SEOSA WOOD Craft ist Fabian Sens im Portrait von TYPEMYKNIFE®
Chopping boards from Fabians Sens are unique. That’s why we stopped off in the beautiful Swiss city of Basel on our Swiss road trip in April 2024. The perfection of his work in design, workmanship and creativity, for discerning connoisseurs of the kitchen and cookery artists, particularly inspired and captivated us. So we definitely made a worthwhile stop on our way home from our visit to Nathi Hänni Stupf in Thun. In spring 24, we visited Fabian Sens in Basel and chatted about his work and a possible collaboration. The result was that we wanted to let him talk about himself in a very relaxed way and back it up with beautiful photos. A woodworm-free story guaranteed and not polished.
What career ? Fabian Sens talks about himself.
If you ask my mother, she will still be happy to tell you the stories of how I stood in front of the site fence as a small child and watched what was happening on the building site.
Another classic are the stories about dismantled cupboard doors, my father’s beloved radio that has been screwed apart or the Kasperli theater that has been turned into a slide. So it seemed obvious that I should learn a trade and did my initial training as a carpenter. Back then, I really enjoyed the rough work. Today, I can spend days in the workshop and enjoy every tenth of a millimeter. After many years of working in various positions, I completed a part-time business administration course at the HFW-Basel in 2012.
Another classic are the stories about dismantled cupboard doors, my father’s beloved radio that has been screwed apart or the Kasperli theater that has been turned into a slide. So it seemed obvious that I should learn a trade and did my initial training as a carpenter. Back then, I really enjoyed the rough work. Today, I can spend days in the workshop and enjoy every tenth of a millimeter. After many years of working in various positions, I completed a part-time business administration course at the HFW-Basel in 2012.
Fabian Sens' short ride through business highs and lows
It all started in 2012, when I founded my first sole proprietorship and started trading in goods. That worked well, but the concept of a sole proprietorship was too uncertain for me personally from a legal perspective. So in 2014 I decided to found the limited company that exists today.
Of course, things didn’t go well for the trade in the long term and everything went awry. And it took several years to correct the problems, especially of a financial nature. That was a very tough time and a huge psychological burden.
Today, I am very, very proud of the fact that, despite everything, I never had to go bankrupt and was able to meet all my demands on my own.
After a period of recovery and with nothing but a limited company, I wanted to concentrate on what I do best. Something that makes me happy myself. Working with my hands and creating solutions for others.
This is how Seosa Wood Craft GmbH was founded in 2020.
It’s crazy how quickly the last few years have passed and how fast everything is growing. I’m already looking forward to the coming years with all their challenges.
A recipe for success ? Completely overrated
As a “burnt child”, I always try to keep my feet firmly on the ground. To have two ears for the one or other piece of advice, especially well-intentioned advice *laughs* and above all to stay true to myself.
I will only ever be as successful as my customers are happy and satisfied!
The company philosophy is already reflected in the name. The acronym SEOSA means “Sense of Satisfaction” and stands for naturalness, authenticity and down-to-earthness. A mixture of attention to detail and high quality craftsmanship.
Real skills and passion from Fabian Sens
Seosa Wood Craft GmbH specializes in the manufacture of furniture, staircases and home accessories made from real wood. The focus is on the use of Swiss wood. Production takes place in the company’s own joinery in Basel-Stadt.
We carry out work around the home. We support homeowners and are also a service provider for housing management companies.
The products currently best known from various media are our cutting boards made from end grain wood. Boards made in this way are undoubtedly the premier class of chopping boards.
As early as the 19th century, wooden floors were made from end grain for rooms exposed to particularly high loads. The annual rings, which are clearly visible in this way, also create an incomparable look. Forgotten for many years, this classic is experiencing a small renaissance and is once again popular with architects in particular. It is precisely this method with its useful properties that we transfer to our cutting boards.
The vertical wood fiber ensures that the cuts in the wood are much less deep and also protects the knife, as no additional wood fibers are separated when cutting the food. The use of at least two or more types of wood creates unique designs.
