“Even as a teenager, I was fascinated by the treasures to be found in second-hand shops – it was a passion that eventually led me to focus on selling classic furniture.”

Patinamöbel combines aesthetic design with high quality and timeless elegance. For over twelve years, the company has been delighting customers with carefully selected Scandinavian furniture and vintage treasures. We spoke to Liliane Baeriswyl about her love of unique furniture.

Ms Baeriswyl, could you introduce yourself and briefly explain what “Patinamöbel” is all about?

My name is Liliane Baeriswyl, and I have been the managing director and owner of Patinamöbel for almost 12 years. We specialise in classic Scandinavian furniture – old and new – and vintage furniture from the 1960s.

How did your passion for the treasures of past eras develop?

Even as a teenager, I was often to be found rummaging through the collections at second-hand shops and was fascinated by the shapes, colours and materials of past eras. I particularly like design classics because they are timeless and of high quality. I started out in advertising, but my passion for beautiful things eventually led me to focus on selling classic furniture.

What makes selling vintage furniture special compared to selling new products?

Selling vintage furniture is special because it often concerns one-off pieces that you immediately fall in love with. Aside from a few classics, this kind of furniture is often not easy to find again – once a piece has been sold, it is rare to find another one exactly like it. With new furniture, on the other hand, it is exciting to discover the variety of new brands and designs, especially those from Scandinavia, which plays a leading role when it comes to design.

What challenges do you face in your business on a day-to-day basis?

Like everywhere in the retail sector, the competition from the Internet is a challenge – for both new products and vintage pieces, as nowadays they can be delivered from anywhere and people compare prices. That’s why we focus on customers who appreciate high-quality furniture, personal advice and service – things that the Internet cannot offer.

How does EasyGov.swiss make everyday life easier for you?

EasyGov is a fantastic platform that is particularly useful for start-ups. Twelve years ago, it would have helped me enormously when I was setting up my company, because you don’t have to think about which authority is responsible for what service. EasyGov takes you by the hand and guides you through the various administrative procedures step by step. Today, the main benefit from my point of view is the time it saves me, because digital processing means that administrative matters can be handled much more quickly, easily and at any time.

Patinamöbel celebrated its 10th anniversary two years ago. How do you see the future of the company, and what is your vision for the next few years?

I’m really looking forward to the future and the challenges the sector presents, and I hope I’ll be able to maintain my passion for my business for a long time to come. Over the next few years, in addition to selling design classics, I would like to offer more personal interior design consultations – I particularly enjoy those!