today, just a quick post. Although it is still pretty early: I need to head to the factory and fill air in to bottles. And then put air into boxes. For this, I am printing cards right now, on my laser printer, that miraculously accepts the thick paper, which is right beyond its specs… although, funny enough: it only accepts the one side with the tauer logo in silver if put in bottom to head, not head to bottom like I should. Thus, we had to turn all label information that goes on this side by 180 °. The silver logo seems to confuse the paper detection thing. Well, must have to do with the past of the printer: It was standing in the offices of the Swiss Federal Bank. And wasn’t really used there.

Anyhow, while I fill air and boxes: Here is a quick update on the brochure thing. The picture shows you a full double page (left and right pages if you open up the future brochure thing), in the middle, and a cut of the preceding double page and the following page. The text is not really important, yet. I worry more about the overall visual impression. We have kind of 5 elements:

Large picture, overlapping to the opposite page

small picture, in a corner position, showing some detail of a picture that fits with the content of the text

text, scattered, that can be read and makes sense without following any particular order

semi transparent blue space at the bottom, with a personal statement

hand-written “motto”, header for  each double page

Do I like it. Yes. Do I love it. No. Could I go with it. Don’t know.

What’s missing? It is too geometric. Too nice without being creatively brave. It misses a few elements that render it “different”. I have a few ideas, though. I am considering cutting the square pictures and bring in some round forms, some background elements, maybe changing even the format from A5 to A4, allowing me to go bigger with the main pictures and still have enough room for the text.

We will see: I just wanted to share this with you. It is like with perfumes and their creation: even if you like a particular scent, even if you think, it is “OK”, you do not really love it. And this is not enough.

welcome back again after the weekend that hopefully was glorious for you! Mine was sort of busy and filled up to the rim with fun work on the computer. I continued with the brochure, collecting ideas, putting them into a context with picture, and trying to come up with pictures that are “ok”. It is a very fluid process, with text asking for pictures, and when the photos, sort of integrated into a rude layout, are there, the text does not seem right anymore and you go back to step one.

One of the pictures that I wanted to have: The new tauer cap, made from bakelite. Ready to be used in my bottle production as soon as we used up most of the old caps. This, of course, depends on how many bottles will leave the factory until then. We got the new caps delivered last week: 4 boxes, 5000+ pieces, produced in Switzerland. The later is -in my opinion- important. I try to source as much as I can in Europe.  Because, for instance, people here get sort of decent working conditions and social security and we have rules of engagements for the environment. Thus, I decided to focus on this point in the brochure, too: Bottles made in Europe by hand, by small producers, who are craftsmen, and provide products that are unique and authentic.

Yesterday, I read a  Harper’s Bazaar article online, warning about fake perfume, counterfeiting in the perfume industry, describing how for instance a client got her Chanel  for 14$ (nope, I am not talking about a sales of out of stock etc. items); she thought it was a good deal and learned later that it was a fake fragrance. How naive is that?

And why is it that we all care and worry about prices and deals, and not about work conditions and environmental damage? When have you actually checked where a product comes from? We might want to ask this is question from time to time for T-shirts, food, and all the other items that we buy in a globalized market place. To be honest with you:  I am so sick of the “Geiz is geil” (greed is good) mentality. Nobody shops in a value free system, and for some produce we have the choice.

Anyhow, I am drifting: The bakelite cover, delivered last week, looks lovely. Today’s picture shows you a photo that I took, a macro shot of a 2x2x2 cm cap, with a logo that is incredibly detailed. Isn’t it? I guess I will use this in the brochure, photoshopped to adjust the color’s tonality, linking it to my being a country boy deep inside.

Have  a great start into your week!

Yesterday was a crazy day: And although it was my plan to head down to the factory and pack perfume, I ended up fiddling with an excel and the online shop in the test environment. And doing a lot of other things. Thus, today, I will spend more than a day there. … It took me a while until I understood some of the logic of the extension that we got  in order to -in a couple of days/weeks- accept orders for samples for (most) countries again. It is not really the extension that’s to blame, though: There was one particular point that I simply did not get, a “*” that was sort of overdriving what I asked the demo system to do.

