Stefan Del Fabro from Zurich will become the new Editorial Director of Radio Inside on May 1, 2014. He started his radio career 25 years ago at Radio 24 and has also worked as an editor for Radio Top and Radio Z, among others. After most recently working in corporate communications, he is now returning to his first great love, radio. At Radio Inside, Stefan Del Fabro will be responsible for the further development of editorial content. He replaces Dominik Jäggi, who is leaving the company at the end of May.

Christoph Stöckli (pictured right) from Aarwangen will become the new Head Of Music and presenter of Radio Inside on April 28, 2014. He has worked for stations such as Neo1, 32 Goldies, Radio BeO and Radio Extra Bern since 1996. During this time, he has not only become a popular presenter, but also a professional in the field of music editing. At Radio Inside, Christoph Stöckli will further develop the music program and complement the morning show team with his fresh and unmistakable style. He replaces Manuela Steiner, who is leaving the company at the end of May.

The campaign for Swiss Life Germany, which was launched in early March, uses posters in Munich, Hanover, Berlin, Cologne, Hamburg, Frankfurt am Main, Leipzig, Paderborn, Stuttgart and Bremen as well as print and online media such as Stern, Handelsblatt, Welt and FAZ. The Wendesatz campaign was the most awarded poster campaign in the world in 2013 (Werbewoche.ch reported).

Responsible at Swiss Life: Andreas Fischer (Director Corporate Communications, Swiss Life Germany); Irene Fischbach (Head Marketing & Communications, Swiss Life Market Unit International). Responsible at Leo Burnett Switzerland: Rolf Zimmermann (overall responsibility); Dominik Mätzener (consulting); Peter Brönnimann (creative direction); Reto Clement (art direction).
 

The international comic festival Fumetto will take place in Lucerne from April 5 to 13, 2014. Kreienbühl und Vogler has developed a funny "paint by numbers" motif to draw the attention of festival visitors to the F+F School of Art and Media Design. The illustration: "The next lesson is here: www.ffzh.ch". The motif will be used on special posters and postcards in and around the festival grounds.

Responsible at the F+F School of Art and Media Design: Andreas Vogel (Rector), Martina Huber (Head of Secretariat), Valérie Jetzer (Assistant to the Rectorate). Responsible at Kreienbühl and Vogler advertising agency: Reto Vogler, Oli Kreienbühl, Marco Donada, Jan Indermühle, Fabian Schiltknecht.

Everyday things are a test of endurance for many people. For example, "no net" can mean the biggest nightmare for an Internet addict, but even "vegetable" has negative connotations for some. The campaign dramatizes these and other terms in the truest sense of the word with blood-red, dripping lettering, thus showing attentively, but with a wink, where people can get help. Perspektive Thurgau advises residents of the canton in the areas of health promotion and prevention, maternal and paternal counseling, couples, family and youth counseling, and addiction counseling. The many local contact points offer not only personal but also telephone advice.

Responsible at Perspektive Thurgau: Markus van Grinsven (General Manager), Oliver Giaffreda (Assistant General Manager/Marketing Services), Thomas Anderegg (Marketing Services). Responsible at Koch Communication: Jean-Marc Demeulemeester, Sandro Kradolfer (creation), Philippp Koch, Urte Zambelli (consulting).

 

The first projects have already been successfully realized with the watch brands Titoni and Glycine and the building materials dealer Sabag, according to a statement.

Titoni of Switzerland based in Grenchen, manufactures ladies' and men's watches in "Swiss made" quality. The various product clips were produced by the Gassmann specialists in Digital Cinema (4x HD). According to the press release, this made it possible to experience the design, technology and precision of Titoni watches in all their details.

Responsible at Titoni Ltd: Tony Jost, Sales Manager; Marcel Bachmann, Area Sales Manager. Responsible at Gassmann Media: Michael Sutter and Natascha Gass (consulting), Micha Hurni and Laurent Wyss (camera, postproduction), Edi Bühler (sound).

Glycine Watch from Biel stands for the combination of tradition and trend, for the classic art of watchmaking and modern design. For Glycine, the Gassmann Media team developed and produced the brand film "Airman's Journey" and the product clip for the "Airfighter" model to mark the 100th anniversary. The new videos were also shot in Digital Cinema. The films will be used online and at the Basel trade show.

