diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index d5492fe..ec6dc0a 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ add_library(${TARGET_APP} STATIC
   model/commands/insertrowscommand.h model/commands/insertrowscommand.cpp
   model/commands/removerowscommand.h model/commands/removerowscommand.cpp
   model/commands/edititemcommand.h model/commands/edititemcommand.cpp
+  data/filehandler.h data/filehandler.cpp
 )
 
 include_directories(${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR})
diff --git a/data/filehandler.cpp b/data/filehandler.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5cd9bba
--- /dev/null
+++ b/data/filehandler.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+#include "filehandler.h"
+
+#include <QDebug>
+#include <QDir>
+#include <QJsonDocument>
+#include <QStandardPaths>
+
+bool FileHandler::saveToFile(const QJsonDocument& doc, const QString& fileName) {
+  qDebug() << "saving file...";
+  QString path = QStandardPaths::standardLocations(QStandardPaths::AppDataLocation).at(0);
+  qDebug() << path;
+
+  QDir dir;
+  if (!dir.exists(path)) {
+    dir.mkpath(path);
+  }
+  //  qDebug() << path + fileName;
+  const QString filePath = path + '/' + fileName;
+  QFile file(filePath);
+
+  if (!file.open(QIODevice::WriteOnly | QIODevice::Text)) {
+    qWarning() << "can't open file";
+    return false;
+  }
+  QTextStream out(&file);
+  out.setEncoding(QStringConverter::Utf8);
+  out << doc.toJson(QJsonDocument::Indented);
+  return true;
+}
+
+QByteArray FileHandler::loadJSONDataFromFile(const QString fileName) {
+  QByteArray jsonData;
+  QFile file;
+  QString path = QStandardPaths::standardLocations(QStandardPaths::AppDataLocation).at(0);
+  file.setFileName(path + "/" + fileName);
+  if (file.exists()) {
+    qDebug() << "File found, reading content...";
+    const bool successfulOpened = file.open(QIODevice::ReadOnly | QIODevice::Text);
+    if (successfulOpened) {
+      // TODO learn and decide on the differences between "readAll" and using
+      // streams
+      jsonData = file.readAll();
+      file.close();
+    } else {
+      qWarning() << "File could not be opened!";
+    }
+  } else {
+    qInfo() << "File not found. Returning empty result...";
+  }
+  return jsonData;
+}
+
+FileHandler::FileHandler() {}
diff --git a/data/filehandler.h b/data/filehandler.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..aecf072
--- /dev/null
+++ b/data/filehandler.h
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+#ifndef FILEHANDLER_H
+#define FILEHANDLER_H
+
+class QJsonDocument;
+class QString;
+class QByteArray;
+
+class FileHandler {
+ public:
+  static bool saveToFile(const QJsonDocument& doc, const QString& fileName);
+  static QByteArray loadJSONDataFromFile(const QString fileName);
+
+ private:
+  explicit FileHandler();
+};
+
+#endif  // FILEHANDLER_H
diff --git a/formats/jsonparser.cpp b/formats/jsonparser.cpp
index 5ef95cb..10ba77a 100644
--- a/formats/jsonparser.cpp
+++ b/formats/jsonparser.cpp
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ QJsonArray JsonParser::extractItemArray(const QByteArray& jsonData, const QStrin
 
   } else {
     QJsonObject rootObject = doc.object();
-    itemArray              = rootObject.value(QString("items")).toArray();
+    itemArray              = rootObject.value(objectName).toArray();
   }
 
   return itemArray;
diff --git a/genericcore.cpp b/genericcore.cpp
index 4cf0500..3893b9c 100644
--- a/genericcore.cpp
+++ b/genericcore.cpp
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 #include <QCoreApplication>
 #include <QDateTime>
 #include <QDebug>
+#include <QJsonDocument>
 #include <QProcess>
 #include <QSettings>
 #include <QString>
@@ -10,6 +11,7 @@
 #include "../../ApplicationConfig.h"
 #include "CoreConfig.h"
 #include "constants.h"
+#include "data/filehandler.h"
 #include "model/tablemodel.h"
 
