Silke Kretzing meets Frank Schätzing

Dear StoffOS enthusiasts!

last year in cologne I had a mega great, unexpected personal encounter with a person whom I admire very much. I am very happy to share this experience with you. Only now you are asking yourselves rightly. Just a few weeks ago I asked Frank Schätzing for permission to do this.

The Cologne marketing expert, writer and non-fiction author Frank Schätzing was interviewed by Michell Hunziker on the main stage of the Digital X in Cologne on September 14th, 2022 in the afternoon. The topic was the title of his current non-fiction book: "What if we just save the world". I bought the book in 2021 right after it was published. It had inspired me a lot during my start-up phase. I had packed it just in case so that I could have it signed if necessary.

4,000 guests were there live. I was one of them and followed the performance from the front row, and about 28,000 people who watched the live stream did the same. When I arrived an hour before the interview began, the rows of seats were sparsely occupied.

Through the dialogue, the guests received many practical examples of how each one of us can make a small contribution to the 10% to save the world as citizens. Changing your cell phone less often, repairing it instead of replacing it, alternative means of transport instead of the car, and many other small tips that have a big impact. Don't buy fast fashion, buy organic, change your behavior, don't let the water run when brushing your teeth. Then many early warnings followed, whom he named: from the Club of Rome, which had already warned in the 1970s of the existential threat posed to our species by climate change, to Fridays for Future.

In addition to politics and business, which would have to shoulder 90% of these tasks to save the world, according to the title of his non-fiction book: "What if we just save the world?" We citizens would have to take on 10% of the tasks, in order to put pressure on politics and to practice economy.

The interview gave vivid insights into his vision of his Kölle in 2050 as a green, light and air-flooded residential and business metropolis on the Rhine, which can be reached from the North Sea by water with the help of renewable energies. After the interview there was spontaneous time for questions from the audience. 

In front of a few other guests, I was the first to take this opportunity to ask him as a marketing expert how I could best promote the brand development of the green startup StoffOS for washable organic handkerchiefs.

At the same time, I personally presented him, very surprised by this opportunity, with a children's shoebox with sample fabric OS. I had packed it for him beforehand and stuck a big note on it: "Please pass it on to Mr. Schätzing!", because I hadn't expected to get so close to him. Then I asked him to sign the book I had brought, "What if we just save the world?"

(Michell Hunziker came along and wanted a card too.)

When I asked how I could make the sustainable handkerchiefs known, he said that I was already very well involved : Here in front of the main stage: 4,000 spectators were there live and 28,000 in the live stream, while he was the Cologne DOM Edition with the saying GOOD STOFF held in front of the chest. The audience laughed.

Exactly one month later, on October 14, 2022, the bestselling author thanked me for the StoffOS gift with an encouraging email and gave me valuable tips. I may publish excerpts from it, with the permission of the author, who derives no commercial or private benefit from this publication:

Posted: Friday, October 14, 2022 6:29 p.m
At: info@stoffos.de
Reference: Your good stuff for the nose...:-)))

Excerpt from the email:

"Dear Mrs. Kretzing,

Many thanks for the package with the great products from your own start-up - we were able to exchange a few personal words about it...

The Stoffos have potential, of course, and just the fact that you've made it this far shows you're a doer and can do even more. And if my book has inspired and encouraged you a bit, then that makes me very happy!".....(quote at the beginning of the e-mail)

Quote at the end of the email: “…. I can at least recommend green online shops that could be suitable as sales partners (see screenshot attached.)

And of course I would like to encourage you again: Germany needs people like you. Seek dialogue with other creative minds and network wherever you can!

I sincerely wish you good luck and every success!

Your Frank Schätzing

Quote end.

In March 2023, a woman approached me at another event in Hamm, where I was presenting StoffOS to a smaller group. She said: "I know you, I just don't know where from at the moment. I have to think for a moment. ---- Now I know it again: you were in Cologne at the Digital X and you have your StoffOS at Frank Schätzing just like that pitched - I thought that was great!"

I was very happy about these very personal words from my old home in Cologne. Et kutt like et kütt.

So takeaway from this: Always be prepared to pitch your product, you never know what might happen when you leave the house. The only thing that is certain is that nothing will happen if you stay at home.

Your Silke Kretzing, official and legal dealer with the really good stuff