At the beginning of its journey towards becoming a digital, diversified, international media corporation in 2008, Ringier AG acquired e-commerce company Geschenkidee.ch GmbH, which was founded six years prior. Thanks to ongoing investment, further development of the online shop as well as its range of products and logistics organisation, geschenkidee.ch has over the past 13 years become the largest online provider of gifts, home accessories and lifestyle products in Switzerland.
Under the leadership of CEO Maud Hoffmann, the company has had quite a remarkable trajectory. After taking up her management post in August 2015, not only were the online shop and logistics transformed to meet the needs of over 300,000 satisfied customers per year. Hoffmann also oversaw the introduction of a chatbot that revolutionised finding gifts, expanded services and the business customer division (B2B), closed major deals for strategic partnerships, developed in-house production capacities as well as created and expanded a highly successful marketing operation.
Hoffmann will be closely involved in the handover process until spring 2022 and will then be taking on a new set of challenges.
Ringier CEO Marc Walder: «I am delighted that this change of ownership will open up new opportunities for geschenkidee.ch. We found the Swiss group of investors’ strategy to be convincing. I would like to thank the long-time CEO of geschenkidee.ch, Maud Hoffmann, for managing geschenkidee.ch successfully, astutely and with such dedication. Maud Hoffmann’s incredible entrepreneurial spirit and extremely diligent team are responsible for the organic growth of geschenkidee.ch into Switzerland’s preferred online gift service.»
Christoph Weber, Chairman of the Board at SME Equity: «We are convinced of the good foundation as well as the impressive development of Geschenkidee.ch under the leadership of Maud Hoffmann. We look forward to working with the employees of geschenkidee.ch and to further expanding the business. We are pleased that Thomas Herbert, the former CEO of Globus and current Chairman of the Board of Mode Bayard AG, will take over the strategic leadership as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Group being responsible for the further development of geschenkidee.ch.»
Ringier AG, Corporate Communications
About geschenkidee.ch
Geschenkidee.ch is synonymous with the joy of gift giving. Anyone who wants to treat themselves or someone else to something will find the right gift for any occasion, person and budget at geschenkidee.ch. At home or on-the-go, geschenkidee.ch is fully committed to serving its customers and strives to make giving gifts the loveliest and easiest thing in the world (www.geschenkidee.ch).
About SME Equity Partners AG
SME Equity Partners AG is an independent, partner-managed Swiss holding company that focuses on the advancement of medium-sized businesses. Its mission is to support and promote Switzerland as a business hub, focusing on growing businesses that turn long-term profits with attractive business models (www.sme-ep.com).