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Ergonomic, comfortable, affordable – office furniture has to meet a number of requirements and is needed in large quantities by many companies. But sourcing high-quality office furniture is often lengthy, time-consuming and a test of patience. The two founders Christian Stiefel and Jonas Romer offer a simple solution with their start-up Ofinto. Companies can use the website to buy ergonomic chairs, adjustable desks and numerous accessories. The premium furniture is delivered and assembled in just a few days instead of several weeks, and for almost half the price of the competition.

Christian Stiefel and Jonas Romer got to know each other during their studies and quickly realized how well their individual skills complement each other. The idea for Ofinto came about when, while working as a strategy consultant for large office furniture manufacturers, Christian noticed that orders often took weeks and became unnecessarily complicated due to the large number of different options. Jonas contributed the technological know-how to radically automate and significantly accelerate these processes.

In an interview, Christian Stiefel describes how trying ordering office equipment can be: “Delivery times are usually 6 to 12 weeks. The order process itself is also very time-consuming, as there are hardly any standard products and a single office chair can be ordered in up to 700 different versions.” This no longer seems to be in keeping with the times, as nowadays customers are used to simple and fast ordering processes. This is where Ofinto comes in. Their premium office furniture is easy to order online and is delivered within a few days. In addition, the products are usually half the price of the competition, but without sacrificing quality. This is appreciated by the company’s many customers, as Stiefel adds: “We’ve discovered a winning formula with our quick and simple processes. Companies save time on administration and can order just as easily as they do in their private lives.”

The Ofinto founders agreed that this service would only succeed if all of the processes were redesigned. The two rely on direct sales and a particularly well-thought-out product range. Instead of numerous, customizable chairs and tables, they offer selected, high-quality models. All of their furniture is designed to be quick and easy to assemble. In some cases, it doesn’t even require tools. 

The processes are also standardized and transparent, so the amount of work is always the same, no matter how large the order is. If customers are not satisfied with the products, they can easily return them within 100 days and get their money back. 

All of the furniture offered by Ofinto in its online shop is high quality and comes with a warranty of up to 10 years. If a chair or table does break, the team will repair it. Christian Stiefel emphasizes why this sustainable approach is so important to them: “Despite all the speed and standardization, sustainability is essential for us. We don’t make ‘fast furniture’. We take furniture back and repair it. As a result, we’ve created our own circular economy within Ofinto to ensure that our furniture is used for a long time.” If the item can no longer be repaired, it can still be disassembled, and 80% of its raw materials can be recycled. Sustainable materials are also used in production whenever possible.

Ofinto has grown rapidly in recent years since its founding. It’s particularly challenging for the team to adapt supply to demand, as Christian Stiefel explains: “Our inventories have to keep pace with growth. We also intend to keep developing our offering." They’ve also invested in a showroom close to the main train station in Zurich.

In terms of finances, Ofinto chose �۶���Ƶ as a partner at a very early stage. “�۶���Ƶ provides us with excellent advice and support, whether on foreign currency management or through networking opportunities.”

�۶���Ƶ’s range of credit cards has been an essential factor: “The ability to pay for online services and software in different currencies supports our everyday work enormously,” emphasizes Christian Stiefel. “We process large volumes of credit card payments. This is extremely convenient, safe and fast,” adds Jonas Romer.

In just five years, Ofinto has made a name for itself in the industry. Its sustainable approach, high-quality service and premium office furniture have become a winning combination. But despite their success, the two founders keep looking back to learn from their experiences. What would they advise their younger selves? “Learn to delegate and build a good team,” says Jonas Romer. “See risks as opportunities and trust that things will work out,” adds Christian Stiefel.