A versatile woman
Claudia Laube, Switzerland
Claudia Laube has been working for our subsidiary in Switzerland since 2003. As a Marketing Coordinator, she performs a great variety of tasks and keeps regular contact with Zeulenroda. This lends itself to a discussion about: marketing, diplomatic Swiss people, and the direct approach Germans have.
Hello Ms. Laube, what are you currently working on?
It feels like a thousand things, for example, sales documents and help guides. We just had our third field sales conference this year. There’s always a lot to produce for those.
What was the topic?
In orthopedics, we’re focusing on post-operative and conservative treatment of knee injuries. We’re running a campaign where we’re addressing around 9,000 physicians. In phlebology, we’re currently concentrating on the color and silicone top band concept.
How has marketing changed since you’ve joined it?
It used to be straightforward: when new products were launched, we provided customers with targeted information and took part in major conventions. Today, we’re dealing with many different channels. We’ve noticed that the demand for individual materials has increased. Information must be suitable for orthopedic medical retailers, physicians, and for pharmacy chains that we’ve been cooperating with here in Switzerland since 2017. And for consumers.
What do you enjoy most?
Oh, that’s hard to pin down. Planning and implementing campaigns as well as event organization, that’s something I enjoy very much. But the best part is the team and the variety of the work. That means I can do all sorts of things – from conventions and mailings to photo shoots and graphics.
How do you switch off during your leisure time?
I enjoy taking landscape photographs and editing my own pictures. I also like to sew, but only simple things like everyday bags. That’s quite nice work because you can’t see every wrong seam straight away. I also paint to free up my head.
What kind of pictures do you paint?
Very abstract pictures. So you can recognize something but not necessarily. I work with structure paste.
Oh, kudos, you’re an artist! Will there be an exhibition soon?
No, no (laughs). It’s really just for myself at home.
Finally, we have to ask you about a bias: is it true that the Swiss are diplomatic and the Germans are very direct?
It’s true but it doesn’t mean that one thing is better than the other. “Diplomatic” may even be putting it too nicely. We sometimes make our lives difficult with our overfriendly nature. Of course, you have to get used to German directness, but that’s also refreshing. And sometimes, you achieve the goal much more quickly than the Swiss who can, on occasion, beat around the bush a bit.
About Claudia Laube
In Switzerland, around 20 people work for Bauerfeind. The subsidiary has existed since 1985. Claudia Laube, who joined in 2003, is therefore one of the three most senior employees. The trained chemist started in the sales back office and qualified as a marketing specialist between 2015 and 2017 – with many different tasks: as a Marketing Coordinator, the 44-year-old is responsible for the creation, production, and organization of all sorts of activities. This includes trade shows and conventions, campaign planning, ad placement, and materials for the Field Sales Team.