Founded in 2013 by entrepreneurial couple Johan and Hanna Olzon-Åkerström, natural soap company Soeder has since gained a loyal following in its home market Switzerland and abroad. Over the years, the Zurich-based company has gradually expanded its product range, and next to a coveted range of soaps, the growing fanbase can now also indulge in face creams, deodorants, shampoos, lotions and sanitisers, all manufactured in compliance with the brand’s sustainable principles. Mind you, Soeder has set up a refill network with a true closed-loop model, consisting of over 130 refill stations. Additionally, its glass bottles are designed for a long service life, while other bottles, crafted from locally recycled plastic, ensure a low carbon footprint. Along with the increased offerings, Soeder also raised its profile in retail, opening a string of shop-in-shops and standalone stores nationwide. As of late, the brand significantly upped the ante with the inauguration of a flagship store, its very first, at home base Zurich. Following a five-year redevelopment of Zürich Hauptbahnhof, the city’s main railway station built in neo-Renaissance style, Soeder has set up shop on the premises of its south wing.
Designed by Soeder co-founder Hanna Olzon-Åkerström, who also holds a master’s degree in architecture from the top-ranked ETH Zürich university, the flagship store, although already operational, is in fact a work in progress. The retail space comprises a 45 sqm. (484 sq.ft.) entry store space, featuring a counter and product display, and an adjacent, so-called experience space. Featuring a soaring 7-metre (23 ft.) ceiling with arched doorways as a backdrop, the grandeur is paired with contemporary minimalism captured by sandstone tile flooring, and given the brand’s Swiss roots, patriotic nods in the form of alpine rocks and master woodwork. Here, shoppers can try products at a test station, and very soon, learn more about them at information stations covering topics such as used ingredients, various collaborations, and the brand’s production process. Furnishings are simple and functional, offering a soothing visual counterbalance to the ornate backdrop. Interestingly, the Soeder flagship store boasts yet another space one floor up: a soon-to-open 70 sqm. (754 sq.ft.) V.I.P. area for personal shopping and treatments, in addition to bespoke collaborations presentations and other projects. The new Soeder flagship store stocks the full range of alluring natural soaps, deodorants, lotions and sanitisers. © superfuture.com
Soeder
Bahnhofplatz
8001 Zurich
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