ve learnt the language their message said.

Despite that Nexhat didn’t let that dismay him. After living in Sweden for two months he started his own company Lessebo Hantverkservice, which eventually wound up being NB Hantverkservice once he moved to Växjö.

– I didn’t know anything about running a company in Sweden, but my partner and her father made sure to help me with any administrative paper work.

Nexhat rode around on his bike handing out sheets of paper in order to get any work. Soon enough the phone started ringing, someone wanted their hallway repainted another wanted their balcony renovated and their windows swapped out. To begin with it was smaller jobs which in turn would lead to bigger assignments.

– I could start by painting a dormer window and then I’d get commissioned to change an entire roof.

His first three years Nexhat describes as tough. Being relatively new in the industry he was met with a certain level of scepticism.

– My competitors didn’t take me seriously, they probably thought that I’d give up eventually.

Did you consider giving up during those times?

– No, I knew what I could do and wanted to show them it was possible. Giving up never crossed my mind. I don’t like it when people say “sorry, it’s not possible”.

Nexhat pressed on and happy customers resulted in recommendations, which in turn lead to more work.

– In 2014 things really changed for the better. By then I had built up a name for myself, since then things have just improved.

Today Nexhat operates in the entire Kronoberg and Kalskrona municipality as well as odd jobs in Malmö. It’s fast paced. Occasionally, a work day may last up to 15 hours plus weekends, however at times he let’s himself get of work on a weekday.

– The best thing about being an entrepreneur is the freedom to be in control of their own workdays.

What does the future hold for you, will you expand and hire people?

– Yes, the idea is to be able to hire people. I want to keep growing.