Responsible at Glycine Watch: Stefan and Nicole Lack. Responsible at Gassmann Media: Michael Sutter, Natascha Gass (consulting), Micha Hurni and Laurent Wyss (concept, direction, camera, postproduction, sound).

Sabag is a renowned building materials dealer based in Biel. For this client, the Gassmann Media team produced an image clip designed to present Sabag's competencies in a dramatic and exciting way. It is used in cinemas and online.

Responsible at Sabag: Carole Lovis, Advertising/Communications. Responsible at Gassmann Media: Michael Sutter, Daniela Glauser (consulting), Micha Hurni and Laurent Wyss (concept, direction, camera, postproduction, sound).
 

The new Pfister website features fast loading times, generous and strong images, and Responsive Design, which allows web content to be adapted to different mobile devices. In this way, Switzerland's leading furniture retailer is taking into account the fact that online purchases are increasingly being made via smartphones and tablets. Currently, around 14,000 products are available on the Pfister website. In the medium term, all products available in the 20 Pfister stores will also be available online. The expansion of the online offering as a shopping and information channel is part of the cross-channel strategy defined by the company. "Compared to pure online players that already operate in Switzerland or have recently launched activities, we are clearly focusing on the successful linking of brick-and-mortar retail with the online sector. Fast delivery via our own logistics and professional assembly by qualified employees is a matter of course for Pfister, even with online orders," says Meinrad Fleischmann, CEO of Möbel Pfister. The goal is to double online sales in 2014.

Further cross-channel services will be introduced in the current year. "Click & Pick" will allow customers to order online from a range of several thousand products and pick up their order in Suhr within one hour during business hours. In addition, social media activities will be expanded.

In parallel with its e-commerce activities, Möbel Pfister will also continue to invest in its store network in 2014. "Of course, the Pfister website is an important sales channel - but above all it serves to provide information and inspiration before the purchase decision is made at our stores. It will not replace the shopping experience and services on site," adds Meinrad Fleischmann.

Read about it in the upcoming print edition of Werbewoche: Interview with Carlos Friedrich, Chief Marketing Officer at Möbel Pfister, with a lot of background information about online stores, opportunities and challenges in Switzerland.

 

Feldschlösschen has been the largest national Swiss beer brand for generations. In terms of communication, the brand underlines this claim with the slogan "Feldschlösschen connects Switzerland". According to the press release, the new campaign focuses on those emotional moments when people are particularly aware of their bond. It starts with the film "Generations," which shows grandfather and grandson renovating a mountain hut together. It was realized by Wirz in collaboration with Markenfilm and director Benjamin Brettschneider. Three more spots from the campaign will follow in May and June.

"Above all, a great brand needs an unmistakable brand identity. With the new campaign, we are driving Feldschlösschen's unmistakable Swissness. We are relying on four commercials, all of which impressively show how we cultivate genuine closeness in Switzerland," says Brand Director Roland Bienz. Overarching the campaign under the umbrella "Feldschlösschen connects Switzerland" is to ensure a strong, homogeneous presence at all touch points, which will also position the Feldschlösschen brand clearly and independently in the long term.

Responsible at Feldschlösschen Beverages: Roland Bienz (Brand Director Feldschlösschen), Simone Schmutz (Senior Brand Manager Feldschlösschen). Responsible at Wirz: Raul Serrat, Thomas Kurzmeyer (CD), Raul Serrat (AD), Thomas Kurzmeyer (Text), Gordon Nemitz (Strategic Planning), Marcel Mägerle, Stefan Schmid, Prisca Grollimund (Consulting), Daniela Berther (Agency Producer), Markenfilm (Film Production), Benjamin Brettschneider (Director), Spacetrain (Music), Jingle Jungle (Sound).

SBB is responding to an urgent customer need and is gradually equipping its most important stations with free Internet access. By the end of 2015, the 100 busiest stations are to offer SBB free WiFi, with the 50 largest stations to do so by the end of 2014. Uninterrupted Internet provision is a major concern for commuters and business travelers.

Online services such as the Blick.ch news portal and Blickamabend.ch will benefit from this improved access. In cooperation with SBB, the Blick Group is now going one step further: on the login page of the "SBB-Free WiFi" Internet access, the latest news will be integrated from April 14 - from Blick.ch in the morning until noon, and from Blickamabend.ch in the afternoon until evening.

