In addition to its traditional offerings, this year's Bea attracts visitors with additional attractions: a gigawave for self-surfing, primal sports to try out and the world's highest freefall tower "Swiss Tower" with over 80 meters higher for that special kick as well as a really strong shopping offer with around 1000 exhibitors. Republica designed and implemented advertisements, radio spots and banners to promote these highlights. As with the Announcement campaign Bea & Lea are the stars here too.

Responsible at Bernexpo: Rolf Krähenbühl (Group Exhibitions Director / Head of Exhibitions), Daniel Beyeler (Exhibition Director), Flavio Sartori (Exhibition Director), André Caradonna (Head of Communications), Rachel Strebel (Head of Communications Bea/Horse). Responsible at Republica: Mike Krüll, Chris Morgan (Creative Direction), Kerstin Berk (Art Direction), Fabienne Lötscher (Graphics), Raffael Futterlieb (Text), Daniela Zehr (Consulting), Andrea Nehls (Consulting), Bala Trachsel (Overall responsibility).

Google's advertising business has also grown in the smartphone age. "We continue to see great momentum in the mobile advertising business," said Chief Financial Officer Patrick Pichette, who stepped down at the end of May, on Thursday evening (local time). Google mainly earns its money with ads related to search queries. However, the online advertising business follows users from PC to smartphone screens. The rates for ads on mobile devices are lower. However, Google was able to compensate for the decline in average revenue per click with a higher volume. However, the competition is also making strong gains in this area. Facebook in particular, which only reported a 42% jump in revenue on Wednesday, is an unpleasant adversary.

More sales

Overall, Google's profits in the first quarter grew by four percent year-on-year to 3.59 billion dollars, and turnover climbed by twelve percent to 17.3 billion dollars. However, like many other companies in the USA, Google suffered from the strong dollar. Without the influence of the exchange rate, which reduces the revenues generated abroad when converted into the US currency, the increase in turnover would have been 17 percent. At the same time, Google was more successful in keeping costs under control. Expenses grew by 21 percent following an increase of 35 percent in the previous quarter.

Below expectations

Overall, the quarterly figures fell short of market expectations for the sixth time in a row. Nevertheless, the share price rose by more than three percent in after-hours trading. In the past twelve months, however, the share price performance had also lagged significantly behind that of the Nasdaq technology index. However, the company currently has other concerns besides its share price. The EU Commission recently accused Google of abusing its dominant market position. It is threatening to fine the company billions. (SDA)

After working in publishing for several years, the two founders decided to go their own way and become publishers themselves. According to the press release, their program focuses on "well-designed and high-quality specialist books" in the fields of architecture, design and typography as well as selected special editions.

Triest Verlag's first book is the new edition of Markus Kutter's synthetic novel Schiff nach Europa from 1957 - "optically organized" by Karl Gerstner. The book is considered a milestone in Swiss book design due to its experimental typography, which is coordinated with the text, and was also awarded the Most Beautiful Swiss Book prize in the year of publication.

The publication is unchanged from the original - a dust jacket printed on both sides provides both the original cover and the updated version with a commentary by Felix Wiedler. In addition to the bookstore edition, a special edition is also available - as a prelude to further annual collector's items.

 

On Thursday, the speculation came to an end: Orange is called - as already suspected in advance - As of now, "Salt." (Werbewoche.ch reported). The name change was not just left hanging, writes the agency Franz & René. The result: an advertisement for the client Sel des Alpes, which appeared on Saturday in Blick and 24 Heures. The message: At least with the salt producer, everything remains the same.

For 7.99 pounds, Pizza Hut delivered all "Large Classic Crust" pizzas to your home for a week in April. With the "Classic Crust", the crust is "drizzled" with a garlic butter seasoning. Presumably the result is quite edible. However, it is questionable whether people really pretend to be their friends in order to steal their pizza. According to the advertising, yes. No matter. The plan is so convincingly implemented in the Ogilvy shot that it is not surprising that the baffled lady fell for the scam. Sustainable. (hae)

Advertising pressure for TV, radio, teletext and digital out of home changed only marginally compared to the previous month. On the other hand, the Internet segment again increased significantly by a further eleven points to a new high of 791 points. For Alexander Horrolt, Managing Director of Goldbach Audience (Switzerland) AG, this is a sign that the Internet is now also gaining ground in Switzerland. "Especially when traditional behavior tends to be questioned due to difficult economic conditions, the multitude of advertising opportunities and the precise targeting speaks for more advertising on the Internet."

Compared to March 2014, the overall market increased by less than 2% from 235 to 239 points. The advertising pressure of all electronic media increased by just over 1% from 641 to 649 points. The Internet, on the other hand, grew by over 9% from 725 to 791 points and is the clear leader in terms of growth over the last twelve months. Only TV also developed positively with an increase of 1.4%. Radio (-3.4%), teletext (-15.8%) and digital out of home (-7.8%) suffered losses compared to the same month last year.

