In partnership with
🏡 Self-Service Shops & Swiss Simplicity: A direct way of selling that says a lot about trust
💡 Support Note: This issue includes a sponsored ad that helps us keep the newsletter free. Your clicks make a real difference — thank you!
Keep more of what you earn
Collective is the first all-in-one financial solution exclusively for solopreneurs. Members save an average of $10,000 a year by optimizing their taxes via an S Corp.*
Membership includes:
LLC and S Corp formation
Payroll
Monthly bookkeeping
Quarterly tax estimates
Annual business tax filing
Access to a team of experts
Enjoy peace of mind while maximizing your profits, and enjoy extra time to focus on growing your business.
Use code SPRINGFREE at checkout and get your first month free!
*Based on the average 2022 tax savings of active Collective users with an S Corp tax election for the 2022 tax year
The abbey church of Romainmôtier
We’ve only just arrived in Switzerland, still jet lagged, but already making our first slow walks around the village.
This year again, we’re staying in our dad’s home village: Croy, one of the loveliest little spots in the region. Just 15 minutes away (on foot!) is Romainmôtier, a medieval town built around one of the oldest Romanesque churches in Switzerland — the abbey church of Romainmôtier, constructed between 990 and 1030 by monks from Cluny (France) on a site that had already hosted Christian sanctuaries centuries earlier. It became a spiritual and cultural center in the Middle Ages, and its peaceful atmosphere is still felt today.
(Fun fact: Diana Ross got married here in 1986 — our dad was just a little boy back then!)
👉 If you want to see photos of the abbey and village, here’s a link with beautiful images and more info.
But back to our walk…
A peaceful stretch between two quiet villages.
There’s a small canal that runs between Croy and Romainmôtier. It’s a 15-minute stroll — or it should be. For us, it now takes double that time. Not only do we stop to say hello to the cow and her calf, but this year, we also keep stopping… to shop!
Aww…
No joke — along this short stretch, there are four adorable self-service shops. You can find homemade jam, chocolate spread, fondue cheese and sausages, flour, ice cream, and handmade crafts — all beautifully arranged in little wooden cupboards and stands.
Just follow the sign.
These small self-service shops are quietly popping up in villages like this — simple, open, and built on trust.
This way of selling, rooted in everyday life, is exactly what inspired our little wooden house display back in our previous newsletter.
A variety of handmade fabric goods.
Chocolate spread, quietly waiting in the shade.
Step into the barn — and discover a self-serve corner.
Chilled foods (like fondue, meat, ice cream) are stored inside the barn.
Add up your total and pay — using cash or TWINT, the Swiss payment app.
Still, we had questions:
– What happens when it rains?
– What if someone doesn’t pay?
– Do they actually sell well?
The very next day, we got lucky. There was a small village market near the fountain — and we met the makers!
A tiny makers’ market on the village square.
They were happy to answer everything:
☔️ They close up their stands at night or when it rains — easy, since they all live nearby.
💛 People don’t steal. Really. Everyone is respectful and honest.
🧺 Ariane, the local artisan behind the bags, even added a bench next to her cupboard, inviting people to sit and picnic — and no one leaves trash.
📈 And YES! They do sell. A lot. It’s been one of the best things they’ve done: not just a source of income, but a way to connect with the village and all the hikers and visitors that pass through every weekend.
Maybe the part that stuck with us the most? None of them had formal training. They just learned as they went — because they loved it. And now it’s become a part of their lives, adding beauty, purpose, and joy.
Of course, we’ve already started buying our first little gifts to bring home…
🎉 Oh — and check out this awesome greeting card we got! It was made by another girl our age, and we couldn’t not buy one.
We’re sending this card to the winner of last week’s quiz!
Last Week’s Quiz Answer
In our last newsletter, we asked:
In Switzerland, many teenagers don’t go to high school after age 15 or 16 — instead, they start working as apprentices in real companies. But just how popular is this path?
The answer: About 66% of Swiss teens choose an apprenticeship instead of going to academic high school. It’s one of the most common and respected ways to start a career — combining hands-on experience in real companies with part-time classroom learning.
🎉 Congratulations to Rebecca, who answered correctly and will receive this card as a gift!
🤝 Before You Go
💌 New here? You can still catch up — read our previous newsletters here.
🔁 And if you know someone who might need this newsletter today, feel free to forward it their way.
P.S. Want to help us make SoliaVenture News even better?
Take our 30-second survey here to tell us a bit about yourself.
We’ll use your answers to shape future issues and make sure what we share really fits you.
P.P.S. In just over a week, I’ll be starting a one-week internship at the lovely bakery in Romainmôtier — starting at 3 a.m. each day! Stay tuned… I can’t wait to share this experience with you!
Solène & Zélia, for SoliaVenture
How did you like today's newsletter?
SoliaVenture is our creative adventure as young entrepreneurs, and we’re excited to share it with you! While we design and create the cards ourselves, we receive the support and supervision of our parents for managing the business operations as we continue learning and growing.