So I tried to figure out logically what is happening:

“shipment costs for 2 samples to the US: 3.8 Francs. Check. OK. ”

“shipment costs for 1 samples to the US: 16 Francs. Check. NOT OK. but where the heck is the 16 coming from?” And this question arose kind of 2 hours later after finally! having figured out how to format the excel properly where I put in the values for the CSV file.

Until I finally found the * in the wrong place it took a while. I am the type of guy who cannot let go, once I bit into a bone, so to speak… When I got it, it was 2 pm already, and I had to head for Brieger, where I picked up a pile of cardboard packaging for larger orders. I ordered the 100 x40x40 boxes over the weekend as I expect to ship into my warehouse in the US in about a week from now.  (oh my… I really need to run now!) From there, Brieger, in their super nice cool blue new building,  I was heading downtown, by car to pick up printed cards from one of the best printers in town, for sure the nicest, Mr. Jakob, right in the center of Zurich. A trip that I usually do by bike: By car it takes at least twice as long. Back home, I fell in total love with the cards that I brought home with me. I will use them to go inside the new packaging of my Tauer line, first I will use them with Noontide petals.

There is a front side and a back side to this card. Today’s picture shows you the back side of the card, on top on the “How To… ” guido of my Magento shipping extension. I will use this backside to sign: Like I do it since I  send fragrances to the world: Every bottle goes out with a signed card, signed by myself, saying “Enjoy! Andy Tauer”.

And looking at it, I figured, that theoretically, if I really wished and if it was a good idea, I could use the backside to print, from time to time, illustrations, flowers, or whatever I feel might make sense there. Thus, the picture today shows you such a printed illustration on the card.  I need to talk to my designer about this….

And now, I really need to run to the factory. By the way: Through snow. Again. Arggh!

On Monday afternoon, I wanted to write a post about design and that design is everywhere. And how it influences us and so on. I got sort of inspired by a quick picture that I took while waiting for the dentist in the dentist chair with the most spectacular view over one of Zurich’s growth hot spots: Zürich West. Quite amazing how many new buildings were and still are being built there. Another perspective in the dentist chair was the box with the tools: It was time to get rid of the last wisdom tooth. Modern chemistry be praised: nowadays, tooth extractions come without pain. But still. Something’s missing afterwards, and  teeth do not really come out easily, thanks to a ingenious natural design, extracting them comes with some damage. Anyhow. About design: Teeth are great stuff from a design point of view.

The next day (yesterday), when I got an example of a nice design delivered, I was considering writing about international shipping logistics. The new Tauer box arrived yesterday, and it is a big, big, big pile of boxes that I needed to move from here (ramp) to there (tauerville stock room). And after moving all the boxes my fingers and arm did not really feel like writing a post anymore. On the other hand, I was watching more or less live how a shipment with FEDEX made it to the US, from pick up to delivery in 30 hours: amazing. Fedex really, really is organized, and following this shipment was almost like being there. Anyhow: The box is here, and I will talk about it in more details when the last pieces that go with it are delivered, too. There is no need to hurry, as we still have the old design box in stock and the transition from old to new will take some time. But the new scent, NOONTIDE petals is going to be packed in new only. But, as I have said before, it is not really important; it is only packaging. I mean….

The last urge to post came yesterday night, after a serious jog in the still very cold and mostly icy-white woods, and after going through the snail mail envelops of yesterday. I got letters from the  ” Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property”. Now, these folks there, they are really amazing and super helpful. In the letter, I was told that the mark “L’air du désert marocain” is now, after a few forth and back, registered and published in Switzerland. Uff. And the other letter came from WIPO, the “World Intellectual Property Organization”, telling me that the mark “SOTTO LA LUNA” is registered and published in the EU. Uff. Now, it is about time to come up  with design there…. The W.-factor thinks that all the money that I spend for protection is about as useful as throwing it out of the window (almost). But I insist: I have seen too many blunt copies of names and ideas. I remember an other niche perfumer (that  I meet rarely but very openly) being close to tears when she realized that one of her ideas were copied, for instance. No way with me!

