Erling Persson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Erling Persson
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| Born | 21 January 1917 Borlänge, Sweden
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| Died | 28 October 2002 (aged 85) Stockholm, Sweden
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| Known for | Founder of H&M |
| Children | Stefan Persson Lottie Tham |
| Relatives | Karl-Johan Persson (grandson) Charlotte Söderström (granddaughter) Tom Persson (grandson) |
Erling Persson (born January 21, 1917 – died October 28, 2002) was a Swedish businessman. He is best known as the person who started the very popular clothing company H&M.
Who Was Erling Persson?
Erling Persson was born in Borlänge, Sweden. He grew up to become a very successful businessman. He had a big idea that changed how many people buy clothes.
The Big Idea
After World War II, Erling Persson traveled to the United States. He was very impressed by the stores there. These stores sold many items quickly and efficiently. He saw how they could offer good products to many people. This trip gave him the idea for his own store.
Starting H&M
In 1947, Erling Persson opened his first store in Västerås, Sweden. At first, it only sold clothes for women. He named the store Hennes, which means "hers" in Swedish.
Hennes Becomes H&M
In 1968, Erling Persson bought a store in Stockholm. This store was called Mauritz Widforss. It used to sell hunting gear. After buying it, he added men's and children's clothing to his stores. This is when the name changed to Hennes & Mauritz, or H&M for short.
A Family Business
In 1982, Erling's son, Stefan Persson, took over the company. He became the managing director. Today, Stefan Persson is the chairman of the board for H&M. The Persson family still plays a big part in the company.
