Over 1 million tons of almonds are produced annually. California leads the production of almonds worldwide, producing 80% of the world's almond crop. The next leading sources of almonds are Spain, Syria, Turkey, Italy, Iran and Morocco. Perhaps a better name for these branded ice creams would be “Vanilla Californian Almond Ice Cream”.
Developed by Benjamin Einstein, one of the co-creators of the Hard Candy makeup line. Inspired by his mother’s eternal quest for the perfect lip balm, Einstein lived up to his name by creating cutting-edge, high-performance treatments, which use top-notch ingredients to tackle all aspects of lip care. In doing so, he made his mom’s “dream” lip product. Links to Switzerland: 1) The Swiss flag 2) “Lip Theory” seems to hammer home the connection to Albert Einstein and his “Theory of Relativity”… Albert Einstein was a Swiss citizen.
“In the early 1930's, a chemical free decaffeination method was discovered in Switzerland. The breakthrough - using water! The decaffeination process was introduced to the marketplace almost 50 years later when technology was able to effectively and efficiently replicate the concepts and ideas first developed in the 30's.
In 1988, the SWISS WATER® Process was introduced to the market. This came about as a new facility located near Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada - a region prized for its pure water - was completed.
Today, SWISS WATER® Process remains the world's only consumer branded decaffeinator - 100% chemical free, never using methylene chloride or ethyl acetate to decaffeinate coffee. We are certified organic by the OCIA in accordance with standards developed by the US National Organic Program.” (Source: www.swisswater.com)
Here’s another brand with very little information available online: Swiss Premium Spring Water. The brand is owned by Dean Foods Northeast, LLC with the actual water being sourced from a company called Fox Ledge, Inc in the state of Pennsylvania. While the product label features a panoramic view of a lake and trees, the bulk of the label real estate is given to the image of a generic snow-capped mountain range. Separate from this visual is the product logo which features the words “Swiss Premium” reinforced by another visual of an Alp-esque mountain range.
"It's been fabulous, it's been really well received," said Moschino's store manager in London, Valeria Chianale. "It's been popular with all types," she told swissinfo. "We have clients from all over the world and from all religions. We've also sold it to all age groups."
One of the most striking designs on Moschino's sweaters and skirts is simply a copy of the Swiss flag: a large white cross on a red background. There are also traditional mountain scenes with chalets, cows and alpine flowers. One white T-shirt has the slogan "Heidi 4 President" emblazoned on the front in red letters.
"Our team of designers used the Swiss flag really for the beauty of the design and the wonderful contrast between the two colours," said Hélène Cadario, head of marketing at Moschino. "It is probably one of the most beautiful flags in the world." (Source: www.swissinfo.ch)
While Switzerland is a politically neutral country, as a matter of self defense, military service is compulsory for all males starting at age twenty. While war has not contributed to the country’s recent history, its army is still well regarded and equipped with high quality tools and materials. The multi-purpose knife is perhaps the most notable output from the Swiss army. However, another standard issue from the Swiss army is its grey woolen blankets emblazoned with a red stripe and a white cross. The originals were produced up until the 1940s by a Swiss company called Pfungen. Today, both the original and replica blankets are available for purchase from a variety of general market distributors.
Founded in the city of Geneva in 1924, Caran d'Ache is Switzerland’s premier manufacturer of writing implements and high quality art supplies.
The brand has also evolved to develop an international reputation for its line of luxury products which include lighters, leather wallets, men’s jewelry and belts. The brand’s shop-in-shops provide the ideal venue for displaying its products in high end stores located in New York, Rome, Tokyo and Dubai. (Primary Source: www.carandache.com)
Sold under the brand name Swiss Travel Products, the World Travel Adapter is the Swiss Army Knife of electrical adapters! The device has four plug options allowing for electrical adaptability in over 150 countries. The device is a prime example of Swiss technological ingenuity, innovation and fine design. (Primary Source: www.swisstravelproducts.com)
Distributed solely by the Swiss national grocery chain Migros, these more highly priced bandaids are branded with the design of the Swiss flag. For just over two dollars, consumers get fifteen “Swiss Special” branded M*Plast band-aids.
Elsa is a Swiss family operated company which produces a wide variety of high quality mattresses and pillows. Elsa mattresses and pillows are made from the company’s proprietary foam (elsa-Mineralschaum©) which helps distribute one’s weight more evenly for maximum comfort. In addition to being ergonomic in their design, Elsa mattresses are also made with a nod to the environment. The brand’s web site states: “elsa mineral foam (elsa-Mineralschaum©) is completely heat recyclable and does leave any toxic residues, thus entering the cycle of nature.”
