New Year special feature with award-winning locksmith Odinn Sigurdsson of Lasar on navigating the weather, isolation, and fast-changing security landscape.
Few locksmiths operate in conditions as unpredictable, or as unforgiving, as those in Iceland. A stark reminder that we can’t complain too much about the weather in the UK. Odinn Sigurdsson has spent almost three decades carving out a reputation as one of the Iceland’s leading locksmiths, steering Lasar from a small, overwhelmed shop to a multi-vehicle, multi-discipline business serving one of the most challenging environments in Europe.
In a climate where the weather can shut down a job before it even begins, Odinn has built his expertise the hard way: by learning on the go, adapting fast, and refusing to let geography or climate dictate what his team can or can’t do.
Finding My Way into the Trade
I never planned to become a locksmith. I followed an advert, walked in, and something about the work just felt right. Before that, I was mostly at sea working on trawlers, then doing maintenance on building sites and taking temporary jobs. When I started locksmithing at 27, I was still figuring out what I wanted from life.
During my first years at the bench, I studied to become a commercial pilot and even worked part-time as a flight instructor. I also studied airline management. But locksmithing won me over in the end. Something about solving problems with your hands and your head just clicked with me.
I didn’t start this business myself. I was one of four employees at the time. The owner struggled with English, so within days I found myself handling emails, faxes (yes, that long ago) and most of the ordering. All while doing the job I was hired to do.
From Burnout to Rebuild: The Turning Point
Back then we ran a 24/7 service. Each worker held the phone for an entire week at a time, nights included, then worked 8am-6pm in the store. It caused constant staff turnover. In 2007, I was actually fired because I refused to keep doing the 24/7 rota. A few months later, the business was sold, and I was asked to manage the locksmithing side as it merged with a glazing company.
That’s when the real evolution began. Cars were getting trickier. Iceland was slowly phasing out the Scandinavian locking systems that had dominated for over 50 years, and European cylinders were starting to appear. We had no local classes, no regulations, nothing official to guide us. Everything had to be learned on the go.
Thankfully the new owners had contacts abroad. We learned from foreign locksmiths, visited trade fairs, took classes, absorbed everything we could. Within a few years we needed a bigger shop, more staff, more vehicles, and more stock. Five years after that we sold the glazing division and expanded again.
Now we operate from a 450-square-metre store and garage with three service vehicles, a mobile auto-locksmith garage, and a team of ten. I became CEO, though I still work the bench like everyone else.
A Mix of Every Lock System
In Iceland we face something unique: we have a mix of everything. Fifty years of Scandinavian systems, a growing share of European cylinders, and at the old naval base we still encounter the American system.
It means we must know a lot about everything, but it also makes it very hard to be extremely good at one particular niche. That’s frustrating, but it’s the reality here.
We work 8am-5pm now, no more 24/7. We open doors, cars, safes, create keys for all of them, install smart locks, provide burglary prevention, and run a well-stocked store. We handle a huge number of master key systems – around one-third of our total income.
Importing products is another challenge. Shipping is expensive, so I import directly from manufacturers whenever possible to keep costs down. It’s a challenge to get good deals with manufacturers as Iceland’s total population is just like a city in other countries.
Even though I’m the CEO, there’s no desk-only role for me. I instruct staff, handle some office work, and still go on the tools when something interesting comes in.
Why ALA Membership Matters More in Iceland
Being a member of the ALA has been a major advantage for us. With no local training or regulations, we rely heavily on access to good education, shared expertise, and a global network. ALA gives us classes, technology updates, and endless help from members.
I’m also part of ALOA and SAVTA, which helps particularly with safe work. Knowing many of the world’s best safecrackers has come in handy more times than I can count.
Battling the Icelandic Weather
Working in Iceland can be tricky. Weather is the constant enemy. Snow and rain don’t just fall, they arrive horizontal thanks to strong winds. Winters in the capital area have become more like Scotland: wet, windy, not much snow, but still unpleasant enough to complicate every outdoor job.
We do a lot of car keys, including all-keys-lost scenarios. In winter we must constantly remind people: clear the snow from the driver’s door and the engine or battery area. If we can’t access the vehicle, we leave and charge for the trip.
The isolation is another challenge. We’re not in the US or the EU, which makes access to some systems, like Volvo programming, incredibly hard. It took years to find a remote programming service we could use at all. The device arrived only days ago. That’s how long these things take here.
In summer, I often take my motorcycle on long evening rides (100 or 200 km) to program car keys for customers. I don’t charge extra. It’s just fun.
A Day in the Life: Busy, Varied, & Weather-Dependent
Most days start with emails, followed by doing quotes often for one to three cars. After we open the shop, we grab a coffee and talk about work or family before customers start arriving.
Around 100 customers a day come through our doors. Ten cars arrive daily for spare keys. Add safes to open, locks to repair, and smart locks to install, and the day fills quickly.
I spend a lot of time in the office, but if the weather is good or a job is exciting, I choose to go out. That freedom is one of the best parts of my job. The worst part is dealing with difficult customers. I’m an introvert, and many people want to speak to the man in charge, which is not always easy for me.
What Makes Us Different
We genuinely try to help customers. Contractors here buy doors from all over the world, often with locks we’ve never seen. We track them down and import them.
We maintain strong relationships with car dealers. We cut their keys, help with programming, and in return we get access to key codes and pin codes where possible.
Customer service is vital, especially with an increasing number of immigrants who come from cultures where bargaining is normal. Negotiation isn’t part of Icelandic culture, but we adapt.
Looking Ahead
The next big step is remote programming for almost every car. We’re also starting to implement AI more heavily, beginning with a staff lecture to encourage new ideas for its use.
We rarely advertise, but we recently used a newspaper and maintain Facebook, Instagram, and Google profiles. We’re also replacing our accounting system with one that integrates marketing, online sales, and social platforms, all with AI support built in.
About Lasar
Lasar is one of Iceland’s leading locksmithing businesses, based in Kópavogur and founded in 1988. Under Odinn Sigurdsson’s leadership, the company has grown into a multi-discipline operation providing domestic, commercial, auto, and safe services with a focus on technical excellence and customer support. Operating from a 450-square-metre premises with three vehicles and a dedicated team of 10, Lasar continues to set the standard for locksmithing in Iceland’s challenging environment.
www.lasar.is
lasar@lasar.is
+354 510 8888