Margit and Peder Nybo Jensen: Optimistic and creative souls - and Viborgensers at heart
 

Peder Nybo and his wife Margit founded the company Nybo Jensen Konfektion A/S in 1962 in a sewing room in their private home in Viborg. Peder Nybo was an indomitable optimist and had no doubt that the sewing room would soon be replaced by a larger space - and it's fair to say he was right.
 

This optimism fuelled him throughout his life. Adventure was in his blood, and he embraced every challenge with humour and drive. Originally trained as a men's clothing merchant, he tried his luck as a miner in Canada. He also managed to work as a mechanic, welder and truck driver in the country. His goal was simple: He wanted to prove he could make it in the cold, dark Canadian wilderness and return home with a coin in his pocket and a wealth of experiences.  

Back in Denmark, he worked for a while for the petrol company Uno-X as a petrol station salesman before setting up his own company with his wife.
When Margit and Peder Nybo Jensen set up a small sewing shop in their private home in Viborg, the two young entrepreneurs probably didn't realize that the company would one day become Denmark's leading manufacturer of professional and high-end workwear. But that's how it turned out. Today, Nybo Workwear A/S is among the market leaders in the industry, also in Northern Europe.
 
Margit quickly had to take a course in design and construction, and the roles were set from the start: Margit Nybo Jensen took care of design and the day-to-day running of the sewing room, and later finance and IT also became part of Margit Nybo Jensen's responsibilities, with Peder Nybo Jensen in charge of outreach sales. Here he was able to put to good use the commercial talent he had already developed in his childhood, where he could often be found on the market square in Viborg, among other things to sell pigeons from his and his brother's pigeon loft.

What tied Peder Nybo and Margit together - and formed the foundation of Nybo Jensen Konfektion - were values such as honesty, credibility, quality and loyalty. As Peder Nybo said, every proper transaction has two winners - and no losers. Both buyer and seller must benefit from - and profit from - the deal that is made. This attitude permeates the entire company and is certainly one of the reasons why the customer list today includes a large number of companies that have been customers of Nybo Workwear for decades.
 

The couple have also always had a strong commitment to the local community and have been behind many socially beneficial initiatives and quirky activities. Among other things, Peder Nybo published two idea books in which he described a wide range of initiatives that could make Viborg a more attractive city to visit, live and do business in. These include fun ideas such as 'wave week' and 'cake week', but also more in-depth suggestions. Many of the ideas have since been realized.  

Among other things, he proposed turning the Five Castles in Viborg into a natural and historically attractive area, and DKK 50 million from A.P. Møller and wife Chastine McKinney Møllers Foundation for general purposes was donated to the project, which is now completed and inaugurated in 2022, bringing an incredible number of visitors to Viborg and the surrounding area.

Peder Nybo Jensen was a creative enthusiast who was passionate about the tasks he took on. This applied not only to the company, but also to the often unconventional activities that the socially conscious manufacturer was involved in over the years.

Another example was the small "social clubs" where Peder Nybo, on his own initiative, gathered businesspeople and private friends for a usually modest meal and lots of fun and informal chats about this and that.
 
The shared interest in flora and fauna was also the driving force behind Margit and Peder Nybo's acquisition of first one and then a couple more large forest plots. Peder Nybo liked to wear work clothes, as he himself was active in planting, clearing and felling trees in the forest.

He was generally very fond of nature and was a very active rower on the Viborg lakes in the company of his regular rowing mates for many years.  

Golf was another interest and hunting a third. When Peder Nybo Jensen went hunting, however, the main purpose was not to kill prey but to enjoy the nature experiences associated with hunting - both interests he eagerly shared with Margit Nybo.

In addition, they often spent time at their holiday home in North Jutland, where they unplugged from everyday life.

Margit Nybo Jensen was a member of the Odd-Fellow lodge from an early age, and she is still an active participant.
 
Up until Peder Nybo's death, the couple were no longer directly involved in the day-to-day running of Nybo Workwear. However, they both actively followed the company from the sidelines and often stopped by for a cup of coffee and to ask questions about both employees and the company's general development.  

Peder Nybo Jensen died on 11 August 2015 in his home surrounded by his loved ones. He was 81 years old. He will be remembered and missed for his optimism, positive spirit and good humour, as well as the good boss, colleague and friend he was.
 

Margit Nybo Jensen is still a frequent visitor to the company, and she is pleased that the next generation, Helle and Jacob, each in their own field, have key positions in Nybo Workwear A/S and are today owners of the company.