Thus, all tired from jogging, but fresh at the same time,  I took a little selfie: Maybe looking a bit skeptical (one word: Italy), but I feel smiling like a Hollywood star into every camera is not always the right thing to do. Thus, Andy looking into the future.

I guess, the bottom line is simple. What the hey!  The future is out there, it comes with all its changes, whether we like it or not,  and I prefer to shape it, or at least try to.

I picked today’s picture of a leave, taken against the sun, shining through it and revealing its structure, because it is a wonderful example for nature’s way of building the most complex structures with (seemingly) simple elements and repetition of these structural elements.

In a sense, things at tauerville got pretty complex, too. And I aim at reducing complexity, making packaging and labeling simpler for me, using the same structural elements, for different scents.

Thus, I will visit a printer sales and supporting company this afternoon.  In search of the perfect laser printer.  It is the last thing we actually have to get: somewhat heavy paper cards, special paper for an extra luxurious touch, and yet still printable by mr. t. and a yet to decide upon laser printer.

These days, I have a couple of scents, with changing lot numbers, a couple of retailers with different needs, and changing legal terms that make it difficult to produce large production runs for box labels.

Thus, I decided that I want to be able to print the box labels myself, on cards that are “branded” (= come with some design and logo). The idea is to gain flexibility and speed: To adjust to local markets, changing needs by my retailers, and to adjust easily to new products. In a sense, one should have box labels for every single market. And I want to be able to do small scale experimental scents, too. And I want costs to be minimal, while the look and feel must be maximally nice. My designer guru was nice enough to pick heavy paper for the cards that we will put on the backside of the metal box -there is room there and the cards will stick onto the back of the new tin box- and I was evaluating lasers that allow printing of 220 gr/m2 (not many) and finally came up with a HP. This afternoon will see us testing it.

Wish us luck!

“Alles ist Licht” , that’s what I thought when I looked into the sun yesterday. Thus, today’s picture shows you the sun over snow and mountains, seen yesterday near Zurich. Although it is mid February soon and although the sun has gained some strength: Still a long way to green pastures and hyacinths blooming in the garden. There was little time during the last week to post here on the blog: I was super busy taking care of orders from retail partners and we had visitors that sort of asked for our attention. And we were working on some of the last design questions for NOONTIDE petals, its packaging, and how to produce it. For the sample discovery set we (my designer super guru mostly from Designer’s Club, and me)  had to come up with the text and color. In the end we picked Pantone 7404 (the link brings you to a google image search for pantone 7404), a bright happy yellow, that -in my eyes- fits wonderful with NOONTIDE petals, eau de toilette. So that one will go into production now.

I have also sent some stickers to the printing company: The sticker (= product code label) that needs to go onto the metal to see easily from the outside what is inside. And I sent the stickers to the printer that we put on the “hanger” for single samples. This “hanger” is a piece of paper that holds one 1.5 ml spray vial, and it needs a sticker with some information about the scent, like notes, and that it is hand made, and that it is from me.

My goal here: Have all ready for sending samples out before the real full bottle packed and boxed product. “Aus der Not eine Tugend gemacht” or in English: To make a virtue out of necessity: We are a touch behind schedule for the last its and bits for the packaging of the full bottle. There we need to finish the decision making process which cardboard to take for the product labels. This is kind of critical as we decided that we need to print some of the information, such as lot numbers and importers etc., ourselves in low volume numbers (a few hundred per lot number for instance).

Anyhow: If all goes well, March will see me sending the first samples out. And later, end of March or early April will see me sending the first bottles. Ha! Can’t wait anymore!

And you know why I can’t wait anymore: Because I want to move on and (finally) address some new ideas and fragrant stuff. But first things first: NOONTIDE petals must be ready and the bright yellow 7404 sunlight must shine.  I wish you wonderful start into your week; may it be bright!

