Do trade fairs and markets still make sense in the digital world?

Order online, have it delivered, done. Online retail is booming – and yet we still attend trade fairs and markets today. Why is that, when everything happens online nowadays?

For us, the answer is clear: True closeness is difficult online.

We also sell our products in our online shop, through drugstores and pharmacies, and in our shops in Frutigen, Lucerne, and Zermatt. But trade fairs and markets are more than just an additional sales channel for us. There, we experience something that is hardly possible digitally: direct contact with people.

There's a lot more to exhibiting at a trade fair than just a sales desk

For us, a trade fair doesn't just begin on opening day. Planning starts months beforehand.
We receive the first stand plans, discuss possible locations, and consider: Where will we be seen? How can our products be best presented? How do we create a stand that stands out and also suits us?
Then comes the organization: compiling products, preparing materials, coordinating transportation, planning and building the stand. Shortly before the fair starts, we set up, decorate, and often optimize until the last minute.
The effort is considerable. We usually invest a whole week just in the final preparations. And yet, it's always worth it.

Because nothing can replace encounters

At trade fairs and markets, conversations arise that are hardly possible online. People tell us their stories, ask questions, and discover our products. We can directly explain how our handmade natural products are made, why we use local raw materials, and what’s behind our manufactory.

According to Silvan Schmid, one of the three managing directors, this personal exchange is precisely the most important aspect:

"Our brand thrives on stories and togetherness. At trade fairs and markets, we can still best live this out. Nothing beats a story told directly."

That's where it all began

Our roots are exactly there: at trade fairs and markets. That's where we introduced our first marmot ointment, explained it, and sold it directly to our first customers. Not through a screen, but from person to person.

This closeness still defines us today. For us, trade fairs and markets are therefore not just another sales channel. They are part of our history and our identity.

Experience products instead of just ordering them

You can see a lot online. But at a trade fair, you can test, feel, and smell our products. You can ask questions, make direct comparisons, and get personal advice.
That's exactly what many people particularly value today. After years of digitalization, personal exchange is once again gaining importance for many.

Tradition and Zeitgeist belong together for us

Even though our roots are in direct sales, we are evolving. That's why we consciously rely on multiple sales channels: our online shop, our own stores, and also trade fairs and markets.
Because for us, both belong together: utilizing modern possibilities while remaining true to our roots.