10 Years of Wert&Voll - Our Story
In July 2025, the Wert&Voll online shop will celebrate its 10th birthday – and we want to celebrate it with you! 
Look forward to a year full of surprises: Every month, a special anniversary newsletter awaits you (subscribe here). In it, you'll find exciting promotions, exclusive discounts, or even sweepstakes. But that's not all! We'll take you on a journey through our history – 10 years full of adventures, challenges, and milestones.
We will summarize the content of the newsletters in this blog series.
The Founding of Wert&Voll
The story of Wert&Voll began with a simple but powerful idea. Nicole and Nik Berva founded the online shop in the summer of 2015 out of a deep conviction: they wanted to integrate sustainable alternatives to plastic into their daily lives and make them available to others.
It all started when Nicole, as a teacher, led a project week on plastic waste. A documentary (Plastic Planet) opened their eyes, and they decided to radically change their approach to plastic. But at that time, it was difficult to find suitable alternatives. Nik discovered products like the leak-proof containers from Onyx Containers and the lunchboxes from EcoLunchbox, which were not available in Switzerland. So, he bravely set out to import these products himself and make them available with a small website. With a cleared corner in Nik's carpentry workshop, the adventure began, and Wert&Voll was born. Out of a very personal conviction and not from a grand business plan.
This is what the Wert&Voll shop looked like in 2015:
What started as a small passion project soon spread. Many products were exclusively available at Wert&Voll. With growing awareness of sustainability in Switzerland, their customer base also grew steadily. But with success came new challenges: After three years, the online shop had grown so much that it was taking up more and more time. Nik often came home late from work because, after his job as a self-employed carpenter, he was still packing orders. The shop became a permanent part of daily life and thus also a burden. Because Nicole is a teacher through and through, and Nik is a passionate carpenter – giving up their professions was out of the question for both of them.
They realized that they had created something unique and valuable with Wert&Voll. So they decided, with a laugh and a tear, to find a succession solution.
How Wert&Voll came to us
Sometimes the right people and ideas come together through winding paths. Nik and Nicole had built up the Wert&Voll online shop, but eventually it became clear: they wanted to hand it over to new owners – but only the right ones. The search for successors began.
Meanwhile, Nathalie and I had the opportunity to take over a forest activity program. At a meeting with the previous leaders, Maja and Bruno, we discovered stainless steel containers that were unknown to us. "My friend Nik sells those through his shop," Bruno told us – and jokingly added: "Maybe you'd like to take it over?"
That same evening, we delved deep into the shop. The unique products and the warm philosophy fascinated us. But then came the doubts: How to finance? Where to store? How do you even run an online shop?
Weeks went by during which we kept talking about it – unaware that Nik had already started a total clearance sale. When we found out, things got serious. We made contact, met Nik, and immediately felt: This is a good fit. He showed us everything and offered his support with the handover.
But the decision was not easy. Friends and family were divided, and uncertainty grew within us too. We contacted Nik and told him that we were very interested, but the financial investment was difficult for us. Nik then proposed an installment plan, which minimized the financial risk. After two sleepless nights, we plucked up the courage – and said yes.
Today we are the new faces behind Wert&Voll. And what started as a spontaneous idea became our big step into self-employment.
The Relaunch – Wert&Voll Takes New Directions
Once all the details with Nik were settled, things got serious. We quickly realized: the clearance sale had done its job. We were left with a few leftover products – ready, but with almost nothing to sell.
So, it was time to restock! We scoured Nik's former suppliers, made new contacts, and reordered what we considered essential. At the same time, we cleared out our garage, searched Tutti for suitable shelves, and set up our first small warehouse. Within a week, the necessary infrastructure was in place to continue running the shop from our home. During this transition period, the online shop remained closed.
On March 19, 2019, the time had come: with freshly restocked inventory, Wert&Voll was back online. And then – the first order! We were sitting together when the notification came in. Someone had actually bought something from us! Full of excitement, we packed the order. The product was carefully placed in the box, the package wrapped with utmost precision – and then it was off to the post office in the neighboring village.
This daily routine quickly became an integral part of our lives. The loyal Wert&Voll customers confirmed to us that the shop had a future – and we decided to give it our all not to disappoint that trust.
