An interview about the history and future of SmacoGlas with the founder

Fabio: Hello Janine, thank you for taking the time to talk to us about SmacoGlas. I've been able to spend quite a bit of time with you and SmacoGlas and I'm still amazed at what can be hidden behind a simple glass bowl. That's why I thought I'd do an interview with you. Let's get straight to it: How did the idea for SmacoGlas come about?

Janine: Hey Fabio, thanks for the invitation! The idea for SmacoGlas came from my own frustration. I was tired of using plastic containers for my food that broke quickly, became milky, brittle, discolored in the dishwasher, or left unpleasant smells and tastes on fresh cold cuts.

Glass containers were all conical, i.e. round at the bottom, and so big that I would have had to put all the cold cuts in one box. I still find that extremely unappetizing to this day. I like variety on the breakfast table, but I don't like all the repackaging on plates and the like. With 5 people in the household, I regularly play Tetris in the fridge anyway, which is why large glass bowls were out of the question for storage. I simply don't have that much space in the fridge. It was a recurring frustration for years, always on Fridays after shopping and at the weekend when having breakfast.

I wanted to find a space-saving, modular, hygienic and high-quality glass solution that would allow me to keep my cold cuts fresh and safe. After years of searching, the vision of SmacoGlas was born.

Fabio: That sounds like an impressive motivation. How did you manage to turn your vision into reality?

Janine: It was definitely not an easy task, but I was determined to make my vision a reality. It was clear to me that glass was the only option because it simply lasts forever and can be called sustainable. First, I started designing prototypes and then spent a year researching intensively and looking for manufacturers in Germany and the EU who could technically implement my idea. I wanted to make sure that SmacoGlas was not only functional, but also aesthetically pleasing. After many hours of work, I finally had the prototype in my hands.

Fabio: That sounds like an exciting process. Have you ever thought about giving up?

Janien: Oh yes, more than once. Every night I lay in bed and thought of new things that still needed to be done, researched, acquired. Almost every night I asked myself whether this wasn't a bit too big for me and whether I had the courage to tackle the whole thing. And every night I went to sleep with the feeling that the idea was too good not to tackle.

Fabio: What distinguishes SmacoGlas from other storage solutions on the market?

Janine: SmacoGlas is characterized by its unique features. Our glass containers have a straight base and straight side walls. In addition, the bowls have raised areas in the base so that the cold cuts can also be ventilated from below. Our glass bowls and glass lids use the tongue and groove principle, which ensures optimal freshness retention and prevents odor and flavor transfer. At the same time, you can also stack further on the lid, so the lid is suitable both as a lid and as a separating layer to prevent the bottom of the next bowls from becoming greasy. The stackable glass lid enables space-saving storage, while the optimal ventilation ensures that food stays fresh longer. In addition, we attach great importance to sustainability, use only high-quality, natural materials and produce as regionally as possible. We completely exclude Asian imports or similar for all of our products that we offer today and in the future.

Fabio: That sounds really impressive. What has been the biggest milestone for SmacoGlas so far?

Janine: A special milestone for SmacoGlas was the recognition and positive feedback we received from our customers. It is amazing to see how people love and appreciate our products. The best compliment I hear again and again is that it is the first system that is in continuous use. We are also proud that SmacoGlas is now used in many households around the world. In addition to Germany, we already have customers in Austria, Finland, Denmark and Sweden. This shows us that we are on the right track with our vision.

Fabio: Is there a particular story or experience you would like to share with us?

Janine: Oh yes, there is one story that is particularly dear to my heart. A while ago we received a message from a customer who told us that thanks to SmacoGlas she was finally able to take healthy and varied meals to work. Before that she had often resorted to unhealthy fast food options. This story reminded me that SmacoGlas is not just a product, but can have a positive impact on people's lives.

At an exhibition recently, a woman saw the system for the first time and asked who had designed the entire concept. I said, surprised and with some pride: me! Then she took my hand and said: "Thank you! Thank you for finding such a beautiful solution! It saves so much time in everyday life because I no longer have to rearrange things and everything can be on the table so quickly!"

Fabio: That's really inspiring, Janine. Finally, what are your plans for the future of SmacoGlas?

Janine: We have many exciting plans for the future of SmacoGlas . What I am most excited about right now is the next size of the Smaco Box, the M Box, with an internal height of 4.5 cm. We also want to expand our range and offer even more innovative products that meet the needs of our customers. We also strive to further increase our sustainability efforts and make our contribution to environmental protection. In the long term, we want to produce our glass items in-house, which gives us much more flexibility in the process and significant cost savings. We want to make SmacoGlas a well-known brand that stands for quality, sustainability and functionality.

Fabio: Thank you, Janine, for this inspiring conversation about the history and vision of SmacoGlas. I wish you continued success in the future!

Janine: Thank you, Fabio! It was a pleasure to talk about SmacoGlas and share my passion for the product. I am excited about the future and what it holds for us.