This particular advertisement was being distributed at a pharmacy in Geneva, Switzerland. (Primary Source: www.elsaint.com)
Marketed as the “Swiss solution to stop smoking”, the NIC-ex SX1, developed by ADDiCT Swiss Care Products, is a device which uses principles of electric stimulation therapy to help reduce the cravings associated with nicotine withdrawal. According to the ADDiCT web site, here’s an explanation of how the NIC-ex SX1 device works: ¨NIC-ex SX1 helps cigarette smokers stop smoking by regulating the brain levels of such natural neurochemicals as dopamine and endorphins. The neurochemical dopamine stimulates the “reward” centre in the brain resulting in a “feeling of pleasure. Endorphins, also produced naturally by the brain, are anti-stress hormone-like neurochemicals that relieve pain (anti-pain action) and enhance the immune system. The nicotine in cigarette smoke increases the brain levels of dopamine thereby giving the smoker a rewarding “feeling of pleasure”. The need of the smoker to continue getting this “feeling of pleasure” quickly results in the development of nicotine addiction... When a smoker tries to stop smoking, the brain nicotine levels rapidly decrease, resulting in lowered levels of dopamine and an array of very unpleasant, discomforting (nicotine) withdrawal symptoms that includes an intense craving to smoke... NIC-ex SX1 works by electrically stimulating the brain to produce dopamine which restores and helps sustain that “feeling of pleasure”, thus preventing the strong craving to resume smoking during nicotine withdrawal. NIC-ex SX1 also increases the brain production of the natural anti-stress, anti-pain endorphins, thereby reducing or minimizing the intensity of many of the stressful, painful nicotine withdrawal symptoms. (Primary Source: www.addictswiss.ch)
In business for over forty years, Swiss-based company PLASTON has developed a number of advanced air purifiers and humidifiers for both domestic and business purposes. The company markets its products under the brand name Air-O-Swiss. (Primary Source: www.plaston.com)
It would appear as though there are two brands in the marketplace looking to leverage the name “Swissflex”. As noted in a separate post below, one of these is a manufacturer of eyeglasses. The other is a high-end manufacturer of beds and mattresses. With so much of one’s life spent in bed, it’s only natural to want the very best in ergonomic comfort. As reported on the company’s web site: “Only the combination of a top-class slat base with a perfectly adapted top-quality mattress and pillow will give you the feeling of dream comfort. The SWISSFLEX bedding system is as precious as your sleep and will allow you to face up to the demands of today's hectic lifestyle.” (Primary Source: www.swissflex.com)
Customization is key to the consumer’s SwissFlex brand experience. Lens shape, frame color, screw color, nose pad size can all be uniquely selected. All these options allow consumers to take an active role in designing their eyewear. Not only does this provide consumers with a way to express one’s individuality, this concept also allows them to choose components which are most comfortable for them. The SwissFlex frames are made from Marsydur: “a high performance polymer, was created during the orbital research and development in connection with the MARS MISSION. Marsydur’s super light-weight offers excellent dimensional stability, an endless variety of colors and it is absolutely antitoxic. Marsydur combines rigidity, heat resistance, excellent dimensional stability, chemical resistance, medical and FDA approved.” (Primary Source: www.italee.com/swiss/index.htm)
Established in 1853 by Charles-Félicien Tissot and his son Charles-Emile, Tissot is one of Switzerland’s most prominent watch brands. Dedicated to performance, Tissot is the Official Timekeeper and Watch of NASCAR, the Ice Hockey World Championship, the Cycling World Championship and has been featured in a number of action movies including Lara Croft Tomb Raider and Mr. and Mrs. Smith. The Swiss flag is an integral component of the Tissot logo reminding consumers that Switzerland has a long-standing tradition of producing high quality and precision time pieces. As with most watches made in Switzerland, the words “Swiss Made” are proudly emblazoned on the faces of all Tissot watches. (Primary Source: www.tissot.ch)
I came across this pad of tracing paper at an art store in Manhattan called A. I . Friedman. I was unable to find any information about the brand online. Any input would be most welcome.
Bally & Co. was founded in 1851 by brothers Carl and Fritz Bally. Within just a few years, the brand developed a very solid reputation for providing men and women with high quality shoes and began exporting its products to France, Argentina and Uruguay.
