The Swiss company Splendid Yachting operates a fleet of 15 motor yachts for vacations in the island world of the Croatian Adriatic. Vacation possibilities far away from Corona confinement and off the tourist paths are rare and particularly in these times to recommend. Who decides for Splendid Yachting, operates dignified Social Distancing on highest level, so the client. Social Distancing is thus positively charged for Splendid Yachting and lets the dream of a carefree time-out in the Mediterranean come within reach. Another asset: Splendid Yachting is the first charter company to accept Bitcoin as a means of payment.

For the campaign, a generous triple billboard is used, flanked by digital advertising media such as video posts on LinkedIn, Facebook as well as Google Ads. To be seen this April with the aim of facilitating spontaneous spring break decisions and getting into the running for the summer business.

Responsible at Splendid Yachting: Stefan Breck (CEO & Partner). Responsible at Gruber & Ianeselli: Alessandro Ianeselli (CEO); Fabian Gruber (Creative Direction); Sabrina Frei (Communication); Thomas Ammann (Text); Nik Zuber (Art Direction); Davide Alonso, Simon Braun (Graphics).

More than a year of the coronavirus pandemic has brought about a number of changes in companies. One of these is communication between sales and customers. Most of this has shifted to the virtual space, with hardly any face-to-face meetings taking place. Many customers have even taken a liking to this because they have come to appreciate the flexibility and simplicity of online meetings.

Bridging the lack of personal proximity

Nevertheless, the direct personal contact and interpersonal interaction that are essential for a business relationship are missing in the long term. Online, it can be much more difficult to present complex products and services that require explanation or to develop strategies together with the customer. Non-verbal communication is simply neglected. If the sales employee does not recognize signals of incomprehension, doubt or even rejection and is therefore unable to respond to them, much is lost. There is also a risk that products and services will appear to be more comparable from the customer's point of view, which will noticeably change the competition.

Adaptation of the sales repertoire

This means new strategic challenges for companies: How do they manage to attract and retain customers via online meetings? An arsenal of colorful PowerPoint slides is no longer enough. Instead, the salesperson must specifically integrate a "social part" and engage in a personal exchange in order to create a good discussion atmosphere. In addition, they must do everything they can to pick up the person on the screen by getting to the point as quickly and excitingly as possible and not getting lost in lengthy product presentations. After all, online meetings are much more tiring and the next distraction is just an email away.

Reliability is more important than ever

In these times, it is essential to maintain a regular dialog with the customer. Offering free services is also effective. At Q_PERIOR, for example, we have offered selected customers a free English course lasting several months for homeschooling their children - a small investment that has earned us many sympathy points and additional customer interactions.

And: reliability is crucial right now. Customers can see very clearly who keeps their promises, even in difficult times. In addition, robustness and resilience have a strategic value for the business relationship, for example when it comes to single source strategies. And last but not least, goodwill and flexibility in financial matters are highly valued right now. Corona is putting quite a few customers under pressure.

Will online customer meetings survive the pandemic? I am convinced that we will use hybrid approaches in the long term. The advantages of online meetings and remote working are undisputed and will not disappear. Nevertheless, people are still social beings at heart. With a clever combination of online meetings and a culture of presence, we can also do justice to the human side again.

* Hasan Tekin is Managing Director Switzerland and Vboard member at the internationally active management consultancy Q_PERIOR with a focus on management and IT consulting.

According to Managing Director Matthias Koller, Publicis is reorganizing its creative department to become more digital and diverse: "Christine Florence Hansjosten - previously Executive Creative Director at MCH Global Zurich - joined us as CD on April 1. Which is a real homecoming for Christine: she got her first taste of advertising at Publicis Hamburg in 2006." The dual German-French citizen has worked in a wide variety of agencies in both Germany and France over the past 15 years, including as Creative Director at Saatchi & Saatchi Düsseldorf, DDB Berlin and as ECD at Mad & Women Paris.

The second new addition to Publicis is Sören Schröder as Creative Director and member of the Executive Board. The advertiser joins Publicis from Jung von Matt Limmat at the beginning of June. According to Koller, he brings "an immense wealth of experience, which he accumulated at many well-known agencies in Germany and Switzerland, including TBWA\, Scholz&Friends, FCB and Notch Interactive." Schröder is a member of the Art Directors Club Switzerland and Art Directors Club Europe.

Much anticipation...

