What We Do For You!
We are here to do whatever it takes to make our clients happy!
Help foreign companies sell in Italy. Finding distributors or large end users Unless it is a product whose main customers are a few large end users we will usually look for one or more distributors for you.
Help foreign companies buy in Italy. Sourcing Italian products. We act as your man on the spot. We cover the whole spectrum from locating sources you are not aware of, qualifying sources, interfacing and keeping in touch including personal visits.
Joint ventures
Finding the right partner
Local knowledge is essential to find the best partner and avoid mistakes. We act as your local representative.
Our Way Of Finding Your Partner!
Many of the following steps apply to both buying and selling. We usually start researching in order to get a list of suitable contacts. This is done using several sources ranging from on line directories, paper directories, trade show catalogues (both paper or machine readable), organization catalogues, trade magazines, library research, interviews, etc.
At the end of the research we end (depending on the product) with a list that may have from a few dozens names to several hundred or thousands. We select an appropriate subset and get in touch with them by fax either presenting your product (if selling) or your needs (if buying). We may reveal or not the name of you company, as appropriate.
The fax is followed shortly by a phone call whose goals is to ascertain the interest and to make a preliminary screening. This preliminary screening usually drops over 90% of the contacts. Those worth pursuing, usually about 2-3% are visited in person. This process further thins the total and we roughly remain with one good prospect for every 100 contacts.
These are the ones you will get in touch with.
We either go out of your way (if you prefer) or more probably help you with the negotiation of the contract. We also assist you if you end coming over here to sign the contract. Most contracts that involve more than a few $ may easily involve this step.
If you are like our best customers, you will heavily lean on our knowledge of the local climate, market, business practice, local law, mentality, dangers and opportunities. Being attentive to this may make or scuttle a deal.
Since we work on commissions we will keep eyeing the relationship to see if anything can be improved over time. Working on commissions means that we will bother with the dozens of unforeseen details that real life brings with it (when was the last time that everything run smoothly?). We all know that even the best running machinery may be stopped by a few sand grains.
We are here to do whatever it takes to make our clients happy!
Help foreign companies sell in Italy. Finding distributors or large end users Unless it is a product whose main customers are a few large end users we will usually look for one or more distributors for you.
Help foreign companies buy in Italy. Sourcing Italian products. We act as your man on the spot. We cover the whole spectrum from locating sources you are not aware of, qualifying sources, interfacing and keeping in touch including personal visits.
Joint ventures
Finding the right partner
Local knowledge is essential to find the best partner and avoid mistakes. We act as your local representative.
Our Way Of Finding Your Partner!
Many of the following steps apply to both buying and selling. We usually start researching in order to get a list of suitable contacts. This is done using several sources ranging from on line directories, paper directories, trade show catalogues (both paper or machine readable), organization catalogues, trade magazines, library research, interviews, etc.
At the end of the research we end (depending on the product) with a list that may have from a few dozens names to several hundred or thousands. We select an appropriate subset and get in touch with them by fax either presenting your product (if selling) or your needs (if buying). We may reveal or not the name of you company, as appropriate.
The fax is followed shortly by a phone call whose goals is to ascertain the interest and to make a preliminary screening. This preliminary screening usually drops over 90% of the contacts. Those worth pursuing, usually about 2-3% are visited in person. This process further thins the total and we roughly remain with one good prospect for every 100 contacts.
These are the ones you will get in touch with.
We either go out of your way (if you prefer) or more probably help you with the negotiation of the contract. We also assist you if you end coming over here to sign the contract. Most contracts that involve more than a few $ may easily involve this step.
If you are like our best customers, you will heavily lean on our knowledge of the local climate, market, business practice, local law, mentality, dangers and opportunities. Being attentive to this may make or scuttle a deal.
Since we work on commissions we will keep eyeing the relationship to see if anything can be improved over time. Working on commissions means that we will bother with the dozens of unforeseen details that real life brings with it (when was the last time that everything run smoothly?). We all know that even the best running machinery may be stopped by a few sand grains.
What if I do not like any of those introduced to me ?
No problem. You owe us nothing.
May I incur in any hidden expense ?
Absolutely not. On rare occasions we may ask you (in advance) to foot a bill for a specific and/or exceptional action. You may accept or decline the suggestion at your discretion.
We have a 5 year contract. What if the distributor stops selling after one year ?
We stop getting any money! Since we work on commissions only, it is in our interest too to make sure he is doing a good job or we will take adequate measures, including looking for a new one.
Will your commissions cut down on my profits ?
Not necessarily. We may work starting from a price list that gives you a given profit. Our commissions are added on top of that. In other words, the commissions are paid by the distributor, or if you prefer, the local price list includes our commissions.
When do I pay you ?
When you are paid (immediately after). If you don't get any money, neither do we.
I am interested. But you do not have specific experience in my business.
If you are thinking about us selling directly to end users it may (or may not) be a reasonable worry. On the other hand if what is needed is the search of one or more distributors, it is the distributors that should know the market,
not us! Our job is to find the right distributor, not to sell to customers.
Bear in mind that we work on commissions. If we sense that we will not be able to handle your products we will decline your offer as we will not want to waist your time or our own!
Why should I pay you when I can do your job?
You are welcome! If you think so, we are not keen to work with you (yet). We prefer companies that have already tried ,and failed, or have enough experience and savvy to realize that there is no substitute for local knowledge and presence. File our address and come back in a couple of years.
It sounds too good to be true. Where is the catch ?
You need to have the right mix of products, market, prices, profit, documentation, knowledge, responsiveness and determination. We cannot afford to work with products unlikely to succeed. Determination is probably the most important issue. Many a drawback can be compensated by determination, but even the best product may fail without. We ourselves are determined, but it takes two to tango.
What are our obligations ?
We reserve the right to drop any search, any time for any reason, without any further obligation.
Is there a possibility that you engage us in any liability ?
Absolutely not. Unless you give us written instructions to the contrary, we act as your consultant only. We provide you with information and suggestions. What you do or don't, is up to you.
We would like to stress that the final agreement is between you and the contact(s) we provide. You are the sole judge and responsible of any engagement you enter.
Who is your typical customer ?
- Sellers: manufactures or direct agents or distributors with exclusive rights to market in Italy.
- Buyers: Anything goes. Bear in mind however, that unless you generate a yearly minimum in commissions, we may find it unprofitable.
I tried to buy directly from the manufacturer but they have exclusive distributors already. Can you help ?
Sometimes. If you have already met problems or if you expect to run into them, please state it in your initial query. This will save time for us both. We MAY device a solution, but first we need to know the problem you encountered. We also expect to know the real situation. For example we have been asked to source 10,000 jeans a month from a known manufacturer. When asked what was the destination we were told an odd country.
Now, we have nothing against any country, except that it may be an unlikely final destination for brand name (expensive) products. The reason we asked is that we do only legal jobs. If the manufacturer has a tight control of the market and does not want to sell any more than in a given country, we will have to comply. Some times there are available stocks but only for certain countries. Wholesalers also may have legal obligations and cannot export to certain countries unless authorized by the manufacturer.
Can you help draw up legal and binding documents?
We are not lawyers, but have english speaking lawyers that will work with you in order to draw up legal contracts,
for both parties, if needed.
What Is A Joint Venture?
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Our Way Of Finding Your Partner!
The first thing you should know about joint ventures!
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Q & A
