It all started with a wooden cow

It was Alfred Trauffer – he came up with the cow! A handmade souvenir cow that helped the trained bear carver through a crisis-ridden period. His small handicrafts made children's eyes light up; Alfred Trauffer had found his calling. He expanded his wooden animal collection, adding trains and building blocks. With the founding of "Holzspielwaren Trauffer-Michel" in 1938, he and his wife Rosa laid the foundation for the company whose wooden animals – especially the cows – are now known worldwide. A pioneer of his time, he unwittingly created millions of small wooden monuments around the world.

Alfred's sons Franz and Kurt Trauffer took over the company in 1976. The brothers developed the partially flat pull-along animals on wheels into the ones that every child knows and loves today. They smoothed out more of the corners and edges without changing their character. Despite new 3D shapes designed by Kurt's wife Ruth Trauffer and the addition of farms, play figures, and exotic animals to the product range, the old values remained unchanged: traditional craftsmanship, uniqueness, and the use of Swiss wood. To this day, each individual figure is cut and sanded by hand and then lovingly painted by 36 home-based workers. Each piece is unique.

Marc A. Trauffer has been with the company since 2001 and took over as the third-generation manager in 2008. Today, he is known as "Dä mit de Chüeh" (the guy with the cows). Under his leadership, the company has become a modern toy manufacturer that meets Swiss and European quality standards for toy safety and the increased and fast-paced market demands. With the acquisition of the Pilgram and Kiener toy brands, he was able to expand the product range and became one of the largest Swiss wooden toy manufacturers. The inventor's grandson succeeded in doing what was long overdue: establishing the Trauffer name as a brand. It stands for tradition and Swissness. For quality and sustainability. He remains true to the name, craftsmanship, and philosophy of his ancestors. With the Trauffer Erlebniswelt (Trauffer World of Experience), he and his wife Brigitte are setting the course for the future of his company in 2022.

Who knows what the future holds? No one. Even Marc A. Trauffer had all kinds of plans and ideas in his younger years—just not the one about joining the family business. His parents left this decision entirely up to him; perhaps that is why he is now running the family business? His children, Lars Yann and Lani Noelle, should also be free to choose their own path. They are currently in training and filling their backpacks with life experiences...