At the start of the 20th century it was normal for painters and decorators like Karl Bubenhofer to make their own paints using their own formulations. He established a painting and decorating company in 1908 at Bischofszellerstrasse in Gossau with a capital of just 300 Swiss francs. Thanks to an over-delivery of linseed oil before the First World War, he was able to go on doing business during the difficult war years. In addition to linseed oil paint, he also used a two-component mineral-based product.