Furla opens new factory to introduce new store concept

Furla opens new factory to introduce new store concept




The Italian accessory company has been streamlining its global distribution and improving its positioning.











Milan-Furla is considering long-term development.






CEO Alberto Camerlengo (Alberto Camerlengo) said the Italian company's recent investment and strategy (including simplified wholesale distribution) will achieve results.






Furla will unveil its new factory in August and launch a new store concept in September. This is the first concept to open in Milan. Last year, Furla invested in a new IT system, which will help the company increase efficiency.






Sales for the 12 months ended December 31 were the same as in 2018, totaling 502 million euros, and were reclassified in accordance with IFRS accounting standards. Revenue in 2018 amounted to 513 million euros, but after reclassification totaled 504 million euros. Camerongo said the company voluntarily cut 18 million euros by cutting sales from the black market. This is part of Furla's repositioning strategy.






Camerlengo refused to provide profit figures and said: "The gray market has indeed hurt us in Asia. It is painful to give up 9 million euros in EBITDA, but we polished the brand, created value and increased the gross profit margin." The company is privately owned by the Furlanetto family . He continued: "We are not interested in discount policies."






President Giovanna Furlanetto was also in a video call and was obviously happy about the new factory between Florence and Siena, Italy. She said: "It's like a painting by Giorgione, looking out the window." "I think creativity will benefit from this view."






The building covers 210,600 square feet and was designed by Geza architects Stefano Gri and Piero Zucchi, and will house the product development department and a college. Furlanetto said enthusiastically: "It's very innovative, all cement, black and glass will do."






The plant was manufactured for three years and is expected to open last Easter, but the coronavirus pandemic delayed the event. Furlanetto said the site will employ 120 workers and will replace another space that has been rented for 20 years and is too small. She pointed out that the total investment is about 30 million euros, which is "self-financing". Furla’s headquarters is in Bologna, and the complex is only an hour’s drive from the Italian city.






As of the end of 2019, the total number of Furla employees was 2,650.






The company has 523 stores worldwide, but last year, its online sales also increased by 43%.






The renovation of the Milan Corso Vittorio Emanuele II store will begin in June, and the unit will be expanded through the fourth window. It will contain a pop-up window that will show the brand's new product categories, including watches, new licenses from Timex Group; sports shoes, jewelry and perfume, which is also a new license for Mavive. Furlanetto said that the previous store concept has been 10 years old and the new design will include soft pastel colors.






Although the country's economy has been affected by the blockade caused by the coronavirus pandemic, Franeto said that to her surprise, a group of Chinese shoppers shopped in a Milan store a day ago for 1,000 euros.






She said that with the loyal customer base of different ages, local people's consumption is increasing. For example, a store in Bologna is better than a store in Rome. The store has been hit hard due to the lack of tourists. Furlanetto said: "In smaller cities, the connection with the store manager is closer."






Camerongo said that China is also awakening, and Furla launched a staring 520 at the beginning of this month, which is equivalent to the country’s first Valentine’s Day advertising campaign. The company hired famous actor and singer Hou Minghao (aka Neo Hou) to launch a new Metropolis handbag in China. From the beginning of June, all other stores will carry this colorful accessory. Although it is a women's leather bag, its purpose is to allow performers to invite women to buy or gift them. Camerongo said: "In the past 10 days, we have seen 65% of shoppers aged between 20 and 30."








furla sale
furla sale





The Asia Pacific region accounted for 27.6% of sales in 2019. Japan has been a strong market for Furla, accounting for 24.9% of its revenue.






Furla controlled its retail distribution in China, Hong Kong and Macau from Fung Group in 2018. The joint venture with the parent company of Li & Fung Co., Ltd. was first signed in 2013.

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