 

Markus Keller takes up his position on July 1. He succeeds Daniel Bandle, who has moved to AXA Mexico as Deputy CEO. The 47-year-old Markus Keller studied economics and business administration at the University of Zurich. He then gained many years of management and leadership experience in Switzerland and abroad at the consumer goods and services companies Unilever, Mars and GE Capital. Markus Keller has been Head of Marketing/Market Management at Axa Winterthur since mid-2007.

Antimo Perretta, CEO of Axa Winterthur, said in a statement: "Markus Keller has a strong customer focus, great economic expertise and a very good understanding of digital business. He has demonstrated this with the development of new areas such as Offer & Innovation, Data Analytics and Digital Transformation. I am therefore delighted that we have been able to appoint him as Head of Operations. His strong customer focus will allow him to integrate customer needs even better into our processes and at the same time simplify and digitalize them further."
 

In October 2014, the Zurich Commercial Court ruled in favor of Tamedia and ordered SRG to delete the controversial passages from the "Service Public und Wirtschaftlichkeit" video ad on the Internet (Werbewoche.ch reported). SRG appealed the decision to the Federal Supreme Court. The court has now confirmed the ruling of the lower court and dismissed the appeal, as reported by the NZZ am Sonntag in its latest edition. The central statement of the controversial advertisement is that the costs for daily television are lower than those for daily newspaper reading. The prices for an annual subscription to the Tages-Anzeiger and Sonntagszeitung newspapers as well as Le Matin and Le Matin Dimanche, which all belong to Tamedia, are quoted.

Screenshots Youtube

However, according to the law, price comparisons are only permitted for the same quantity and quality. Only truly comparable products may be compared with each other, according to the Federal Supreme Court's ruling of April 15, which is available to the SDA news agency. The specific comparison of the annual reception fee with a newspaper subscription "gives the impression that the media products are objectively comparable". There can be no question of a merely symbolic or striking comparison. According to the Federal Supreme Court, the price comparison in question with the logos of the newspaper products gives the impression that the consumer is worse off with a newspaper subscription than if he pays the reception fees. SRG must bear the court costs of CHF 5,000 and also pay compensation of CHF 6,000 to Tamedia.

"Legal dispute unnecessary"

SRG SSR acknowledges the ruling of the Federal Supreme Court, as it writes in a statement. The offending passage has been removed and the revised version of "SRG SSR - Service public und Wirtschaftlichkeit" was republished at the beginning of December 2014.

Tamedia is pleased that the case is now closed, said company spokesperson Christoph Zimmer on request. "The legal dispute was unnecessary because it was clear from the start that it was a case of unfair competition." (SDA)

Airbnb arranges over one million private accommodations worldwide and earns money with every booking - 20 million in 2014. Christopher Cederskog, Head of Europe, revealed the new growth strategy to the newspaper at the World Tourism Forum in Lucerne. Talks are currently being held with municipalities and tourism organizations in ski and hiking regions in Switzerland, which has been rather neglected to date. For the time being, the focus is not on the big names such as Zermatt, St. Moritz or Gstaad.

In Switzerland, the majority of people are interested in working with Airbnb, the platform known as the "hotel scare" - even in the larger towns. Roberto Rivola from Engandin St. Moritz says that they are open to all offers that increase sales and can imagine working together. Zermatt and Gstaad Saanenland Tourism are also open to cooperation, provided it suits both sides.

Switzerland Tourism states that this new form of accommodation is an issue for the association and that cooperation could be possible and sensible, provided that the same framework conditions apply to Airbnb as to all other commercial providers. This is in line with Hoteleriesuisse. The industry association had initially sharply criticized Airbnb, but now sees the platform as a "useful addition" to compensate for the lack of hotel beds at major events, for example. However, it is important that the playing field is level for all parties involved, says GL member Thomas Allemann. This refers, for example, to visitor taxes and expensive safety regulations that hotels have to comply with. According to Allemann, they are not primarily calling for more regulation, but could also imagine deregulation. The hotel association hopes that cooperation will bring Airbnb providers out of the shadow economy and into a competitive framework. (hae/SaS)
 

According to Schweiz am Sonntag, the publisher behind the magazine with the unsuspicious name "Zeitgeschichte" is the well-known right-wing extremist publisher Dietmar Munier, who already publishes the sister title Deutsche Militärzeitschrift. He took over the title years ago with the intention of reaching people outside the closed circles of his like-minded comrades. This seems to be working, as Zeitgeschichte is available in the "Press & Books" stores at Swiss railroad stations. The "specialist magazine about the Waffen-SS" has set itself the goal of revising the image of the "elite military unit". The magazine paints a consistently positive picture of the unit, which is otherwise mainly known for its war crimes.

