150 Years of WEBSTAR: «Zäme Grosses bewürke»
From a small tobacco shop to a Swiss wholesaler: For 150 years, WEBSTAR has been making a big impact with small, everyday products. Inspired by the belief that great things start small, we created a year-long anniversary campaign around one guiding idea: Zäme Grosses bewürke (Achieving Great Things Together). From quizzes and surprising activations to an open-air cinema, we created many big and small moments that bring people together.
The video gives an overview over an entire anniversary year in just 40 seconds. Behind it all are countless ideas, joint decisions, and a strategy designed to turn 150 years of history into something for the future. It all began with a fundamental question: What is this anniversary actually meant to achieve?
How can a company anniversary be more than just a one-off celebration?
A company anniversary is an opportunity to not only look back but also to make a difference for the future. But what should it inspire in whom? How can we inspire employees, create added value for customers and suppliers, and strengthen ties to the region? Together with WEBSTAR, we developed a year-long strategy built around clear objectives for each target group, creating opportunities for meaningful encounters and shared experiences.
«You only turn 150 once. So why celebrate for just one day? With ‘Zäme Grosses bewürke’, we brought WEBSTAR to life in new and surprising ways throughout the anniversary year.»
Discovering the Big in the Small: «Zäme Grosses bewürke»
A piece of candy, a paper cup, a roll of toilet paper. Products we hardly notice in our daily lives, but which often make a bigger difference than you might think. That's where our idea began: putting seemingly small things in the spotlight and revealing the bigger stories behind them.
From this, we developed our guiding idea, «Zäme Grosses bewürke» (Achieving Great Things Together). It connects the everyday world of WEBSTAR's products with what has defined the company for 150 years: people coming together to make a difference.
Anniversary Identity: A New Perspective Through «150»
The idea of finding greatness in small things also shaped the visual identity. The anniversary number «150» became a versatile design element, framing everyday products, people and moments in unexpected ways. Combined with bold colours and fresh perspectives, it created a distinctive look that brought overlooked details into focus. Beyond the anniversary itself, the underlying creative principles offer WEBSTAR a foundation for future brand communications, independent of the anniversary identity.
Many Experiences, One Shared Story
From a playful anniversary quiz and personal apéro moments to open-air cinema nights: We brought the anniversary to life through a wide range of experiences for customers, partners, employees and the local community. Exclusive discussion forums on current industry topics created opportunities for meaningful exchange, while a big Family Day event brought employees and their loved ones together to celebrate. Each initiative was tailored to its audience and purpose, yet all contributed to one shared story: how small gestures, meaningful encounters and collective efforts can make a big difference.
Target Audience: Customers, Partners, and the General Public
Lollipops, toilet paper, or WEBSTAR? Through surprising comparisons with products from WEBSTAR’s lineup, history became a fun, interactive experience. An interactive online quiz invited participants to join in the guessing game and drew over 1,000 enthusiastic participants.
Target Audience: Customers & Suppliers
Instead of traditional anniversary discounts, WEBSTAR opted for personalized gestures. In the spring, specially curated appetizer boxes – delivered in person or by mail – provided moments of shared enjoyment. Throughout the year, employees were also able to put together personalized gift boxes featuring anniversary products and present them to customers during visits.
Target Audience: Customers & Suppliers
150 minutes dedicated to topics that matter to WEBSTAR and its partners. In this four-part event series we brought together customers, suppliers, and external experts to discuss different industry challenges – ranging from innovation and business succession to competition for shelf space. A format designed to foster new perspectives and valuable conversations.
Target audience: Employees
From group selfies to carpooling, escape room outings, and community service: A custom-developed, gamified online platform invited employees to take on challenges – both big and small – throughout the year. This led to new connections and shared experiences outside of the daily work routine.
Target audience: Employees and their families
More than 600 employees and their family members gathered at the Swiss Life Arena to celebrate the anniversary together. The various challenges weren’t just about having fun: Together, the participants raised a five-figure donation for the Caritas KulturLegi.
Target audience: Local community, customers, suppliers & employees
For three evenings, WEBSTAR transformed its premises in Dielsdorf into an open-air cinema. Partners, employees and local residents came together to enjoy movies under the stars. A special way to give back to the community WEBSTAR has called home for many years.
Target audience: All
For its 150th anniversary, WEBSTAR embraced a bold new look: A vibrant pink complemented its familiar brand colours. Together with a versatile anniversary logo, it created a distinctive visual identity that brought consistency to the entire anniversary year. We also supported WEBSTAR with ongoing communications, from overall planning and creative ideas to social media content, blog articles and the anniversary website.
What Remains After the Anniversary Year?
A year filled with meaningful encounters, shared experiences and small gestures that brought people closer together. What remains are not just fond memories, but hopefully also a lasting sense of connection that grew throughout the year.
And for us? The best proof of our guiding idea, «Zäme Grosses bewürke», was seeing it come to life in our collaboration with WEBSTAR. Countless ideas, small contributions and a great partnership came together to create something truly special.