"Thanks to this great service from SBB, we are delighted to be able to provide our Blick readers with up-to-date mobile content free of charge at what will soon be all of Switzerland's major train stations - directly on the SBB WiFi homepage," says Florian Fels, CEO Publishing Ringier, about the exclusive cooperation. SBB Program Manager Holger Herbst: "Users can thus work at the station or also download their electronic newspaper for on the go to their tablet with WiFi." In French-speaking Switzerland, the same integration will take place from May 21 with News from the news magazine L'Hebdo.

 

Over the last few years, vodka has become the in-drink par excellence worldwide. While the distillate used to be associated with Russian lumberjacks who warmed themselves up with rustic home-distilled spirits, today it can no longer be exclusive enough. Vodka brands differentiate themselves from the competition with countless distillation runs, centuries-old recipes or the most exquisite ingredients. In trendy bars, the vodka selection soon resembles a wine list.

Smirnoff thinks: Too much of a good thing - and makes hearty fun of the pursuit of exclusivity in its new campaign. The two American TV stars Alison Brie and Adam Scott organize a party. While it can't be exclusive enough for her, he represents uncomplicated down-to-earthness. She chooses a brand of vodka that only uses potatoes that resemble a celebrity. She sets up a VIP area in the living room. She orders a trendy "Deconstructive Martini" at the bar, for which the bartender attended a school in Stockholm. He, on the other hand, doesn't see why it's necessary to stand out from the simple when the simple is good or even better.

The campaign by the 72andSunny agency comprises a three-minute, extremely entertaining film and its subdivision into individual, extended TV commercials. Smirnoff makes a convincing claim to being a mass product. The brand accounts for 20 percent of vodka sales in the United States. You don't have to have the reputation of being the very best or the very rarest to appeal to the public. (hae)

The movie:
 

The individual spots:

via Adage.com

Mepha opts for Schneiter Meier

As the leading supplier of generics in Switzerland, Mepha sells prescription and over-the-counter medicines. In the process, the pharmaceutical company turns over a volume of around 11 million packages annually. After a competitive presentation for the redesign of today's 200 different medications in over 900 different packages, Mepha decided to work with Schneiter Meier.

The redesign of the product packaging serves to improve customer orientation as well as optimized distinctiveness of the packaging within a drug area. The first new product packaging will be launched in the first quarter of 2015.

 

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PPR: PR mandate for Fisherman's Friend Strongman Run 2014

On 07 June 2014, the Fisherman's Strongman Run will take place in Engelberg for the second time, and for the fifth time overall in Switzerland. PPR Media Relations has been in charge of the Swiss media relations for the Swiss cult run since March. The almost 20-kilometer-long course offers everything a hard-core obstacle runner's heart desires: ice-cold water ditches, deep mud holes, huge tire pile fields and, as a highlight, the steep Engelberg ski jump.

PPR Media Relations' mandate includes, among other things, intensive contact management with relevant media representatives, story placement, the production and dispatch of media releases, the launch of raffles, invitation management for journalists, and personal media support during the race. In addition, the Zurich PR agency will produce a news video of the race and distribute the video and press images to the Swiss media via a keystone channel.

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Primcom takes over PR and media work for two top hotels

The team of the PR agency Primus Communications (Primcom), which specializes in tourism, is pleased about a new client from the Swiss vacation hotel industry: Since March, Primcom has been responsible for the strategic and operative PR and media work in German and French-speaking Switzerland of the owner-managed HLS Hotel Group. It owns the two 5-star hotels Beatus (Merligen on Lake Thun) and Ermitage (Schönried ob Gstaad). Heiner Lutz and Laurenz Schmid, the two owners of the group, will gradually withdraw from operational hotel management. Since December 2013, Daniel J. Ziegler has therefore been acting as CEO. Primcom's main task will thus be to accompany this personnel realignment, the associated process of succession planning and the brand positioning of the two hotels in the long term via a higher presence in the Swiss media.

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Swiss Textiles relies on Prime

Swiss Textiles, the Swiss textile association, is now relying on Prime. The Zurich-based full-service agency beat out several competitors in an evaluation process. Prime is supporting the textile association in the implementation of its new communication strategy. In addition, the agency is implementing an integrated campaign to promote young talent. "We chose Prime because the agency brings with it a great deal of experience and know-how in both association communications and the promotion of young talent," says Miriam Matti Gähwiler, Head of Communications at the Textile Association. The new campaign will be launched in mid-August 2014.

