Swiss Trust Companies
One of the things that has always fascinated me about Switzerland is the world of private finance (and that should really come as no surprise - after all, after cheese and chocolate, that’s what this country is famous for). And while I personally may have neither the desire nor the qualifications to work in private finance, that still does not stop me from stopping for a moment to admire the multitude of financial arrangements and instruments that this country offers.
Consider, for instance, vintage Swiss trust companies. There are many reasons why they’re valuable, but the simplest way to explain it is to note the fact that, by owning one, you can claim to be the owner of a trust company with over 20 years of history - even if you yourself have been in business for only a few months.
And it gets better still - by owning one of those companies, you can benefit from favorable tax arrangements, ensure asset protection in cases of divorce and litigation and, for all intents and purposes, make sure that your assets stay safe, come what may.
Now, obviously, getting your hands in one of those things isn’t easy. By definition, the more vintage a Swiss trust company is, the more difficult it is to obtain - and the more you can expect for it (but, of course, the boost in credibility that comes from claiming ownership of a 50+ year old Swiss trust company is enormous).
That’s why in Switzerland there is a narrow range of specialists that focus on providing Swiss trust company sale and formation services to select clients. Their stocks are usually quite limited (in that, few would have more than a company or two at any given time) and prices are often quite high - but you really can’t beat the benefits!


Ok, ladies and gentlemen, we’re all business people here. And as a business person, there is nothing I hate more than independent contractors who simply cannot stick to their own deadlines.
As those of you who know me in offline life (interesting term, isn’t it?) are aware, I am now in the process of wrapping up my marketing examination. As part of it, we are expected to produce our analysis of the growth and decline of The Body Shop (TBS) brand, and of its subsequent acquisition by L’Oreal. For this reason, I thought I’d blog about it, since, to me, it is a classic case of an organization investing a lot into branding and then, for one reason or another, literally losing the way.
Some time ago, I discussed the important of
It goes without saying that you do not sell products or features - instead, you sell benefits. How will your product help the customer? What benefits will it provide? How will it make your customer’s life better, easier, more exciting, more affordable?