What led to you working for Lista Office LO?

I am French, and I began my journey with Lista Office LO in 2012 in Neuchâtel.

Before that, I had worked for another office furniture reseller, but the experience was far from pleasant. However, one of our brand partners brought to my attention an open position at Lista Office. As I was ready to explore a different field, I initially dismissed the idea. But he didn’t give up trying to contact me about it — and he contacted me very often. So, I decided to simply ignore his calls. Then one day, after probably ten missed calls, I — really annoyed by then—picked up the phone and said, "Hey, stop bothering me!" There was a brief silence. Then I heard an unknown voice saying, "Bonjour Monsieur Koegler, Samuel Michel à l’appareil." The former director of Lista Office LO Neuchâtel, who was sharing his office with my contact, had reached out to me directly. I felt rather embarrassed then, but now, 12 years later, I can smile about it.

And what kind of leader are you to your team?

Having actively played rugby for 20 years and worked as a coach for seven, I see myself as the team captain on the field with everyone else. My team and I sweat together, play together, and we share our successes. I want them to know they can depend on me.

Furthermore, I’m a bit of a handyman. If there’s a problem with the plumbing or the electricity at the office, I’m the one who will fix it …

What distinguishes Lista Office LO Vaud from the other Lista Office LO branches?

We are part of a Swiss-German company operating in Suisse romande, so firstly, there isn’t as strong a bond with our company as there is in the German-speaking part. Additionally, many French live and work here, and they often don’t know anything about Lista Office LO's 80-year history of success. Also, for an international buyer " Swissness " isn’t necessarily the primary criterion for a collaboration. We therefore need to prove more often our qualities as the leading company in the field in Switzerland.

Many international companies have their offices around Lac Léman. Do you need a special advisory approach when working with them?

Dealing with international companies is one of our biggest challenges. Often, their headquarters are abroad, so we don’t just bid against local competitors, but also international ones. We represent, however, some state-of-the-art internationally renowned products from partner companies, such as Framery. Thus, buyers might contact us for just one product, and we can then showcase the full extent of our capabilities. Our biggest advantage and most valuable tool in this context is definitely our beautiful showroom in Lausanne.

Where do you think the office furniture sector is headed in the next few years?

In the 12 years I’ve been in this field, demands have almost constantly evolved. COVID-19 accelerated some trends that we had anticipated earlier, such as Smart Office concepts (Internet of Things, flexible workspaces, digital collaboration, etc.). What was once the focus of big companies only is now accessible to all. As the leading firm in the office furniture and furnishing field in Switzerland, it is our role to create and drive trends.

In the coming months, we will present new innovations, and we are very excited about what is to come.

On a more personal note: What do you do in your pastime?

My wife and my two sons aged 20 and 12 years, are paramount to my life. I love traveling and spending quality time with them. My father and brother played rugby, and I’m still highly passionate about the sport. I’m also a bit of a biker—I own a Harley Davidson and love the sense of freedom when I take it for rides. Being in the furniture business, of course design and decoration are also interests of mine.

Anything else you would like to share?

It’s crucial to always remember that we are people working for people. Even though our customers are companies, the human element is always at the center of what we do.