A Sneak Preview - Businessisin
This is a new site that I’m working on - Businessisin…Italy. The title is self explanatory, I feel.
Basically, I want to use this site to show off Italian businesses, not the well known ones, and business people, especially young Italians, as well as providing advice on how and where to do business in Italy, and to create some form of networking between businesses abroad and Italian businesses.
And to help others understand what is going on here, I’m going to be running a ‘Press Clippings’ section which will be very brief summaries of Italian business news stories from Italian sites and newspapers, the aim of which is to give non-Italian business people more of an insight into Italy, how it works, and the kind of opportunities it may present.
On the other hand Blog from Italy, where you are now, attempts in part, and in a small way, to show off the end product, whereas Businessisin will try to show off the businesses behind the products, in an attempt to generate more business, investment, profit, and, hopefully, employment.
The site is live, but I have not yet launched it, so to speak. And my ‘business writing style certainly needs more work. But I’d like a little feedback and if you have any suggestions, I’m all ears.
If you’d like to pop over there, then feel free. Very much work in progress, and my ideas are only just starting to take shape.
Once the hectic period I’m going through at the moment calms down a bit, I’ll be dedicating more time to the site.
Evolution - Paolo Sarpi - Milan’s Chinese Quarter
Back in May 2005, I wrote this post about the silent invasion by Chinese businesses of the area of Milan which is on my doorstep. Well, I have to say that things have changed, or rather evolved, quite considerably since I last wrote about this subject.
There are still quite a number of shops selling cheap clothes to those who run markets, but there are now quite a few other types of shop, and many of them are starting to take on the appearance of typical Italian shops.
For example, there are now at least four shops selling computer hardware and electronic goods such as Mp3 players and the like. And, in addition to odd Chinese brands, many of the products stocked in these shops are familiar names such as Acer, Sony, and LG, amongst others.
Next, we have the mobile phone stores, again, offhand I can think of at least four of them, including one newly opened shop.
However, the most interesting thing is the transformation which is starting to take place of the formerly cheap wholesale clothing outlets into smarter, more up market boutique type shops. OK, I can only think of one or two at the moment, but I’m pretty sure that this trend will continue.
Along with the clothing stores, there are now a number of reasonably good quality Chinese run jewellers selling well known brands. Yes, they could be copies, but I’m not so sure. Indeed, there is no reason why they should be really, seeing as it is probable that some of the more well known brands most probably sub-contract their production to Chinese producers.
There is also a perfume shop, which looks very Italian in style.
And the ever industrious Chinese are not doing too badly as a result of the evolutionary expansion, as I see plenty of youngish Chinese cruising around in very expensive cars.
There is a bustling Chinese community here, and it looks as though it will become stronger and stronger.
I was half expecting this transformation to take place, so it is very interesting to see it happening before my eyes.
Oh, and it is not just Chinese faces you see in these recently transformed shops, you may like to know.
It will be interesting indeed to see how things differ in another three years time, and if I’m still running this blog, and I plan to be, I’ll write another little update.
DIESEL
Nope, I’m not going to waffle on about eco friendly fuels, but in my continuing micro-attempt to raise the feel-good factor for Italy in these troubled times, I’m going to have a look at an Italian brand, which, at first, for quite a few years, I did not know was Italian. Not a surprise; I did not even know how to pronounce Versace until a more fashion conscious friend corrected me. Read more
Sausage Progress
With a little bit of luck a few bags of super sausage mix should arrive in Milan today. This means that I can ask the butcher to order the pork and sausage production can commence. The prospect is mouthwatering.
Once a few bangers have been made, they will be delivered to the 442 and an official sausage tasting will be held. If all goes according to plan, this event will take place at some time next week. I will admit to being on tenderhooks, after all, what happens if nobody likes the results of the sausage struggle? Yes, this is a slight worry, which is why a few different blends will be produced so that we can find out what everyone’s preferred sausage blend is.
I’ve been spreading the word on the sausage front and quite a few people have said that they would like to come along to the sausage tasting. I’m almost thinking about running off a few invitations to this event. We’ll see.
This sausage story is completely new territory for me, but may make for an interesting, if rather difficult to explain, addition to my CV.
More news on the sausage tasting will follow, as will information about the launch of the 442’s full English breakfast - which will probably be launched at a special price of €10. For Milan, this is an exceptionally good price, as any of you who have been to the various brunches held around Milan will know.
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