Sometimes great stories start very small – in a garage, with little money and a lot of passion. After Martin returned from Sweden, he built the first hot tubs in Tyrol. His second invention followed shortly afterwards: the
Back in Tyrol: the garage becomes a workshop
Once Martin was back home in Tyrol, at his parents’ house in Oberhofen, the garage was quickly converted into a workshop. The space was tiny, cramped and actually completely unsuitable for big ideas – but it had to do. So Martin grabbed a hammer and an angle grinder and quickly prised open the wall to make room for a larger door. He laid a new floor, set up rolling shelves to somehow tame screws and small items, and installed a stove so that he could also work in the freezing cold winter months. It soon became clear that the garage alone would never be enough. So the driveway became an extended workbench, test station and storage area and the garden was partially converted into an outdoor workshop and painting area. Scraps of wood, metal parts and tools were piled up everywhere – improvised, chaotic and yet full of energy. It was here, between the garage door and the garden fence, that the foundations of Feuerwasser were laid.
Money was so tight that Martin had to procure the first materials cheaply: he used old pallet wood, which he painstakingly cut to the right size, carefully planed and treated. Piece by piece, the first hot tubs were created.
The first steps: Website, logo and lots of improvisation
Of course, a new company also needed a face. So Martin built his
Our paths also crossed during this time. I, Sophie, still a teacher at the time, met Martin. We dated, fell in love – and I was soon infected by his enthusiasm for hot tubs. Martin’s motivation was so infectious that I started to help out wherever I could: Writing invoices, designing the first advertising materials, drafting texts and so on.
The first sales were not long in coming, and every time we delivered a barrel or a tub, we celebrated our small success.
The birth of the garden bathtub
Time and again, we experienced how much fun bathing in the hot tub was – but it was quite time-consuming for the two of us and for a normal weekday evening: lots of water, lots of wood and a long heating time. So Martin asked himself: why not invent a smaller solution for couples that is just as relaxing, but involves less effort?
This is how the garden bathtub with wood-burning stove came about. It was perfect for the two of us: perfect for evenings together, less water consumption, quicker heating and incredibly cozy. We tested them ourselves, did the first photo shoots and were thrilled. This garden bathtub was not only practical – it embodied exactly what Feuerwasser stands for: Freedom, self-determination, closeness to nature and was therefore the perfect addition to the hot tubs and has been expanding our range ever since.
Legendary transports with the flatbed
We particularly remember the early days of deliveries, which we did ourselves to save costs. We didn’t have a professional transporter – so father-in-law René helped us out with his legendary flatbed. Martin and René fitted the old but reliable car with a home-made crane, which we used to lift the hot tubs and tubs onto the loading area and deliver them.
We personally delivered our first hot tubs and garden bathtubs throughout Austria. This was a special experience for our customers – the founders themselves brought the product by, told the story of Feuerwasser and explained how to use the product on site.
Hard work, little free time - but a strong we
The early days of Feuerwasser and our relationship were characterized by endless work. We did everything ourselves: Production, delivery, marketing, social media… This often meant that we missed out on leisure time, relaxed couple time and friends. But at the same time, our bond as a couple and as entrepreneurs grew. Together we pulled together, sweated, filed, built, made mistakes and found solutions. Our workshop was tiny, the budget was tight, profits were almost non-existent. Every euro that was left over was immediately reinvested in materials or advertising. It was a challenging time. Nevertheless, we persevered – because we believed in the idea and because working together on hot tubs and garden bathtubs brought us closer together. Many friends and relatives helped us and supported us where they could with work, as photo models or as additional advisors for strategic considerations: a big thank you to them: Patze, Peter, Jojo, Florian, Grandma Moni, René, Walter, Mischa, Fipo, Michael, Christl, Rita, Grandpa Rudl,…
Despite so much motivation, support and determination, the big success was a long time coming. Likes, reach and orders remained manageable. It was a tough time. And yet it was clear: we would continue. Because it was more than just a business. It was our vision.
Conclusion: A dream from the garage
When we look back today, many things seem almost unreal: the garage in Oberhofen, the first pallet wood, the flatbed with crane, our long nights full of work. And in the middle of it all, the invention of the garden bathtub, which not only changed our lives, but also those of many customers.
Feuerwasser was born from precisely this spirit: the courage to dare to do something, the joy of doing something and the love of freedom. The garden bathtub was the next big step in bringing modern people back into nature to play with fire and water – straight from a small garage in Tyrol.
About the author
Sophie Auer is the wife of Martin Auer, the founder of Feuerwasser. She has been with Feuerwasser since the early days. She loves the simple life in nature, bathing in the open air and the crackling of a real wood fire.
In her texts, she writes about natural self-care, real experiences without filters and the good life – away from the screen. As the provocative voice of the Own The Wild mission, she inspires people to get back in touch with themselves, with nature and with their own wildness.