"Of course, it is always enriching when fresh minds, fresh ideas and fresh approaches make their way into an agency," says Managing Director Koller happily. "The fact that we were able to sign up Sören, a firm fixture in the Swiss advertising landscape, and Christine, an additional power in the field of integrated communications, makes us even more pleased." With the two new appointments, the agency is consistently pursuing its strategy: on the one hand, the two bring new ways of working with a focus on teamwork and agile methods. On the other hand, in addition to its expertise in classic communication, it continues to strengthen digital without neglecting important aspects such as live communication and PR.

... and a holistic creation representation in GL

At the same time as Schröder joined the company, the creative arm of the management team was also completed: In addition to Schröder, who will focus on integrated campaigns together with Creative Director David Lübke, and Martin Stauch as UX Director, Sascha Fanetti has also joined the team. As a member of the Swiss ADC and long-time Creative Director at Notch Interactive, his focus is on the digital development of the agency.

"As usual, we will continue to deliver world-class campaigns at both brand and performance levels," Fanetti said. "There will also be a focus on internal issues such as future collaboration between strategy, creative & technology within the Pubilcis Group and agile working standards."

The top 5 advertising videos on YouTube in Switzerland from January to March 2021 are, in descending order:

1. Swisscom: Marco Odermatt - Episode 2: How much digital technology goes along for the ride

2. Swisscom: Swisscom blue TV Sports Quiz - Ski Edition

3. buitoni switzerlandEpisode 1 - We need to talk about YOUR MOTHER

4. audi switzerlandThe Drive of Xavier de Le Rue

5. Digitec: Digitec GIFs illuminate Swiss cities - The Making Of

How does the YouTube Ads Leaderboard ranking come about?

To determine the top 5, YouTube measured the number of views on YouTube advertising videos from Switzerland in Q1 2021. For the ranking, only videos that could show a minimum share of unpaid views were considered. Every quarter, Google publishes those YouTube advertising videos that are particularly popular with YouTube viewers. The ad ranking is determined by an algorithm that takes into account paid and organic views as well as viewer engagement.

The campaign shows that Aldi Suisse offers its customers numerous added values, such as more quality, more freshness, more regionality and more sustainability. And all this at a low Aldi price. But, how does Aldi actually do that? A question that was already asked in the Swiss retailer's previous employer campaign and also plays a central role in the three current spots of the new image campaign, in which the protagonists answer the question themselves in an entertaining way. (Werbewoche.ch reported).

The right answers to the question of how Aldi Suisse can offer such added value will follow in the spots' wrap-ups, as well as on five key visuals used in the form of OOH posters, display ads and in the company's own media.

The campaign, which is fully developed in terms of content and form, has been on display throughout Switzerland on various online and offline channels since Monday.

Responsible at Aldi Suisse: David Biernath (Director Customer Interaction), Michèle Bürgi (Project Manager Customer Interaction). Responsible for content and form: Dominik Stibal (CEO), Karin Estermann (Executive Creative Director), David Hugentobler (Creative Director), Paul Labun, (Art Director), Caroline Minar (Graphic Designer), Manuela Marty (Head of Consulting / Strategist). Film production: Solid & Hallerfilm, Jan-Eric Mack (director), Jan Mettler (cinematographer), Reto Trösch (set designer), Patrizia Jaeger (styling), Pablo Nouvelle (music), Jingle Jungle (sound studio), Wesound (audio logo). Media consulting and buying: PHD Switzerland, Nannette Passberg (Managing Director), Laura Savić (Communication Consultant). Photography: Olivier Walther (Photographer), Süsstrunk & Jericke (Image Editing), Mona Bertschinger/HILLTON (Producer), Sabina Nussbaumer (Styling), Julia Ritter (Hair & Makeup), Marlene Grassinger (Equipment), Thierry Fuchs (Foodstyling).

"Nino Schurter has already been constantly on the road in the Lenzerheide vacation region completely independently of a partnership. The fact that we were now able to officially bring him to us in the Bike Kingdom team makes us proud and confident to thereby address a new target group of mountain bikers who do not only identify with the bike park," enthuses Marc Schlüssel, Head of Marketing at Lenzerheide Marketing and Support. "With Nino Schurter, we were not only able to get to know an exceptional talent. First and foremost, he is simply a super guy who is insanely good at mountain biking." With his likeable and down-to-earth manner, Nino Schurter will be the new figurehead of the Bike Kingdom and will make it accessible to an even broader public, according to a statement.

