The beauty of the imperfection
History
The 80s
The idea flourished in the United States
It was after finishing his stay abroad in the USA that Ole Juul Hansen first thought about pots and jars.
It was the great joy of close friends over flowers that rubbed off on the young Ole Juul. 10 years after returning home, the dream became a reality.
Far from the big USA in a small provincial town on Zealand, more specifically Holbæk, September 1, 1985 was Ole Juul Hansen’s first working day at the company “OJ marketing”.
Sweden was the company’s home turf
Although the company’s base was in the heart of Holbæk, Ole Juul had countless sales trips around the Nordic region and participated in many annual trade fairs.
Sweden particularly excelled here and has since been the largest market.
Ole Juul was a passionate entrepreneur with a keen eye for design and quality. With a sense of the trends of the time, which proved to be incredibly popular in Scandinavia. Pot Olé was built from the ground up and created strong relationships with customers.
Photo by: Jens Poulsen
The 90s
New company name – same content
With the same man at the helm, the company changed its name from “OJ-marketing” to “Pot Olé Aps”. Pot Olé Aps has stuck with Ole Juul, who has since become best known as Pot Ole. An incredible name that is an image and advertisement in itself.
A hallmark of the company is the quality of its products. Ole Juul has been conscious of the high quality of his products all along.
When the church bells ring and the stork lands
Ole Juul Hansen married Tine Hansen in 1993. Tine Hansen has also been at the office for 15 years, where she manages the company’s bookkeeping and accounting.
The couple has two daughters together. They became parents in 1992 and 1995.
The first local company to import from abroad
While his dream of becoming independent had only just begun, Ole Juul had already contacted the French jar company GRANDON.
From there, the foreign contacts rolled on. He had 14 annual trade fairs in Scandinavia as his biggest goals.
He also travels extensively around the world to buy new products from seven suppliers in France, Spain, Greece, Poland and Vietnam. Later, India and the East came into play.
With an extraordinary sense of future trends
Ole Juul Hansen has always been known for being one step ahead – he sniffed out the trend that was coming.
He was fully aware of the trends of the time, and when he also had a flair for sales and marketing, he was well suited to the role of director of his own company.
The 00s
WET Watering Easy Trays
Pot Olé has been selling pots for 35 years now. The company develops products and expands its range in the mid-00s. The pots are still the base, but Ole Juul Hansen develops WET, “Watering easy trays” – watering trays for plants and flowers. This will prove to be a great success for the company and has since provided countless garden centers, nurseries and supermarkets with easy, beautiful and environmentally friendly storage and watering of plants and flowers.
Generational change
Over a number of years, the seeds have been sown for Ole’s daughter to take over his life’s work. In May 2021, it suddenly became a reality.
Helena Juul Hansen took over in October 2021. She is very aware of the good network and stable clientele that has been built up over many years in most of Europe. A collaboration that she has ambitions to continue.
Picture:
Helena Juul – owner and director.
The trading floor October 2021.
New forces
In 2022, Pot Olé was doing well and needed more hands. In 2023, Helena hired her first employee, Karoline.
Karoline has 10 years of experience in customer care, sales and service. That’s why Pot Olé is happy to have her as sales and marketing manager.
Karoline loves the close and personal contact with customers. She has already attended many trade fairs in Denmark, Sweden and Norway, as well as pleasant visits to new and well-known customers.
Meeting with supplier
It is important for Helena to know who produces Pot Olé’s products and to ensure that the quality and conditions are top-notch.
That’s why Pot Olé meets with their suppliers from, among others, India and Vietnam as often as possible.
In June 2024, the supplier behind, among other things, “RetrOlé” came to visit and in September 2024, Pot Olé was visited by the supplier of WET watering trays.
Both meetings were a great success and the loyal cooperation that Ole Juul Hansen started back in his day will continue for many years to come.
Pot Olé grows
2024 has been a busy and exciting year.
Despite the economic crisis in the industry, Pot Olé has placed great emphasis on participating in this year’s fairs in Denmark, Sweden and Norway.
The fairs help showcase Pot Olé’s new products and meet new and familiar customers.
Sweden has always been an incredibly fantastic market for Pot Olé, and in August ’24 Mona started as a Swedish sales agent at Pot Olé.
Mona has over 30 years of experience as a salesperson in the industry and has already had great success with Pot Olé’s products with her loyal customers throughout Sweden.
High hopes for 2025
The Danish market has shown itself from a good side in 2024 and the team behind Pot Olé hopes that 2025 will show itself from an even better side.
“Our dealers, both new and established, are incredibly loyal and skilled. They are passionate about our products and know exactly what they are doing.
A rustic pot does not sell itself – it must stand with a nice plant and in beautiful surroundings. I hope and believe that these collaborations will continue and develop next year and for many years to come” Helena Juul – owner and director.
Rustic is sought after – and our terracotta pots prove why.
There is a special charm to the rustic. And that’s exactly why our terracotta pots are more popular than ever. With their natural surfaces, earthy colors and unique expressions, they add an atmosphere of calm and coziness – both indoors and outdoors.
Each pot is unique and small variations in shape and finish are not flaws, but qualities – that is precisely what gives them soul.
We are proud of our carefully selected range. Whether you are looking for the perfect pot for the terrace, greenhouse, kitchen or living room, you will find pots with soul and the modern and sought-after style with us.
Image: Helena Juul – owner and director. June 2025.
Visit to Vibeke Design in Norway.
Photo by: Vibeke Design.
New collection in 2026
We have just started designing brand new pots and by listening to our dealers over the past many years, we can now clearly say what they and their customers love.
The new pots are a combination of 2 other collections in the range.
The 2 most popular pots at Pot Olé “RetrOlé” and “New Generation” have been designed and drawn together into a new and COMPLETELY unique pot collection. “New Generation Retro.