- We are very surprised indeed. We did not expect this. While others may close, we must employ more, says Lars Martinsson, CEO of Jaktia. 

The corporate chain that sells hunting and leisure gear increased its sales by 22 percent in Sweden during the first quarter. The increase in May is 30 percent.  

The low-price trade also attracts customers in the crisis.  

- People are at home and it shows. At the same time, they are a little worried about the economy. I think you move money from the travel account to the fixed-home account, says Göran Westerberg, CEO of Rusta. 

Everything in his chain sells well, except suitcases.  

- It was a tough start to the year, but since the crisis started we have sold very well. Better than we expected. There seems to be a pent-up need for shopping.  

Record sales

Christmas has set sales records in e-commerce and the high pressure has led to night shifts and new recruits at the chain's central warehouse. ÖoB is also strong, despite the fact that several of the company's units are heavily influenced by corona. Some have closed and some have limited opening hours.

- The others have compensated, in May we clearly exceeded last year's sales figures, says Fredrik Johanson, commercial manager of ÖoB.

This, at the same time as many retail companies, has been very tough.

Many bankruptcies

"In the most recent survey we made among our member companies, 40 percent of all traders said that they have lost at least 30 percent of their sales compared to the same period last year," says Karin Johabnsson, CEO of the Swedish trade association.  

The total number of bankruptcies in the country has increased substantially in line with the corona crisis, with a peak in April. But according to Sweden's largest credit reporting company UC, the increase slowed in May, and the number of bankruptcies is now at the same level as 2019.  

 - It has been a long desert walk for a great many companies, but now we see that customers are returning to the shops to a small extent, says Karin Johansson, CEO of Swedish Commerce.

In the clip we visit one of the hunting and leisure shops that is doing well, and hear Karin Johansson at the Swedish trade about which industries have benefited.