We are pleased to announce a crowdfunding campaign for a local English entrepreneur, Jason Lugrin, and his new concept: Bespoak Home & Furniture. He is kindly offering a cutting board as a competition prize but make sure to click on the Wemakeit link below to pre-buy an item, sign up for a workshop, or get a discount voucher for a future piece to grace your home. Please help them reach their funding target before mid-April 2026 which will allow them to purchase equipment and materials!
Tell us about your presale/crowdfunding campaign
At the moment I have launched a presale through my crowdfunding campaign, which helps support the development of the workshop and the first pieces of furniture. It’s also a way for people to be part of the project from the beginning. It has had a very encouraging start. The project has already reached 37% of its goal, which has been incredibly motivating and confirms that there is real interest in sustainable, thoughtfully made wooden objects. It has been wonderful to see people supporting the project so early and becoming part of the story of the workshop.
Some of the rewards include handcrafted objects such as cutting boards and cheese boards, as well as vouchers that can be used toward a bespoke project at a discounted price.
For example, one of the special rewards is a Wine & Cheese Experience at the workshop in Satigny (GE). This is an exclusive evening at the atelier where guests can enjoy a glass of wine and a selection of cheeses while discovering the world of Bespoak.
When one of our readers shares a link, we take it seriously! Thanks to Loretta for letting us know about Atelier des Fleurs in Morges, run by Inna Simachenko. She wrote, "Inna's story is as inspiring as her creations. She arrived in Switzerland at the start of the war, leaving behind her successful flower shops in Ukraine, and has been rebuilding her business here with incredible resilience and grace. Her work has this beautiful, natural style that blends creativity and heart, and she’s also part of Alter Start, the association supporting refugee- and migrant-led startups."
Why did you start?
I have been a florist for over 16 years. I started in Ukraine, where I opened my first small workshop, and as soon as I arrived in Switzerland, I knew I wanted to continue creating with flowers.
My inspiration comes above all from nature and the emotions it brings: gentleness, beauty, poetry. For me, flowers are a universal language, capable of supporting, thanking, celebrating, and bringing joy even in the most difficult moments.
The idea of creating a real floral space, and later the Atelier des Fleurs boutique in Morges, is a dream I have had for many years.
In Switzerland, I started out working as a freelancer, then I took part in markets, charity projects, and collaborated with other artisans. Little by little, the dream grew until it became a solid and ambitious reality.
What was the biggest obstacle you had to overcome?
The biggest challenge was rebuilding my career in a new country, in a new language, with new rules and a new market.
I started from scratch. But thanks to the support of the local community, my customers, and my daily work, I was able to develop my project to the point where I could open my own shop.
Where do you see this business going?
Atelier des Fleurs is developing in several areas:
- a welcoming flower shop in Morges,
- a space for creative workshops and meetings,
- collaborations with local artisans,
- a flower truck project for markets and events,
- the preparation of original events such as La Village Fleurie d'Automne,
- and, in the long term, the creation of a larger space combining a workshop, showroom, storage, and sales.
My goal is to create a truly floral universe that is lively, welcoming, and open to all.
What is your favorite product and why?
I have a soft spot for natural bouquets in soft tones, with garden roses, dahlias, or ranunculus depending on the season.
They represent exactly what I love: arrangements that look like they came straight from the garden, elegant but natural, with great attention to texture and color.
Loyal customers, both private and professional, include Locatelli (Morges), IvAlive Association, several local shops and businesses, as well as private customers.
Inna has kindly offered one of our readers the chance to win a gift voucher worth CHF 50.- valid in store on all bouquets and floral arrangements (voucher valid through 31.03.2026).
To enter the competition, just fill in this form and answer this multiple choice question: What country is Inna originally from?
Only one entry per person and per email is allowed. The competition closes at midnight on Thursday, 11 December 2025. The names of all those submitting correct answers will be placed into the digital hat and the winner’s name drawn at random on Friday, 12 December 2025. No cash equivalent of prizes is permitted. No cash / credit back. Cannot be used with other offers. The winner will be notified by email.
Atelier des Fleurs
Rue Louis de Savoie 12
1110 Morges
079 366 62 86
atelierdesfleurs24@gmail.com
Monday through Friday 9h30-18h30
Saturday 9h-18h
Sunday 9h-13h30
Parking: spaces available nearby
Events: regular floral workshops, seasonal decorations, themed days
Services: floral subscriptions, personalized arrangements, weddings, events, deliveries
Instagram link here to see behind-the-scenes content and news.
It is always refreshing to go to a quality craft market like the one organized by the AIWC (American International Women's Club of Geneva). Soothing music, delicious baked goods, hot and cold drinks just set the tone for the beginning of the holiday shopping.
Better get there early to take advantage of all the unique items that will be on sale. Covering all budgets, tastes, and styles, you can choose items that will be easy to pack in your suitcase or ship overseas.
In 2021 knowitall.ch published an article about Clare O’Dea’s book, Voting Day, at this link. We just found out that she has just published a new novel, Before the Leaves Fall, set in Switzerland.
What is this novel about?
Before the Leaves Fall is the story of Margrit and Ruedi who meet again by chance after many years. Their paths cross for the most important of reasons: Margrit is planning to die with an assisted suicide organisation and Ruedi is the facilitator sent to help her through the process. When they realise their past connection, an unexpected bond forms, one that will illuminate both their lives.
What was the inspiration behind this novel?
You can’t help hearing about assisted dying when you live in Switzerland, which now accounts for two to three per cent of all deaths. It is quite easily accessible and has become almost an ordinary thing to do, just another aspect of Swiss self-determination. But it is extraordinary to have that power to remove the mystery of how and when we will die. And it is a different experience for loved ones compared to a natural death.
Have you been working on this idea forever, or was it something that came to you recently?
Ever I since I first reported on the subject as a journalist, I was interested in the reasons why some people chose this path while others, who might objectively be suffering more, did not want to miss a minute of their lives. Behind each decision is a unique life story and that’s what I wanted to explore with the character Margrit.
Through networking for Know-it-all passport® during these last decades, you come across a lot of people that leave an impression. Two of those people are Simon Hardy and Marc Checkley! When we found out they had collaborated on a Swiss wine guide — Switzerland: The Smart Traveller’s Wine Guide — we had to check it out. Here is a background and more about the new book, released recently and with hard copies now on sale in Switzerland.
What is your background?
Simon: I’m a British/Swiss dual national now based in London where I organise the annual Swiss Wine Week London for Swiss Wine Promotion. I also founded the consultancy, Fitting Wines, and repesent Switzerland at The Old Vine Conference. When Marc arrived in Switzerland he was introduced to me through a common friend. We ended up organising some tasting events pairing wines and cheeses and also whiskies and cheeses. Over the years we would bounce ideas off one another and generally give each other encouragement in our respective wine and food ventures. We had many ideas in play but did not necessary see a book as part of our collaborations.
Marc: I am from New Zealand originally and moved to Lausanne from Singapore with my husband in late 2016. I had been working as a broadcast journalist and television development producer/host for most of my career but wanted to explore new opportunities and projects when we arrived here. One of them being wine and its many stories! It brings together culture, history, geography, religion and of course conviviality. As an innate Storyteller, the world of wine is a gold mine. And meeting Simon opened new doors and also gave me ideas and networks to develop. It has been a fruitful and supportive friendship.
