He Brought Skateboarding and Streetwear to E-Commerce: Meet Thomas Hjert Löfgren
Written by: @streetworld_dude
It all began in the 90s with a passionate interest in board sports and streetwear. Thomas has run several businesses since then, but it all started with a skate and snowboard shop in Trollhättan in 1997. The store, initially named "Pro Stuff," was inspired by a retail chain from Gothenburg. The shop quickly became a gathering place for young people passionate about street culture, which motivated Thomas to expand.
It wasn’t long before he started selling sneakers, clothes, and accessories – and that’s how Junkyard was born. Over the following years, Junkyard evolved from a local shop into one of the most influential players on the Nordic streetwear scene. A skatepark was built next to the store, and the annual festival Junkfest attracted up to 10,000 visitors each year.
"Your shopped online all year round, but the highlight was always going there to experience Junkfest."
With a keen sense for trends, sharp business acumen, and a deep understanding of his target audience, Thomas succeeded in creating a platform that captured the attention of young and trend-conscious consumers all across Sweden—and later, internationally.
In the early 2010s, Thomas brought in new partners to give Junkyard the strength to expand beyond the Nordic region. Around this time, he stepped down as CEO to focus on developing brands and products for Junkyard’s own in-house labels, such as Sweet SKTBS and Pirates.
Thomas completely left the company in 2014, selling his share in Junkyard. He could have retired and enjoyed his success, but his restlessness and constant pursuit of new challenges quickly propelled him forward.
Green Fingers and Healthy Food
After Junkyard, Thomas made a strong comeback on the local scene in Trollhättan. Together with one of his sisters, he revived the family’s garden center, Löfgrens Hem och Trädgård, which their father had sold a few years earlier.
He also launched Godhem, a restaurant and shop focused on sustainable and healthy food. The restaurant became known for its innovative and flavorful vegetarian dishes, quickly becoming a popular choice for both vegetarians and meat lovers seeking alternative meals.
Following the success of Godhem, he opened Sour Cafe & Bar at Drottningtorget in Trollhättan. Sour is a modern café focusing on sourdough baking, pizzas, and bowls, all prepared with local ingredients. During the summer season, Sour boasts Trollhättan’s largest outdoor seating area and The Trap! In addition to running restaurants, Thomas also managed an outlet store for a few years, where customers could find vintage products, some Sweet SKTBS items, and other goods at great prices.
The Return to E-Commerce with Streetworld
After his ventures in the restaurant industry, Thomas once again turned his attention back to e-commerce. Together with his former warehouse manager, he founded a new company, World-360 E-com, a 3PL provider (third-party logistics) that handles the entire process from when a customer orders a product to its delivery at their doorstep.
However, his love for skateboarding, streetwear, and e-commerce never faded. In 2022, Thomas brought together the key people needed to start a new, better version of Junkyard. He had already acquired the domain Streetworld.com in 2014, which became the name of this new venture. The timing was perfect, especially when Junkyard announced that they were exiting the skate and snowboard market, closing their Gothenburg office, and moving all operations to Norway.
In the fall of 2023, Streetworld.com was launched as an invite-only beta version, and by early 2024, it opened to the public. Everyone working at Streetworld is a co-owner, bringing both a passionate interest and years of experience to the table.
Streetworld focuses on offering a carefully curated selection of skateboarding gear, clothing, and accessories from both established and emerging brands, mixed with vintage products. Streetworld is already present in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Finland, with plans to expand to more countries in Northern Europe in the fall of 2024.
With a mix of exclusive collaborations and a strong digital presence, Streetworld has quickly established itself as a go-to destination for those seeking the latest in streetwear.
And the story of Thomas continues ...