The Swedish king of laminate flooring

Stylish, contemporary and original, Pergo stands as one of the most innovative voices in the diverse range of flooring solutions available. Their pioneering vision for the future of the flooring industry, the laminate floor, cemented Pergo’s place in the hall of modern interior design, as they continue to expand their philosophies to stay on top of their game. We were fortunate enough to welcome Pergo at last year’s S/ALON BUDAPEST, made possible by the brand’s exclusive Hungarian distributor Top Trade, where their admiration for the natural environment became apparent in the shape of an impressive wooden frame, resembling a home in the countryside. To what extent nature is essential to the brand, and what their experiences were at S/ALON BUDAPEST 2021, you’ll have the chance to find out through the following 6 questions answered by Andrej Ličák, key account manager of Pergo for Hungary and Slovakia.

What was the start of the Pergo story?

It began in Sweden, when Perstorp, a leading Swedish chemical company invented the process of lamination, and eventually, in 1977, while trying to find the best possible use for their invention, conceived the idea of laminate flooring. 

What are the key qualities people are looking for in flooring products?

What I can see is that people are increasingly considering investing in higher quality materials. Not only for reasons of durability, but also for sustainability, one of the more burning issues of recent years. It is a concept that is defined by quality, long-lasting products, recyclability, and the eco-friendly sourcing of raw materials. But besides these factors, one trend has become very clear: genuine, good design is the future of our business. After all, it is a natural desire to choose the style that suits your personality the best, and to be able to experience and see your favorite design for as long as possible. We at Pergo are working hard to meet these challenges.

Based on your products and approach to sustainability, would you say that nature is an essential part of the brand’s identity? 

Pergo is a Swedish brand, and Sweden and its people have always had a close connection with the natural world. Furthermore, in our own designs we are trying to achieve that perfect, natural look, while keeping sustainability standards in mind. Therefore, I would definitely say that our image of

It is evident that customers - and the whole world - is going through rapid changes. Do Pergo flooring products follow suit?

Laminate floors existed for quite some time now, and have been continuously improved since their invention. At least, this was the case until a few years ago, when manufacturers realized they practically reached the maximum potential of this material. Thus, lately, the main motivation behind new product developments was creativity, such as the addition of new features and the conception of the most genuine designs possible for laminate floors.

What is the significance of international design events for your brand?

Lately, we haven’t had the opportunity to take part in as many events as we used to, but on the other hand, we are also quite selective about the events we attend. If we choose the right events for our brand, such as we did with S/ALON BUDAPEST 2021, we can not only reach out to our audience and most ideal target groups, but can personally meet with the most important representatives of the design scene.

What did you think of S/ALON BUDAPEST 2021 and its wide variety of brands and exhibitors?

As I just mentioned, it was essential that we could meet our competitors, see fellow companies promoting a wide range of different products, discover new brands and get a glimpse at their understanding of the present state of modern design. By establishing new connections with potential partners and customers, we build on the foundations of our future.

At S/ALON BUDAPEST, visitors get a chance each year to take a peek into the turbulent and colorful reality of premium Hungarian and international design in the form of extraordinary interior concepts and the latest product releases. Be sure to join us at the Budapest Arena this year, when we’re returning with S/ALON BUDAPEST 2022!