Image: Switzerland on Sunday

When asked by the newspaper Schweiz am Sonntag, kiosk operator Valora states that it wants to offer the widest possible range of publications, but passes the ball on to press distributor 7 Days Media. There, on the other hand, it is stated that they are not authorized to carry out censorship and that every publisher is allowed to bring legal titles to the Valora kiosks via 7 Days Media. The content of contemporary history is legal; there are no explicit Holocaust denials, for example. Managing Director Nicole Mrotzek states, however, that Valora can remove the magazine from its range and that the retailers have the final say. (hae/SaS)
 

The aim of the agency and USM was to anchor the USM brand in design history as a pioneer of modularity through this open dialogue with the A&D community, thereby creating a new desirability beyond function and prestige.The exhibition featured installations created in collaboration with seven internationally renowned design and architecture schools. These were juxtaposed with significant historical key works. Related works by the lecturers, all renowned designers and architects, were also presented in the exhibition, which explored contemporary interpretations of modularity in depth and in a variety of ways. Throughout the week, the Salone also featured illustrious panel discussions, lectures and a variety of other events.

In addition to the exhibits from the "USM Masterclasses," the exhibition curated by Tido von Oppeln and Burkhard Meltzer also featured works by numerous exponents from the fields of design and architecture, such as Volker Albus, Archigram, Yona Friedman, Fritz Haller, Trix & Robert Haussmann, Hans Hollein, Nathalie du Pasquier, Ettore Sottsass, Superstudio and Matteo Thun. The exhibition and the supporting program proved to be a crowd puller. Numerous greats from design and architecture such as the designer Jerszy Seymour, the curator of the Victor and Albert Museum Jana Scholze, Wallpaper editor-in-chief Tony Chambers or Professor Volker Albus paid their respects and were impressed.

An eight-person production and editorial team consisting of the Scholz & Friends team together with design journalist Max Borka, director John von Ascheraden with his video and edit team, and photographer Anne Morgenstern, documented the exhibition and all supporting events in images, text, and video. About the blog of the project50 anniversary platform Usm.com/project50 and via social media - Twitter, Youtube, Facebook, Instagram - there were reports from the Salone dei Tessuti several times a day, some of them live.

With the "rethink the modular" exhibition, USM was able to set itself apart in a credible and surprising way from the numerous extremely elaborate pure product presentations that are customary during Design Week, according to the press release.

In addition to the exhibition, Scholz & Friends was also responsible for USM's appearance at the Salone Internazionale del Mobile. Two extraordinary exhibition stands caused a sensation at the largest European furniture fair. The "living towers" designed by atelier oï were a talking point. The video walls thematized the history of USM Modular Furniture Haller as well as the cultural initiative "rethink the modular", thus creating a link to the exhibition.

Responsible at USM U. Schärer Söhne: Alexander Schärer (VRP), Stéphanie Borge (Group Marketing Director), Carole Gerber (Head of Marketing), Deepak Matthews (Digital Marketing Manager), Sandra Schär (PR). Editorial project50: Max Borka (Editorial/Text), Dan Nessler (Digital Architect), Michèle Gutmann (Consulting/Coordination), Lukas Frei (Creative Direction) Anne Morgenstern (Photography), Video: John von Ascheraden (director), Moritz Wessendorff (producer), Dennis Pauls (cinematographer), Dennis Gnoni (edit). Responsible at Scholz & Friends Switzerland: Dan Nessler, Manuela Miksa, Martina Miani, Gregor Fitz, Sabine Bremermann, Lukas Frei (creation); Michèle Gutmann, Tanita Bohny, Petra Moser, Tobias Baumann, Martin Samsel (consulting and strategy).

To "project50": Scholz & Friends launches global USM campaign
 

The new media house shows that those responsible at Somedia believe in the future of the media, said Federal Councillor Doris Leuthard in her welcoming address. Somedia had created something completely new with the integration of a degree course at the HTW University of Applied Sciences, and this cooperation was a bold step for both partners. Media research could open up new areas of business. She would like to express her respect and recognition for this. Conversely, the media house is the key to independence. The media minister emphasized that she would now like to see high-quality products from this company.

"Benchmarks in convergence"

The new building in the booming west of Chur impresses with its simple imposing appearance. The modern, light-flooded concrete building is home to 320 employees of Somedia, publisher of the daily newspaper Südostschweiz, among others, as well as 80 students of the HTW. When planning the building, great importance was attached to the concept with the three zones News, Commercial and Education. The new building sets "standards in convergence", said CEO Andrea Masüger. It is an open-plan building with just seven individual offices, held together by a large staircase. Not only a daily newspaper is produced in the building under the Südostschweiz umbrella brand. The online presence as well as radio and TV broadcasts are also produced there.

Representative building not only for Chur

Publisher Hanspeter Lebrument was proud of the completed work. A prestigious building has been created for Chur and the canton of Graubünden. The building concentrates no less than five previous Somedia locations in Chur, explained the President of the Swiss Publishers Association. The new media building has also attracted public interest. At the end of March, 6500 people took the opportunity to take a look inside the building at the open day. (SDA)

Image: Keystone