Today, Bally is owned by an American investment fund called the Texas Pacific Group and distributes its high-end leather goods on a truly global scale. While Bally’s Swiss heritage does not play a significant role in its communications strategy, homage is nonetheless paid to the country by featuring the Swiss flag on the Bally web site. (Primary Source: www.bally.com)
Mondaine is the official timekeeper of the Swiss railway system. Designed by Hans Hilfiker in 1940, the face of the Mondaine clock is recognizable around the world. Today, Mondaine has equipped Swiss railway stations with over 3000 clocks. In 1986, Mondaine launched its first wristwatch miniaturizing the clock face classic. (Primary Source: www.mondaine.com)
The Küng, Sigg & Cie company was established in 1908 as a manufacturer of kitchenware and electrical appliances. In 1998, the company focused in on its core competency, the drinking bottle. Today, SIGG enjoys 70% brand recognition in German-speaking countries and is the drinking bottle leader in the European market. In addition, to its fruit juice acid-resistant interior, the bottle is also known for its decorative exterior which comes in a variety of different designs and patterns. Museum goers will even find the Sigg bottle in the permanent collection at New York’s Museum of Modern Art.
Today, the Biel-based company employs approximately 60 people and distributes its products in 40 countries. (Primary Source: www.sigg.ch)
Bones Swiss skateboard bearings were developed in the 1980s and are considered top of the line in their category. Designed and developed in Switzerland, this high speed and durable product does however carry a rather hefty price tag. To increase its market share, Bones developed a more affordable bearing called Bones Red. This product is manufactured in China and costs almost half as much as the Bones Swiss bearings. (Primary Source: www.bonesswiss.com)
Swatch (short for Swiss Watch) was first launched in 1983 by the Swiss Corporation for Microelectronics and Watchmaking Industries which today is known as the Swatch Group. While Switzerland has had a longstanding tradition of precision watchmaking, the Swatch was specifically launched at a time when the country’s leadership and market share was declining because of increasing competition from abroad.
At the time of its creation, the primary differentiator of the Swatch was its relative simplicity. The watch was designed and engineered to work using 51 mechanical components while rival manufacturers had almost twice as many. Most importantly for the consumer, the Swatch was a high quality timepiece at an affordable price.
Like Victorinox, innovation has been an important component of Swatch’s business success. Never one to shy away from leveraging new technologies, Swatch has launched a variety of unique and multifunctional timepieces. For instance, the Swatch SKIN Chrono was designed to be and marketed as the thinnest chronograph on the market. Embedded in the Swatch Snowpass is a microchip which gives the watch the added functionality of being a ski pass providing consumers with access to over 700 ski resorts around the world.
Swatch is clearly a well established global brand and has also held the spotlight as the official timekeeper of such high profile events as the Olympics and Ski & Snowboard World Cup.
Note: Swatch Group is the parent company of numerous successful watch brands including: Omega, Longines, Rado, Tissot, Calvin Klein, Blancpain and Breguet. (Primary Source: www.swatch.com)
K-Swiss was founded in the early 1960s by Swiss brothers Art and Ernie Brunner. At the time, the two brothers were living in Westlake Village, CA. Unimpressed by the quality of tennis shoes available on the market, Art and Ernie set out to create the ultimate tennis shoe. Their first model was launched in 1966 retailing at $20 a pair when most of the competition sold for only about $8 a pair. Fast forward forty years and the shoes are still on the market and considered some of the most durable. In its more recent history, the brand's primary target has shifted from the athlete to the more image-conscious teen who can customize the color pairings of their shoes directly on the K-Swiss Web site. The company remains headquartered in California, carries out its primary business here in the U.S. but upholds its connection to Switzerland because of its name. (Primary Source: www.kswiss.com)
The Swiss Army Knife is one of the better known creations to come out of Switzerland. Victorinox was created in the early 1890s by Karl Elsener who was horrified to discover that the Swiss army was being supplied with knives manufactured in neighboring Germany. In establishing Victorinox, it was Elsener’s goal to supply the Swiss army with knives made in Switzerland.
Victorinox enjoyed a short lived monopoly until another Swiss company called Paul Boechat & Cie. (later renamed Wenger) started manufacturing a similar product. The two companies ended up sharing the government contract but each had exclusive use of unique marketing lingo:
Victorinox: The Original Swiss Army Knife
Wenger: The Genuine Swiss Army Knife
Fast forward 100+ years and the rivalry came to an end in April 2005 when Victorinox dealt the final coup de grace and acquired Wenger. Today, Victorinox and Wenger manufacture and distribute a combined 25 million Swiss Army Knives to over 150 countries every year.
There is no doubt that the Swiss Army Knife is a true classic. It is recognized globally for its design and durability and while little improvement of the product is needed, Victorinox continues to innovate adding ever more functionality to the tool. Most recent Victorinox knives have included an MP3 player and a USB memory stick. (Primary source: www.victorinox.com and www.wenger.ch)
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