“Orange! It’s uplifting, cheerful and perks you up,” says Martin Haller with a laugh, when asked what his favourite colour is. When it comes to house facades though, orange is not the top choice among customers. He says that light timeless hues like off-white are currently in vogue, while sandy, beige or grey tones are popular for interiors. Or perhaps a more expensive colour like deep blue or ultramarine, whose pigments cost five to ten times as much. “Many people treat themselves to something special for their home,” says the master painter.

Martin Haller and his team operate in and around Jegenstorf, and as far afield as Bern. They are well known in the region and their work is highly regarded. Word gets around. “A recommendation is still the best type of advertising,” he says with conviction, adding that he is pleased with the volume of orders. “It has settled back down to a normal level now, but we were completely overwhelmed during the Covid pandemic,” recalls Haller. “Everyone was at home, with time for projects in and around the house. Spring and summer were particularly full-on.” He says that in winter, on the other hand, things are usually quieter. “I sometimes used to worry a bit about whether enough work would come in. But with experience and age, you become more relaxed about it. A door always opens somewhere,” explains Martin Haller.

Martin Haller says that it was logical, but not inevitable, that he would one day take over his parents’ business. “As a teenager, I tried out as a mechanic, as a carpenter and in other trades. I really enjoyed it. But painting and plastering was something I was simply familiar with, from home,” says Haller. He goes on to say that he first completed one apprenticeship as a plasterer, then another as a painter. And that when his father had to ease off for health reasons, it was clear that Martin Haller would take over the business.

“I recently turned 50,” he says, when asked about the future of his company. “I’ve always said that when I reach 55, I’ll have to put serious thought into whether and how Haller AG will continue.” The future of the plastering business is already secure: Four years ago, Martin Haller sold this part of the enterprise to Ivan Milovanovic, one of his former plastering apprentices. However, the two businesses continue to work very closely together under joint management and help each other out, for example, when staff are absent.

Fortunately, Haller’s business has been spared any serious workplace accidents in recent years. From time to time, cuts do happen and paint does get in the eyes, but non-occupational accidents cause Martin Haller more concern, perhaps from football, Korbball (a Swiss sport similar to netball) or mountain biking. He says the resulting absences pose a major challenge for a company with only around twelve staff. Fortunately though, the businesses in the region get on well and provide straightforward help for each other in times of need. And the fact that Martin Haller can count on his long-standing daily allowance insurer V⁠i⁠s⁠a⁠n⁠a as a reliable partner gives him additional security.

Martin Haller’s opinion on the much-cited shortage of qualified personnel is clear: “Many people complain about it but don’t even train apprentices themselves. That’s worrying. We need to invest in the next generation ourselves, so that we can still find enough people for our businesses in the future.” Martin Haller has proven his point. He has successfully set the plastering business on the right track for the future. It is quite possible that the story will one day be repeated with Martin Haller’s painting business.