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Swisspor Group relies on Ottiger & Partner BSW

The Lucerne agency Ottiger & Partner BSW conceived and designed the roofing image brochure of the swisspor Group, market leader in the building envelope sector with sales of around one billion Swiss francs.

Effingerhof, the largest printing and publishing house in the Brugg region, is expanding its corporate communications offering. To this end, it has taken over the Brugg agency Upcom with retroactive effect from January 1, 2014. Upcom was founded 15 years ago by Hanspeter Erismann and now serves around 80 clients.

The existing Upcom team will be strengthened by the employees of Effingerhof's Interactive division and will move into new offices in the course of the year. In addition to the classic services of a full-service agency, Upcom will specialize in the technical implementation of cross-media communication concepts and campaigns. The main target groups for this service are companies with their own advertising departments and advertising agencies that do not wish to build up in-house expertise in this area. A new managing director is currently being sought for Upcom. Hanspeter Erismann will manage the company until the handover and will accompany the team until the end of 2014.

The Upcom team has grown: Peter Wissmann, Chairman of the Effingerhof Board of Directors, Hanspeter Erismann, Stephanie Schmid, Christoph Schmid, Dania Meier and Beat Christen, Effingerhof Board Delegate (from left).
 

The main source of income for the Ringier publishing house is still the traditional print business. But sales of printed newspapers and magazines are showing a clear downward trend. With Swiss print titles such as Blick, Ringier generated sales of only CHF 115.2 million in 2013. In 2012, the figure was still around 153 million, and in 2011 it was as high as 220 million Swiss francs. Within just three years, sales from Swiss newspapers and magazines have thus almost halved. In print, Ringier is financially satisfied above all with its magazines, such as Schweizer Illustrierte and Landliebe. Newspapers, on the other hand, continue to suffer from the declining advertising market, which other publishers are also struggling with.

According to the annual report published on Wednesday, the digital market has grown significantly. Ringier now generates 25.7 percent of its total revenues from digital business, which includes news platforms, advertising portals, radio and television. In 2012, it was only 18.3 percent. Ringier CEO Marc Walder said at the media conference in Zurich that digital revenues are expected to exceed the 30 percent mark for the first time in 2014. In recent years, the media company has invested 1.4 billion Swiss francs in further development - away from traditional print publishing and toward becoming a digital and entertainment provider. Ringier does not give a time horizon for when this transformation will be worthwhile.

SBB WLAN with Blick homepage

The latest project announced by the media company is in line with the expansion of the digital business: Anyone who wants to use SBB's free WiFi service at train stations will no longer be able to avoid Ringier. From April 14, the Blick page will always appear on the login home page of the SBB free WiFi. Up to midday, the latest Blick news will appear, and from the afternoon, the mobile offer of Blick in the evening. Walder said he was very happy to have been able to conclude this cooperation with SBB. SBB already offers free WLAN access at 23 stations. By the end of 2014, the service should be up and running at 50 stations. Ringier will also feed the landing page at stations in French-speaking Switzerland, there with the news from L'Hebdo. The cooperation will be implemented in French-speaking Switzerland on May 21.

Paywall for the Blick put on hold

Ringier, on the other hand, wants to wait and see on the issue of a paywall for the Blick website, as a spokesperson told SDA in response to an inquiry. The paywall is currently on hold. They want to wait and see what experience other publishers have had with it.
 
Ringier earned 26.5 million Swiss francs last year, 5.7 million less than in 2012. At that time, however, the publisher achieved a special effect with the sale of Betty Bossi to Coop, among other things. Sales fell slightly in 2013 from 1.08 billion to 1.02 billion Swiss francs. By contrast, operating profit, i.e. before interest and taxes, rose by 23.7 percent to 123.1 million Swiss francs. Walder is satisfied with the course of business: "A good result, especially in view of the current upheavals in the entire industry." (SDA)

Key figures 2013 Ringier

* Sales Ringier Axel Springer Media AG proportionately consolidated 50 percent

Ringier Media Conference, April 9, 2014 (Photos: Wewo)

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