In this way, we not only create a useful, but also very sustainable helper in the kitchen. The chopping board can also be used to present cheese or meat, for example. They are guaranteed to be an eye-catcher in the kitchen or on any well-stocked dining table. They are a real talking point.
Fabian Sens makes furniture for a long life
What is characteristic of furniture?
Furniture is a furnishing item that serves to make rooms functional. It creates a feel-good atmosphere and serves the occupant not only as a useful helper, but also creates the warm feeling of a home.
They are characterized by their versatility in form, function and design in order to meet the individual needs and tastes of users.
Where are they produced?
All products are made by hand in our own wood factory in Basel.
Where does the wood for your furniture come from?
I attach great importance to using regional woods. We source these from nearby sawmills and also partly from farms where the wood has been stored for many years.
Which furniture is currently in demand?
Of course, our great chopping boards are most in demand! In terms of furniture, it’s tables and built-in cupboards.
You make custom-made products. What does the process look like to ensure that everything fits together in the end?
We talk to the customer to find out what they want and what their needs are. The more detailed the ideas are, the better the result will be in the end.
The most important thing is to measure everything yourself. Even if precise detailed plans are available, I always make sure I’m on site myself. This has often helped to avoid mistakes. Of course, this applies to the production of furniture that is to be installed in a specific location.
Measuring instruments such as callipers are the most important tools for production in the workshop.
Individuals for individual people
Customers come to me who are bored of the same old furniture in all the big-name furniture stores. Customers who are looking for something unique from the mainstream without having to compromise on functionality.
Others are looking for a craftsman to make changes or additions to their own home.
A rethink has been noticeable in recent years in particular. More and more customers are placing great value on regionally produced furniture. Away from the throwaway society and back to sustainability.
Quality stands for precision, reliability and high standards in the manufacture of products and services. It means that something has been manufactured carefully and with great attention to detail to ensure the highest quality and longevity. Swiss quality is often associated with craftsmanship, innovation and tradition.
I have very high quality standards for myself and the products I make. It has happened that I have started over three times with a table leaf before everything was right. In the end, the order was no longer as lucrative, but of course this is an exception that the customer doesn’t notice in the end.
Quality is very important to me. I myself want more products that last a long time and do everything I can to offer my customers exactly that.
By craftsmanship at its finest, I mean the ability to produce high-quality and precise handcrafted work. It requires a mixture of precision and creativity to create something that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing. I love making things with my hands and it always impresses me to put a smile on the customer’s face.
SEOSA in the Swiss Label network.
Swiss craftsmanship has a long-standing tradition that must be preserved alongside all modern aids.
Values such as down-to-earthness and tradition, the appreciation for more Swiss quality and the high recognition value. This is what Swiss Label stands for, and all of this also applies to Seosa Wood Craft.
Personally, I am very proud to be a member of Swiss Label. We, meaning all members, make a major contribution to representing goods and services manufactured in Switzerland to the outside world.
This not only pleases us, but also our customers. We regularly receive positive feedback about the fact that we distinguish ourselves with the crossbow. That’s exactly why I use the sticker for every shipping package.
Future potential and plans of Fabian's Sens
I am very positive about the future. Craftsmanship and regionality will be increasingly in demand in the coming years. Those who are open to the individual wishes of their customers will also survive in the future.
There is still a shortage of craftsmen in Switzerland, so there will still be a lot of work in the coming years.
I recently saw an article that I found very pertinent and would like to quote briefly here: “We can’t all sit in an Internet coffee shop with a chai latte and invent the tenth dating app. There also has to be a few people who get stuck in and create something with their hands.”
The most important thing is to further establish and strengthen the Seosa Wood Craft brand. In the medium term, he will continue to invest in the machinery and an important point will be the promotion of young talent.
Unfortunately, as a self-employed person, my own needs all too often take a back seat. I would like to spend more time climbing and in the mountains again 😊
The fantastic chopping boards from the SEOSA Wood Craft Manufactory by Fabian Sens
We want to delve a little deeper into the excellent chopping boards that Fabian Sens produces in Basel and have created a separate blog for this purpose.
