Origin Story Brass
A gleaming brass sculpture. In the front of a flagship store alongside central Zurich's Limmat River. Any guesses?
The shop is a fresh modern one from trainer and now sportswear brand, On Running.
The plaque explains it's of the rock in the Engadin Alps where the co-founders supposedly dreamt up the idea for their company. And its material a nod to the long-standing Musik Hug instrument dealers now refashioned upstairs at their new locale.
As relics go, I'm not quite convinced. It's a bit too abstract. But maybe that's the point. And it doesn't really work in the minimalist space either. Which might be why it feels marooned in its corner. I get that the designers have tried to make retail feel luxe what with all the white surrounds and the sparse product displays, but this item seems a little stranded as the only tangential glimpse that the goods have a link to those actually engaged in the pursuit for which their innovation was birthed.
Start-ups can be rife with such totems. So too sales endeavours and sales offices and salespeople ourselves. We've plenty of similar backstory mementoes that can signal.
I myself remember photocopying and blowing up to A3 my very first ever cheque. Three decades back we used to stipulate initial payment upon order. I'd never before actually seen such a large amount.
Since then I've received all manner of special products from clients and other keepsakes. These range from plush toys through remarkable stationery to furniture rejected from a refurb.
They can come from partners and suppliers too. As I vividly recall showing a prospect drawings for my new logo once. Explaining what I was after and how the shape must match that aim. It was a fun chat. And revealed what drove me. They soon signed up.
It's the items that add life to why we sell that count most. With a tale attached that shows the issue we resolve, and the unique way in which we do so. Without that, they’re just things in a corner.
Lucky no On founder didn't have the idea in the 'smallest room' ...