Our son Levi was right in the middle of it. He stacked packages, pasted labels, and was always excited when we unpacked new products.
At first, it was hard for us to take anything from the shop ourselves – we wanted to keep everything available for the customers. But eventually, we treated ourselves to our first stainless steel containers and water bottles from our own shop. After all, we should know what we're selling!
However, we didn't just want to restore the old assortment, but to develop Wert&Voll further and offer more products for a lifestyle with less plastic. Gradually, we expanded the range: the entire Ecolunchbox series was added, stainless steel ice cube molds and ice cream makers, a larger Klean Kanteen assortment, as well as new manufacturers, such as Qwetch drinking bottles and beeswax wraps from Bern. Each new delivery gave us more confidence – we grew with our task.
After a year, it was time for an initial assessment. Sales had increased, the assortment had grown – and most importantly, we had found our place. Wert&Voll had not only survived but had grown with us. We had learned that it pays to venture into new things and that time brings the necessary experience. In 2020, there were decisive developments that transformed the shop from a trading platform into its own brand.
Wert&Voll Reinvented
Today we travel back in time to a crucial chapter in the history of Wert&Voll. Perhaps you remember: The shop was originally founded to make plastic-free products accessible in Switzerland. But five years after its founding – and one year after we took over Wert&Voll – the world suddenly looked very different.
Suddenly, there were shops with similar products everywhere. Even the big retailers now had plastic-free alternatives in their assortment. Our former market position dwindled. Then the next blow: Onyx Containers and Lunchbots stopped supplying us. Lunchbots switched to direct sales, and Onyx withdrew to the North American market after a stroke of fate.
Suddenly, half of our assortment was gone. The most popular products were no longer available, competition was tougher than ever – and we, as newly minted entrepreneurs, were under enormous pressure. The easiest way out? Give up.
But that's exactly what we didn't do.
Instead, we saw the challenge as an opportunity and developed a new vision for Wert&Voll. We decided to acquire an engraving laser and offer personalized products. At the same time, we began searching for a manufacturer who would produce directly for us. For the first time, we could build our own brand – independent of suppliers and stronger than before.
This step was not without risk. We had to delve deep into the world of stainless steel lunchboxes, take out a loan, and be even more courageous than when we initially bought the shop. But it paid off: Your feedback was overwhelming! After just one year, we were able to recoup the investments – and knew: "Nothing ventured, nothing gained."
Today, Wert&Voll is more than just a shop – it's a brand with heart. And we are thrilled that you are part of this journey. ❤️
Small online shops have it particularly tough
Last time, I told you how we reinvented Wert&Voll. Today, I want to share with you why not all small Swiss online shops succeed in doing so – and what decision we have made for the future.
As a small shop, we walk a fine line between joy and frustration every day. There's almost nothing better than reading your positive feedback, packing your orders, and knowing: Our work makes sense.
But that is not always enough to survive. Because, to be honest: online shops have to pay for their customers.
What does that mean? For every sale, we spend an average of 30% of the revenue on advertising – and additionally high fees to payment providers & Co. When you add up all these costs, there's little left at the end.
Anyone who then tries to compete with the big shops on price loses twice. The truth is: many products only pay off if you sell them in huge quantities. And small shops like ours simply can't keep up with that.
But: We don't even want that anymore.
That's why we have consciously decided to shift our focus. Instead of carrying a large assortment with many different brands that are now available everywhere, we are focusing on what makes us unique:
👉 Lunchboxes with engraving
👉 Personalized stainless steel products
👉 A real sense of your wishes
👉 Customer service that lives up to its name
Because while the big ones just push packages through, every product with us is packed with love, and often the whole family helps out.
This is our strength. This is our path.
Of course, we are also aware that this doesn't work for everyone. For example, our esteemed partners Loggia16 (beeswax wraps from Bern) and suederei Naturseifen sadly had to close their doors. It makes us sad – because we know how much passion goes into such projects.
And at the same time, it reinforces our resolve to continue making courageous decisions and to stay true to ourselves.
Thank you for taking the time to read our story ❤️❤️❤️