 #include <QtGui/QUndoStack>
@@ -19,6 +21,15 @@ using namespace std;
 GenericCore::GenericCore() {
   qDebug() << "Creating core...";
 
+  QCoreApplication::setOrganizationName("Working-Copy Collective");
+  QCoreApplication::setOrganizationDomain("working-copy.org");
+
+#ifdef QT_DEBUG
+  QCoreApplication::setApplicationName(QString(APPLICATION_NAME) + "-dev");
+#else
+  QCoreApplication::setApplicationName(QString(APPLICATION_NAME));
+#endif
+
   // TODO let the model own its undo stack (& use TableModel::getUndoStack() if necessary)
   m_modelUndoStack = new QUndoStack(this);
 
@@ -79,9 +90,51 @@ QUndoStack* GenericCore::getModelUndoStack() const { return m_modelUndoStack; }
 
 std::shared_ptr<TableModel> GenericCore::getModel() const { return m_mainModel; }
 
+/**
+ * Save items to default file (in standard location).
+ * @brief GenericCore::saveItems Saves item fo file.
+ */
+void GenericCore::saveItems() {
+  qDebug() << "saving items...";
+
+  const QJsonDocument doc   = m_mainModel->getAllItemsAsJsonDoc();
+  const bool successfulSave = FileHandler::saveToFile(doc, "items.json");
+  if (successfulSave) {
+    //    QStringList completedTaskStrings = m_model->completedTasks();
+    //    appendCompletedTasksToFile(completedTaskStrings, "completed.txt");
+    m_modelUndoStack->setClean();
+    emit displayStatusMessage(QString("Items saved."));
+  } else {
+    emit displayStatusMessage(QString("Error: Items couldn't be saved."));
+  }
+}
+
 void GenericCore::setupModels() {
   m_mainModel = make_shared<TableModel>(m_modelUndoStack, this);
   // TODO add QAbstractItemModelTester
+  initModelData();
+}
+
+/**
+ * Initializing model with data. Tries to read items from default file. Generating example items as
+ * fallback.
+ * @brief GenericCore::initModelData
+ */
+void GenericCore::initModelData() {
+  qInfo() << "Trying to read model data from file...";
+  const QByteArray jsonDoc = FileHandler::loadJSONDataFromFile("items.json");
+  // qDebug() << "jsonDoc:" << jsonDoc;
+  // TODO decide on lack of file(s) (config, data) if example items should be generated
+  //      (see welcome wizard)
+  if (jsonDoc.isEmpty()) {
+    qDebug() << "No item content in file. Generating example items...";
+    const QByteArray exampleItems = m_mainModel->generateExampleItems();
+    m_mainModel->insertItems(0, exampleItems);
+  } else {
+    qDebug() << "Item in file found.";
+    m_mainModel->insertItems(0, jsonDoc);
+  }
+  m_modelUndoStack->clear();
 }
 
 QString GenericCore::getMaintenanceToolFilePath() const {
diff --git a/genericcore.h b/genericcore.h
index 20ac805..671ded1 100644
--- a/genericcore.h
+++ b/genericcore.h
@@ -25,6 +25,8 @@ class GenericCore : public QObject {
   QUndoStack* getModelUndoStack() const;
   std::shared_ptr<TableModel> getModel() const;
 
+  void saveItems();
+
  signals:
   void displayStatusMessage(QString message);
 
@@ -33,6 +35,7 @@ class GenericCore : public QObject {
   std::shared_ptr<TableModel> m_mainModel;
 
   void setupModels();
+  void initModelData();
 
   QString getMaintenanceToolFilePath() const;
 };
diff --git a/model/modelitem.cpp b/model/modelitem.cpp
index a168b7f..5df55b6 100644
--- a/model/modelitem.cpp
+++ b/model/modelitem.cpp
@@ -1,5 +1,10 @@
 #include "modelitem.h"
 
+#include "tablemodel.h"
+
+#include <QJsonObject>
+#include <QJsonValue>
+
 ModelItem::ModelItem(const QHash<int, QVariant> values)
     : m_values(values) {}
 
