A woman from the Mühlviertel in Vienna: Visiting the CHICO shop in Vienna

Colorful fabrics inside. Big city bustle outside. The CHICO shop in Vienna is a very special place. Between Mühlviertler quality craftsmanship and Viennese old building charm. And between the pulsating life and the longing for sustainability. And right in the heart of Vienna: on Siebensterngasse, not far from Neubaugasse. This is exactly where Johanna Katzlinger gets to work. More than ten years ago, the Oeppinger exchanged the provincial life in the Mühlviertel for the urban jungle of Vienna. And has made our CHICO hammocks and hammock chairs palatable to the city dwellers ever since. Today she gives insight.

From gastronomy to sales

Gentle hills, lush meadows, dense forests. These landscape elements characterize the Mühlviertel. And with it Johanna's childhood. Because this is exactly where she grew up. And right at the CHICO headquarters, on the former farm in Oepping. Resourceful ones will already guess, everyone else should be told: Yes, Johanna is Sylvia's sister. So she is related to the CHICO managing director. But Johanna's professional path first led to gastronomy. And after the final apprenticeship exam, she went to Vienna with her partner. Hilton or Grand Hotel – many a well-known house then appeared in her CV. And Johanna also worked in a bakery – before the CHICO reputation overtook her in 2011. Reinforcements were needed in the Vienna branch and this change came at the right time for them.

Diverse range of tasks, friendly atmosphere

Today, together with her new colleague Delphine, she takes turns managing the 120 square meters. The days in the bright Viennese old building are varied and begin with placing an inviting bench and pretty flowers in front of the shop. Starting the cash register and laptop, cleaning the shop, replenishing products, placing restocking orders, taking care of the logistics, checking racks or decorating shop windows - all of this is also part of her area of responsibility. Above all, Johanna advises customers, lets them sit in hammocks and chairs, explains and provides information. Being able to conduct a competent conversation with customers and recognizing what exactly they are looking for - that is also one of the most important skills that you should have for this job, in her opinion. Orderliness and reliability also play a major role. And our customers? They appreciate that. And in a pleasant atmosphere, they're happy to chat out of the box once in a while. “We recently had a woman visit who worked at a trade fair when she was a student. CHICO was also represented with a stand at this trade fair. That was in the 1980s, in the early days of the company. Back then, the woman bought a CHICO hammock – and she still has it today, as she proudly told us.” Stories like this bring a smile to Johanna and Delphine's faces. And motivate them to do their best.

"People want to identify with products"

In recent years, the topic of sustainability has become more important for people in general. "People are again happy to invest in products that will accompany them for a long time," says Johanna. And: "People want to identify with products." CHICO not only stands for sustainability, but also for regionality and craftsmanship. And it is precisely these values that are now once again coming into focus. In addition, customers long for good advice and not only want to see hammocks and chairs, but also try them out. They want to feel what it's like to rock in it. And they want to feel what it's like to forget the time in it. "Customers often say how happy they are that our shop exists," says Johanna. In addition to the hammocks and chairs, the Viennese also love our sheep's wool slippers and sheepskins.

"A place to settle down"

Sustainability generally plays a major role in Johanna's life. If she is not to be found in the CHICO branch on Siebensterngasse, she is passionate about agriculture. Growing and selling vegetables - that fills her with great joy. And then there is her family, with whom she has now created a refuge in Tulln, outside the big city. Including several CHICO hammocks and hammock chairs. "At the moment I like to sit in one of the hanging chairs in front of our large windows and look out over our garden from there - the vegetables, the tomatoes. I often enjoy it with our daughter or the cat. It's just a wonderful place," she enthuses. Hammocks are generally exciting products for her: “I love CHICO because I have known this company and the product world since I was a child. Hammocks are a place to kick back and relax. A place where you learn to feel yourself again and to find yourself. For me, a hammock represents coming to terms with myself,” she says. Well, nothing to add to that.