The adventure business
Germans like to give experiences as gifts – an entire industry benefits from people’s yearning for adventure.
It would appear that many people believe a bunch of flowers, a box of chocolates or a good book is no longer enough. Today Germans like to give their friends and loved ones experiences. These can involve a parachute jump, a diving course or a city break. An entire industry is profiting from the growing desire for presents that promise new experiences. The companies that earn their money by offering these kinds of packages have names like Mydays, Jollydays or Meventi.
Yet hardly anyone embodies the longing for unusual presents as much as Jochen Schweizer. The founder of the business group of the same name lived life at the limit when he was young: he was a stuntman and successful canoeist. His speciality: white-water stunts. Today Schweizer is 56 years old and still loves adventure, but above all that is what he sells to others. From his base in Munich some 300 employees sell 1,300 different activities in his name. Many of these involve powerful engines and lots of adrenalin – for example, a drive in a Ferrari or trip on a speedboat. In the meantime the company even offers a trip into space – price on request.
But it doesn’t always have to be spectacular, say the experience sellers. Whereas initially they targeted young women as customers who wanted to buy their partners something special, today they are also focusing on children and seniors as recipients. A family photo shoot, for example, gets everyone involved, while wellness offerings also sell well.
© www.deutschland.de