Fragrant greetings and thank you for visiting! I think this is the last post for about two weeks: I will be travelling for two weeks and it might well be that I don’t post on my blog. As always, before leaving, there is a plenitude of things to get done. This time, it was really, really a lot of things to get under control and make sure that all is on its way and running smoothly before leaving.

On one hand, I got a couple of large restocking orders after the holidays that needed my attention. We also met with a dangerous goods expert (perfumes are dangerous goods from an air freight perspective) and managed to get a first FEDEX shipment out to the US this week. Before that I got a deal with FEDEX that allows me to ship larger parcels for a reasonable price to the US. Large meaning 50 bottles or more. “Reasonable” meaning much more than before, but still in  a range that you can pay for. Or rather: That I can pay for. Packaging gets a bit special, and there are extra papers needed that come with a price tag, too. Thus, overall, things work, but on a more complicated and more pricey level.

Thus, soon, my fragrances will be available in the US again. By February, that’s the plan at least, also through my website. I am looking very much forward to starting this process. For the time being, I need to ask you for two more weeks patience. Right now, there are a first batch of tauer flacons on their way to the US, for a serious, thorough test.

Besides this shipping things, I was busy coming up with some design decisions and making sure that all my suppliers  go to work and know what I want. Or not. I am soooooo looking forward to the modified packaging that I will introduce with the new fragrance, NOONTIDE petals, scheduled for some when in March: New scent, new box, and a softer and more elegant shell, and some changes in the labels and extras: The goal here is to be as flexible as possible to adjust to unforeseen changes and demands. Super flexible….. The rest is “Surprise, surprise”.

Thus, tonight, I take of, for a “secret” mission (sounds great,doesn’t it?) and leave the land where we are bringing home colorful tulips from the Netherlands in order to shorten the waiting  for spring: Zurich is under a thick, heavy snow blanket and it got pretty cold. But before leaving: I need to dilute some experimental scents that I am playing with, need to get some samples done for the stock here in Zurich, and ah, yes, pack the bags.

While I do so: Here is a link to a lovely article in the NZZ of today, in German, featuring four niche perfume houses from Switzerland, click here for the link to the article that luckily is also available online. So nice, enjoy!

Today’s picture is a quick illustration that I used the other day on Facebook: I did it on Saturday, towards the end of my bottle filling (air du désert marocain) and putting labels on. I did not even put off my latex gloves that I wear when handling bottles and was so happy to get distracted for 5 minutes. It was quite a busy weekend and this week will be pretty busy, too. I will be travelling for two weeks, starting towards the end of this week (bad, bad timing, but…): Thus, a lot needs to get done by then, paper work for shipments and taxes, preparing shipments, and stocking up and packing perfume and sending mails out. A lot of mails…. Thus, time to leave this blog and get back to work.

But before I do so, and as I am coming up with the notes and all the info that needs to go onto the sample sticker labels for NOONTIDE petals, such as allergens (I did the list of the allergens that I need to declare in order to fulfill the EU laws: Wow. This baby is fully loaded!)

I am fiddling with the notes and am doing this directly in Illustrator, without paying much attention to layout and give it to my designer for optimizing the layout. This way, that’s the hope, we make it right from scratch. The labels should go into production end of January and I want to be able to start shipping the first samples to perfume lovers in March, starting with the US in spring, and then moving forward towards Europe.

The notes on the samples label will more or less be a list of what I feel is important.

HEAD NOTES: A glittering and bright opening: Bergamot, sparkling aldehydes and soft Bourbon geranium.
HEART NOTES: A seductive chord of flower petals: Finest rose, ylang, tuberose, jasmine.
BASE NOTES: A supple and sensuous gleam: Patchouli, frankincense, vanilla, sandalwood, iris with a hint of styrax and vetiver.

Fragrant greetings!

Today I share a picture of an orchid in bloom, seen over the weekend in my house. The orchid itself is only about 10 high, the flowers are on a string of about 15 cm. I got it as baby plant years ago and sometimes it blooms, always in January. It is completely scentless.

