Olsen Dekk & Felg: From Garage Startup to Local Business Success

Olsen Dekk & Felg AS Restructures Ownership, Focuses on Core Business

In 2015, Kim Even Olsen began a journey that started in his garage, ultimately leading to the establishment of Olsen Dekk & Felg AS. The initial capital for the venture came from tapping into their Building Society Savings (BSU) account, funds originally earmarked for a home purchase, Olsen explained.

The company has undergone a significant restructuring, separating its tire sales and service operations from its tire hotel business. This move, finalized this winter, sees Kim Even Olsen and his wife, Janne Helen Kvåle, taking full ownership of Olsen Dekk & Felg AS through their holding company, Evida Holding AS. Simultaneously, the tire hotel business has been transferred to a newly formed entity, Pedru Invest, owned by Ørjan Pedersen and Nils Harald Ruud.

“We took money from the BSU account, which was intended for buying a house and used it to buy tires,” Olsen said, reflecting on the company’s humble beginnings. The restructuring aims to allow each business to specialize and focus on its respective strengths.

The decision to split the businesses stemmed from a desire to streamline operations and capitalize on growing demand. Olsen Dekk & Felg initially responded to customer requests for tire storage by offering a dekkhotell – a tire hotel – in their existing Langneset location. However, space constraints during peak season prompted the opening of a dedicated Olsen Dekkhotell in Vika in the autumn of 2023.

Previously, PR Holding AS, owned by Pedersen and Ruud, held a 50 percent stake in Olsen Dekk & Felg AS. The financial details of the ownership transfer remain confidential, according to Olsen. “How we have settled the financial aspects between us is something we do not disclose,” he stated. “The fine thing is that one company gets to specialize in tires and rims, while the other focuses entirely on the tire hotel.”

The move allows Olsen to return to the core of what initially sparked his passion for the business. “Now it’s back to how it was in the beginning for us. It’s good to be a family business,” he said, noting that the workshop in Langneset is owned by Evida Eiendom AS, a company also under the Evida Holding umbrella. This ensures the long-term security of their location.

“We will therefore be in Langneset for a long time to arrive. This is an excellent location when we mainly deliver tires to passenger cars, vans, motorhomes and motorcycles,” Olsen added.

While the seasonal demand for tire changes remains a significant factor, Olsen Dekk & Felg is prepared. The company employs seasonal workers to manage the increased workload. Olsen emphasized his continued enjoyment of the technical aspects of the business. “I like the smell of rubber,” he said.

Looking ahead, Olsen expressed excitement about the future. “Now I get to focus on what I really like,” he said, highlighting a growing trend of customers seeking to personalize their vehicles with unique and stylish rims. He noted that some customers are willing to pay upwards of 40,000 kroner for rims, and even an additional 10,000 kroner for expedited air freight delivery.

Olsen Dekk & Felg currently employs three full-time staff members, including Olsen and his wife, supplemented by seasonal workers. The company intends to continue serving customers with tire changes, while sourcing tires for those utilizing the dekkhotell through Olsen Dekk & Felg AS.