A matter of the heart

For Nino Schurter, the Bike Kingdom is not just any bike region, but the ideal training ground in his home: "The Bike Kingdom simply offers everything for mountain biking. From flowing trails to technically demanding passages. All this embedded in a beautiful landscape. For me, it also means home. What's more, I can bike from Chur almost all year round," the new ambassador is quoted as saying in the press release. Nino Schurter also associates the Bike Kingdom with his most emotional victory to date in his career as a mountain biker at the 2018 World Championships.

New video format "Nino's Kingdom Class by ÖKK

Together with the presenting partner ÖKK, five videos - the "Ninos Kingdom Class by ÖKK" - have already been shot as part of the partnership, in which Nino Schurter explores the Bike Kingdom alone, together with his daughter or also with his father, and at the same time provides tips and tricks for the viewer. These videos will be shown throughout the entire biking season and are intended to appeal not (only) to professionals like Nino Schurter, but also to "normal" mountain bikers who would like to learn something new, families with children, or even pleasure bikers.

The first video appeared on Monday at the same time as the communication launch of the partnership and can be found on the YouTube channel of the Bike Kingdom. In addition to his presence in the "Ninos Kingdom Class by ÖKK" videos, Nino Schurter also appears on his own social media channels as an ambassador of the Bike Kingdom, promoting his best-known local trails and tours.

The two companies also want to work together more closely away from the sun terrace and are forging a common path. Effective immediately, Rivella is the official destination partner of Arosa Tourism and the main sponsor of the "Ski School Included" campaign. The aim is to jointly create brand experiences in the family destination of Arosa, with a focus on young adults and families, according to a statement. The Rivella Speed Check and two Rivella obstacles in the snow park of the diverse winter sports area of Arosa Lenzerheide are part of the contract agreement. At the Hörnli Express, two Rivella gondolas already transport mountain bikers, hikers and skiers up the Hörnli.

As the main partner of the "Ski School Included" campaign, Rivella has been present in Arosa since its launch in winter 2012/13. With "Ski School Inclusive", all children up to and including the age of 17 can enjoy free ski and snowboard group lessons if they enjoy a winter vacation for at least two nights at one of the participating establishments.

The intensification of the cooperation, from the main partner of the "Ski School Inclusive" to the official destination partner is based on the common strategies of the two companies. Swiss quality and tradition would be at the top of Rivella's corporate philosophy as well as cultivated in the sports and recreation resort of Arosa. In addition, the partnership is also intended to strengthen Arosa's positioning as a sustainable vacation destination. "In such cooperations, it is important to us that the corporate philosophies and strategies fit together. In this case, we consider this to be very fitting, the points coincide excellently," the contracting parties agree. "The Rivella thirst is definitely at home with us," adds Tourism Director Pascal Jenny.

In the course of the international orientation, an atmospheric appearance was aimed for with the corporate design, which - in addition to the values of a Swiss company - should also position V-Zug as a premium brand and leader in product design at the highest level.

Stylish and elegant

The designer duo from Eastern Switzerland placed the V-Zug brand in a creative field of tension of complementary design elements, which visualize the long tradition and the visionary orientation with the most modern technologies. A contemporary serif font was chosen to complement the classic ZUGFutura. In addition, the cool corporate blue was complemented with warm, earthy tones. The style of the appearance is reduced and stylish with a natural visual language that is intended to create an emotional closeness.

Implementation since the beginning of March

The noble and high quality of the kitchen and textile care appliances is reflected in the new brand identity. This has been gradually implemented worldwide since the beginning of March. "The corporate design was standardized and harmonized in some areas in an initial phase with regard to the realignment, digitization and internationalization of V-Zug," says Jasmin Riesen, V-Zug Head Marketing Relations. "The new CD is in line with the further development of our brand towards a 'One Global Premium Brand'."

Responsible at V-Zug: Roland Graf (Head Global Marketing), Jasmin Riesen (Head Marketing Relations). Responsible at slash: Manuela Förster (Creative Director), Susanne Rutz (Creative Director).

Catherine Thommen, 41, began her journalistic career at the youth and culture station Radio X. She also worked for Telebasel and Tpc. Other stations in her career were Telebasel, Radio Basel 1 and Tpc. In August 2011, the Basel native joined SRF and was a presenter and editor at "Schweiz aktuell" until September 2014. From October 2014 to January 2015, she worked at "Tagesschau" and "10vor10." After that, she took over the moderation of "Sonntags-Talk" at Telebasel and has also worked as a freelance journalist for SRF on a project basis time and again to date.