@@ -38,3 +43,27 @@ bool ModelItem::setItemData(const QMap<int, QVariant>& changedValues) {
 
   return valueChanged;
 }
+
+QJsonObject ModelItem::toJsonObject() const {
+  QJsonObject itemObject;
+  //  itemObject.insert("uuid", m_uuid.toString());
+  //  itemObject.insert("entryDateUTC", m_entryDateUTC.toString(Qt::ISODate));
+  itemObject.insert(TableModel::ROLE_NAMES.value(TableModel::NameRole),
+                    data(TableModel::NameRole).toString());
+  itemObject.insert(TableModel::ROLE_NAMES.value(TableModel::DescriptionRole),
+                    data(TableModel::DescriptionRole).toString());
+  itemObject.insert(TableModel::ROLE_NAMES.value(TableModel::InfoRole),
+                    data(TableModel::InfoRole).toString());
+  itemObject.insert(TableModel::ROLE_NAMES.value(TableModel::AmountRole),
+                    data(TableModel::AmountRole).toInt());
+  itemObject.insert(TableModel::ROLE_NAMES.value(TableModel::FactorRole),
+                    data(TableModel::FactorRole).toReal());
+
+  //  if (m_modifiedDateUTC.isValid()) {
+  //    itemObject.insert("modifiedDateUTC", m_modifiedDateUTC.toString(Qt::ISODate));
+  //  }
+  //  if (m_endDateUTC.isValid()) {
+  //    itemObject.insert("endDateUTC", m_endDateUTC.toString(Qt::ISODate));
+  //  }
+  return itemObject;
+}
diff --git a/model/modelitem.h b/model/modelitem.h
index 6f9c366..2f3e037 100644
--- a/model/modelitem.h
+++ b/model/modelitem.h
@@ -12,6 +12,9 @@ class ModelItem {
   // TODO change return value to list of changed roles
   bool setItemData(const QMap<int, QVariant>& changedValues);
 
+  // QString toString() const;
+  QJsonObject toJsonObject() const;
+
  private:
   QHash<int, QVariant> m_values;
 };
diff --git a/model/tablemodel.cpp b/model/tablemodel.cpp
index 675309a..ce706fa 100644
--- a/model/tablemodel.cpp
+++ b/model/tablemodel.cpp
@@ -6,6 +6,10 @@
 #include "commands/removerowscommand.h"
 #include "modelitem.h"
 
+#include <QJsonArray>
+#include <QJsonDocument>
+#include <QJsonObject>
+
 QHash<int, QByteArray> TableModel::ROLE_NAMES = {{NameRole, "Name"},
                                                  {DescriptionRole, "Description"},
                                                  {InfoRole, "Info"},
@@ -13,21 +17,35 @@ QHash<int, QByteArray> TableModel::ROLE_NAMES = {{NameRole, "Name"},
                                                  {FactorRole, "Factor"}};
 QList<QString> TableModel::intColumns         = {"Amount", "Factor"};
 
+QByteArray TableModel::generateExampleItems() {
+  QJsonDocument doc = QJsonDocument();
+  QJsonObject rootObject;
+  QJsonArray array;
+
+  for (int row = 0; row < 5; ++row) {
+    QJsonObject itemObject;
+    //  itemObject.insert("uuid", m_uuid.toString());
+    //  itemObject.insert("entryDateUTC", m_entryDateUTC.toString(Qt::ISODate));
+    itemObject.insert(TableModel::ROLE_NAMES.value(TableModel::NameRole),
+                      QString("Item %1").arg(row));
+    itemObject.insert(TableModel::ROLE_NAMES.value(TableModel::DescriptionRole),
+                      QString("This is item %1").arg(row));
+    itemObject.insert(TableModel::ROLE_NAMES.value(TableModel::InfoRole),
+                      QString("Info of item %1").arg(row));
+    itemObject.insert(TableModel::ROLE_NAMES.value(TableModel::AmountRole), row);
+    itemObject.insert(TableModel::ROLE_NAMES.value(TableModel::FactorRole), row * 1.1);
+
+    array.append(itemObject);
+  }
+  rootObject.insert("items", array);
+
+  doc.setObject(rootObject);
+  return doc.toJson();
+}
+
 TableModel::TableModel(QUndoStack* undoStack, QObject* parent)
     : QAbstractTableModel{parent}
-    , m_undoStack(undoStack) {
-  for (int row = 0; row < 5; ++row) {
-    QHash<int, QVariant> values;
-    values[NameRole]        = QString("Item %1").arg(row);
-    values[DescriptionRole] = QString("This is item %1").arg(row);
-    values[InfoRole]        = QString("Info of item %1").arg(row);
-    values[AmountRole]      = row;
-    values[FactorRole]      = row * 1.1;
-
-    shared_ptr<ModelItem> item = make_unique<ModelItem>(values);
-    m_items.append(std::move(item));
-  }
-}
+    , m_undoStack(undoStack) {}
 
