Gloria Dix, Head of Global Travel Retail & Fragrance Sales at Victorinox, discusses how the company values its partners, distributors, and workers above everything else. She highlights the main tenets of Victorinox’s people-centric philosophy and explains how this philosophy forms the basis for the company’s strategy for travel retail, which she refers to as a “people-centric industry.”
Victorinox, renowned for its Swiss Army Knife and dedication to high-quality engineering and cutting-edge design, has stood as a symbol of Swiss brilliance and precision for almost 140 years. However, the business’s long heritage is founded on a dedication to putting people before profit, beyond its globally known products.
The commitment of Victorinox to people—employees, customers, and distributors—has been unwavering from the company’s founding in the gorgeous valley in Schwyz to its current operations. Our strategy for developing a worldwide business in travel retail—which is unquestionably a “people industry”—has heavily relied on this history.
A background of compassion and accountability
The history of Victorinox began with our founder Karl Elsener’s inspired effort to eradicate unemployment and poverty in the Schwyz Valley in the late 19th century. Karl Elsener set out on a quest to create jobs, stop emigration, and improve the local community in the face of catastrophic economic conditions. The outcome was the establishment of Victorinox in 1884, a company that not only created excellent products but also acted as a catalyst for constructive social change.
Since then, Victorinox’s DNA has been firmly infused with Karl Elsener’s social responsibility approach. The business has continuously worked to show its workers the utmost respect. This dedication continues today when Victorinox is still a stand-alone family business with the Victorinox Foundation holding 90% of the company’s stock. As 90% of profits are reinvested, this structure guarantees the company’s long-term stability while fostering ongoing innovation and expansion. A non-profit foundation that actively promotes numerous philanthropic endeavours owns the remaining 10% of the company’s shares, further demonstrating Victorinox’s commitment to having a beneficial impact on society.
Beyond its ownership structure, Victorinox’s people-centric attitude penetrates all facet of its business activities. A deep appreciation for the individuals within and beyond the institution is at the heart of this ideology.
Employees: at Victorinox, employees are valued team members who contribute significantly to the success of the business. It makes investments in its employees and promotes a culture of advancement. This company’s belief in the value of individual well-being and job happiness is reflected in its investment in human capital, which also guarantees a talented and motivated workforce. This financial and emotional investment in individuals pays off. The employee turnover rate at Victorinox is far lower than the Swiss norm.
Victorinox has maintained its success for nearly 140 years, which is a monument to its unrelenting dedication to putting customers first. Victorinox has never forgotten the value of people in its business, from its beginnings in Schwyz, where it battled unemployment and poverty, to its current position as a global corporation.
‘People-first’ has proven to be a potent mantra as a foundation for developing a company in global travel retail. Whether it’s the Qatar Duty-Free personnel volunteering during the FIFA World Cup or the countless other instances of incredible gestures by industry peers, our sector is rife with motivational tales about people and teamwork.
Investments in people – coworkers, partners, sales personnel, and consumers – are a critical element of futureproofing and developing this great business, whether behind the scenes, in forums like TFWA, or on the front lines of retail.
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