To fill vacancies, Catherine Thommen rejoined "Schweiz aktuell" in mid-2018 and supplemented the anchor team for several months. Now the Basel native is moving to the TV correspondent position in Basel for SRF, replacing Philippe Chappuis, who is moving to Telebasel as Editor-in-Chief. (Werbewoche.ch reported). Catherine Thommen is taking up her new position in stages, as she is currently also still working in the newsroom in Zurich.

Above all, clarity must be provided quickly as to who will be affected by the job cuts, said the Manifesto. Moreover, the two staffs see in the new structures indications that the job cuts should not be at the expense of the cadre, but of the journalists - and thus at the expense of "the anchoring in the region".

According to the manifesto, a greatly reduced editorial team in the future would be responsible for two newspapers and two online portals that pretend to be of different content. "In fact, however, pages and articles are merely shifted back and forth between the titles like backdrops: Readers are being taken for fools."

Check alternative models

The staff supported by the journalists' association Imprint and the Syndicom trade union emphasize that they are not closing their eyes to the economic reality in the media industry. However, they also point to the facts that Tamedia's parent company TX Group paid out 37 million francs in dividends in the past pandemic year and received millions in short-time compensation from the federal government.

The planned reduction of 20 full-time positions would mean the loss of around 30 employees. It would be unrealistic to compensate for this through natural fluctuation. The employees are therefore calling on the parent company to seriously examine alternative models.

At the beginning of April, the Zurich-based media company Tamedia announced that it would close the editorial offices of Bernese Newspaper and Confederation and is expected to cut 20 full-time jobs (Werbewoche.ch reported). However, the two titles are to remain independent. Following a loss of more than CHF 100 million for the TX Group in the first half of 2020, Tamedia already announced last October that the editorial teams of Bund and Berner Zeitung would move even closer together. (SDA)

With the further development of its TV measurement system, Mediapulse is pursuing the general goal of providing the Swiss TV market with an independent, cross-platform and comparable database with which the use of TV and other moving image offerings can be uniformly quantified and continuously monitored.

In a first expansion stage, the cross-device use of the most important international platforms can be recorded on the basis of the existing TV panel from the beginning of 2021: the streaming providers Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime and Apple TV+ as well as the video platform YouTube. In a second expansion stage, this list will be extended to include domestic web TV platforms from the second quarter of 2021.

The figures presented by Mediapulse for the first quarter of 2021 show firstly that, among the offerings considered, only YouTube and Netflix have so far established themselves in Swiss households. Secondly, a comparison of these two platforms shows that although YouTube achieves a significantly greater daily reach than Netflix (31 percent vs. 11 percent), it is able to retain its users for a shorter period than the streaming service (51 minutes per day vs. 81 minutes per day).

Notwithstanding these success indicators, the figures from Mediapulse make it clear thirdly that domestic consumption of moving images is still dominated by the offerings of the TV stations. If the daily viewing time of TV, YouTube and Netflix is added together, 85 percent of the combined usage budget is attributable to the TV genre.

The usage figures for "Mediapulse Streaming Data" were surveyed in 1,870 households with around 4,300 people. Approximately 9,000 online devices (PCs, laptops, tablets, smartphones, connected TVs) were examined via continuous technical measurement based on audio matching (TV offerings) or router meter (streaming/video offerings). TV usage was measured exclusively on conventional TV sets, while the remaining video content was measured on all screens, i.e., both via the TV set and via PC, laptop, tablet or smartphone.

They help refugees enter the workforce, dramatize the threat of Covid-19 with a meteorological symbol, help women's soccer be seen: Freundliche Grüsse has been committed to social issues since its founding seven years ago, based on the intrinsic motivation of founders Pascal Deville and Samuel Textor. Often, these projects stand at cross purposes in the agency's daily routine.

There are many topics that have no stakeholders. What to do with projects that drive you but have no direct connection to the agency's clients? What to do with personal ideas that don't serve a business purpose, but that you desperately want to implement? You set up your own non-profit organization, writes the agency in a statement.

Fortunately, people with the same passion could be identified in the immediate vicinity: Together with Adrian Schräder and Michèle Roten from the young agency Schroten and the self-employed curator Georgina Casparis, 2021 Create Positive Impact was brought into being. Constituted as an association, the purpose of the NPO is to become active with creative actions, content and dialog work where there are no commercial interests and no institutional advocates - alone or in cooperation with partners.

Various initiatives are intended to support people who are on the run or are marginalized. It also fights for openness, tolerance and color in public spaces. One of the current projects is the Farbenberg art project, which aims to enhance the Witikon district of Zurich.