 Qt::ItemFlags TableModel::flags(const QModelIndex& index) const {
   return Qt::ItemIsEditable | QAbstractTableModel::flags(index);
@@ -111,6 +129,21 @@ bool TableModel::setItemData(const QModelIndex& index, const QMap<int, QVariant>
   return false;
 }
 
+QJsonDocument TableModel::getAllItemsAsJsonDoc() const {
+  QJsonDocument doc = QJsonDocument();
+  QJsonObject rootObject;
+  QJsonArray array;
+
+  foreach (shared_ptr<ModelItem> item, m_items) {
+    QJsonObject itemObject = item->toJsonObject();
+    array.append(itemObject);
+  }
+  rootObject.insert("items", array);
+
+  doc.setObject(rootObject);
+  return doc;
+}
+
 bool TableModel::removeRows(int firstRow, int nRows, const QModelIndex& parentIndex) {
   if (parentIndex != QModelIndex()) {
     qWarning() << "Removing of child rows is not supported yet!";
@@ -143,7 +176,7 @@ void TableModel::insertItems(int startPosition,
     startPosition = m_items.size();
   }
 
-  QList<QHash<int, QVariant>> valueList = JsonParser::toItemValuesList(jsonDoc);
+  QList<QHash<int, QVariant>> valueList = JsonParser::toItemValuesList(jsonDoc, "items");
 
   InsertRowsCommand* insertCommand = new InsertRowsCommand(this, startPosition, valueList);
   m_undoStack->push(insertCommand);
diff --git a/model/tablemodel.h b/model/tablemodel.h
index 069179e..2bb758a 100644
--- a/model/tablemodel.h
+++ b/model/tablemodel.h
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ class TableModel : public QAbstractTableModel {
   enum UserRoles { NameRole = Qt::UserRole + 1, DescriptionRole, InfoRole, AmountRole, FactorRole };
   static QHash<int, QByteArray> ROLE_NAMES;
   static QList<QString> intColumns;
+  static QByteArray generateExampleItems();
 
   explicit TableModel(QUndoStack* undoStack, QObject* parent = nullptr);
 
@@ -34,15 +35,20 @@ class TableModel : public QAbstractTableModel {
   bool setData(const QModelIndex& index, const QVariant& value, int role) override;
   bool setItemData(const QModelIndex& index, const QMap<int, QVariant>& roles) override;
 
+  QJsonDocument getAllItemsAsJsonDoc() const;
+
  public slots:
   // bool insertRows(int position, int rows, const QModelIndex& parentIndex = QModelIndex())
   // override;
   bool removeRows(int firstRow, int nRows, const QModelIndex& parentIndex = QModelIndex()) override;
   void appendItems(const QByteArray& jsonDoc);
-  void insertItems(int startPosition, const QByteArray& jsonDoc, const QModelIndex& parentIndex);
+  void insertItems(int startPosition,
+                   const QByteArray& jsonDoc,
+                   const QModelIndex& parentIndex = QModelIndex());
 
  private:
   /// *** members ***
+  // TODO shared_ptr -> unique_ptr
   QList<shared_ptr<ModelItem>> m_items;
   QUndoStack* m_undoStack;