Basel, Bern, and Beyond – How Katharina Döring is Bringing Circular Thinking to Switzerland
Katharina Döring isn’t just a motorsport enthusiast at heart—she brings that same drive and energy to her role as an entrepreneur. Her first encounter with Party.Rent happened at the Hockenheimring racetrack. Today, she leads two of the Rent.Group’s largest locations: Basel and Bern.
Her journey started in the DTM project team in Frankfurt and took her through various logistics roles before she saw the opportunity to expand the Rent.Group’s presence in the southern region. Training, university studies, and building up a new site—all happening at once.
“Monday to Friday, I was in Switzerland. On weekends, I’d be in Frankfurt studying,” she recalls about those early days.
Basel: A Gateway into Switzerland
When the Basel branch opened in 2018, it became the group’s first location outside the EU—marking a key strategic milestone. It brought new challenges, from customs clearance and border regulations to country-specific compliance requirements.
At the same time, the location offered huge potential: proximity to design powerhouses like Vitra and USM, key clients, and forward-thinking partners such as the Swiss Circular Economy Competence Center.
Circular Thinking as a Core Strategy
Katharina’s professional focus is crystal clear: circular economy as a business strategy. Products must be long-lasting, modular, repairable, and independent of fleeting trends. Logistics are optimized to conserve resources—with cleverly designed systems reducing transport volume by up to 55%.
Not every product makes the cut. Only those that meet strict standards for durability, material efficiency, and reusability are added to the portfolio.
One standout example is the Circular Interior Forum—a platform for collaboration, innovation, and progress in circular design, initiated and co-led by Katharina and her team.
Führen mit Vertrauen
What defines her leadership style? Trust. Clarity. Accountability. Reliability. Willingness to help. And a strong dose of passion.
“I want people to be able to grow with us—both professionally and personally,” she says.
Especially during peak times, team spirit is essential. Because even when things move fast, the circular economy only works when there’s a committed crew—people who believe in what they do.
Looking Ahead
Basel and Bern are flagship locations for Rent.Group in Switzerland—and incubators for new ideas. Katharina Döring is steering this journey with energy and strategic vision. She knows: sustainability requires momentum.
And real, lasting change starts with the willingness to take responsibility—today and tomorrow.
