1961
Peter Schwarz establishes Photocolor Kreuzlingen AG in 1961
1961
1968
Photo shipping by mail
Photocolor is one of the first photo labs to bring the «photo service direct to your door». The company specialises in end consumers with its Photo-Ciné service. The customer receives a free roll of film with every order.
1968
1981
Shaking up the market
Competitor Fotolabo Club shakes up the Swiss market and entices consumers with low prices and a small range of products.
1981
1981
New addition to the company
Philipp Schwarz, the younger son of the founder, joins the company as a marketing assistant. He has a significant impact on how the company evolves and grows.
1981
1984
New strategy and company name
The company is streamlining its product range, dispensing with free gifts, lowering prices and renaming itself as Photocolor Kreuzlingen.
1984
1986
25 centimes per photo
To mark the 25th anniversary of the company, the price per photo print is reduced from 29 to 25 centimes.
1986
1986
Nearly 2,000 film drop-off points
The number of film drop-off points reaches almost 2,000 in Switzerland and Southern Germany.
1986
1988
Creation of own film brand
Photocolor launches a film under its own brand.
1988
1992
Open house day
Family Schwarz at this event.
1992
1992
A cult is born – the photo bag
The ifolor photo bag becomes a popular collector’s item. Up until today, more than 100 designs have been produced.
1992
1994
ISO certification
Photocolor Kreuzlingen becomes the first mail order laboratory in Europe with ISO 9001 certification for clear quality processes.
1994
2000
Digital transformation
Photocolor responds early on to technological change and is the first photo lab in Switzerland to launch an online service.
2000
2003
First own photo software
The first software client is created in order to respond faster and more flexibly to customer requests. Data protection certification to GoodPriv@cy provides customers with the security they need.
2003
2004
Photo orders via mobile
Photocolor Kreuzlingen launches photo ordering via mobile phone. The order client is specially developed for Nokia, the largest camera manufacturer at the time.
2004
2005
Era of photo products
Driven by the joy and pleasure of digital photography, new product innovations such as personalised photo books, photo calendars and greeting cards are created.
2005
2007
The brand ifolor sees the light of day
Photocolor Kreuzlingen acquires the Fotolabo Club and its laboratory in Finland. With the acquisition of ifi (Finland), the company starts operating under the unified brand of ifolor.
2007
2007
Market leader in Switzerland and Finland
Market leadership is expanded in the Swiss home market and supplemented by Finland, while at the same time European expansion is driven forward. Today, the company operates in 15 countries.
2007
2012
ifolor launches iPhone app
The app for the iPad evolves into the specially developed digital photos app – a further innovative step. Customers can now order with ease from their mobile phones.
2012
2013
Hannes Schwarz joins the company
Hannes Schwarz, the younger son of Philipp Schwarz, joins the company’s marketing department.
2013
2015
New CEO
Filip P. Schwarz, the elder son of Philipp Schwarz, takes over the management of the company as CEO. Previously, he held the position of Head of Marketing.
2015
2016
Unique satisfaction guarantee
Customers have the option of returning the created photo product and ordering the same amount again free of charge. ifolor thus underscores its commitment to quality.
2016
2017
Second location in Switzerland: Zurich
ifolor sets up a marketing and software development site in Zurich in order to be where most of the talent in its field is found in Switzerland.
2017
2017
ifolor to be announced by Apple at the WWDC in California
The company was one of the first photo providers in Europe to be integrated into the Apple Photos app.
2017
2019
Hannes Schwarz replaces his brother as CEO
Hannes Schwarz takes over as CEO, having started his career at ifolor in marketing and previously served as Head of Finance. Filip is leaving the company to focus on new tasks.
2019
2020
Double award
ifolor wins the prestigious gfm Marketing Prize 2020 and also named photo book test winner by Kassensturz in the same evening.
2020
2021
60 years of photographic expertise
ifolor can look back on 60 years of success, while continuously adapting to customer needs.
2021