But it is gorgeous to look at and hence it is perfect for today’s blog post: On things for the eye. It is one of my pet ideas that you sell perfume primarily through the eyes. Followed maybe by the tactile sense. And then by the sense of smell. I feel it is true for many locations where perfume is sold these days. Aren’t we all a bit overwhelmed by this  huge number of options, brands and bottles? I guess we all have our tactics to filter and go for values that we trust. I simply cannot cope with all that comes out, nor do I want to, and following a few inner rules, my explorations become short walks in a jungle of new concepts and scents.

For instance, you will not see me exploring things with crowns printed or on top of bottles. It might have to do with my super anti aristocratic upbringing in Switzerland. Another helpful plank in the wild: The more gold the less I want to sniff. Animals are a no go for me, too. Be it playboy rabbits, be it snakes or wild cats and their beautiful fur. I love orange, and blue and simple flacons. So, no wonder I reach for Hermes from time to time, or Chanel, and Come des Garcons. And I like authenticity. Chances are good that I will sniff with biggest interest when I know that there is actually a person who cares behind these bottles, thus… I will always reach for those Olivier Durbano flacons, and Ineke and Yosh and many others where a a creator cares.

Anyhow: I am convinced that the look and feel of things is very important. And it must fit with what is inside;  I guess it must be authentic, too. So, right now, I am deciding on the protective packaging of the packaging. No kidding. As mentioned earlier: We will switch gradually to a new metal tin box that is more practical: It is rectangular and better fitting the flacons, hence protecting them even better than the existing box, and better fitting the needs of my shippers and retail clients who have to stock the packed perfumes, too. Gradually means: NOONTIDE petals, the next scent coming in my line, a bright woody floral with a 20-ies twist, will be packed in the new box. Then, over 2013, most of my scents will go into the new box. The scents will not be touched, and the flacon stays the same.

I will protect the metal box with a sleeve, made from cardboard, allowing me to render the whole packaging a touch softer, too. And it will present my line better, in brick and mortar shops, where my scents are shown in their packaging. Funny: on the internet, the packaging is hardly ever shown. Maybe here, in the electronic universe, the scent actually matters more than the packaging. Isn’t this ironical?

There we are again: Day 14 of the advent calendar with a picture of doors leading to a bright unknown. Today, you can win a fragrant soap, called MANDARINES AMBRÉES, made for the season and not available as something you can buy. It is probably the most popular soap that I have created so far. Well, actually, you can buy it in the book shop in Zurich, where everything began. Pascal, the shop owner of Medieval art&vie, asked me to get some, as he has many clients asking for the soap. So I made a few extra. Their wrappings are not designed by my design guru from the Designers Club, but I put the Tauer logo on the wrapping. That’s already something.

When I started with my perfume venture about 8 years ago, I did not put a logo anywhere: It only said “tauer perfumes” in small, very small letters on the packaging as you are legally forced to put the producer’s name there. Thus, when I first met Donovan, my designer friend, he asked me, how clients know that a scent in a box is from me, Andy Tauer, and I told him that there on the backside of the box, at the bottom right, there it says made by tauer perfumes…..

That was a while ago and since then I have successfully upgraded my brand and venture. Next year will see me doing a lot of things differently, and from today, I start working on these changes.

I picked this picture as it fits perfect with the end of the year, and the new year starting, with new opportunities opening: We hope so at least. Right now, to be honest, we are however still in the dark tunnel and the next door with light is not that close.

Today, we learned that we cannot ship perfumes out of Switzerland to our retailing partners with air freight, using our shipper of the past. The consequences are somewhat cheerless. Some channels will not be served anymore, air freight shipment costs will explode and product prices with them.  A lot will change, as we cannot just pick another shipper but have to go through a lot of certifications and paper work issues.

Thus, if you are in the US and elsewhere “airfreight abroad” , get your tauer now. They might be off the market for a while.

Thus, I picked this picture, hoping for new opportunities opening, although some of the views in these rooms I will not like.

To participate in today’s draw: Just say hello. And maybe, if you wish, share which perfumes you think must stay on the international markets, under all circumstances….

Cheers from Zurich!

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