Free trade has been good for the company. It ships about 80 per cent of its custom-made products to the United States, where they end up at such major retailers as J.C. Penney and Bloomingdale's, and at such designer houses as Liz Claiborne and Calvin Klein. And while the U.S. remains an important market, the company is setting its sights on other parts of the globe, including South America and Southeast Asia. A lot of the older stores are refurbishing their outlets, which often happens when a new management team comes in and wants to put their vision in place. With good reason.
Retail is a competitive business, where store appearance matters greatly.
Retail is an experience, and to keep that quality experience, the stores must look good and change with the times. When the owners of Artitalia started their first company in 1975, they had a different idea of what they ought to be doing with their talents. The brothers wanted to build on their father's tastes, related to antique and art-collecting. It was fashionable to have lampshades covered with all kinds of materials. Quickly, the brothers realized that the demand for these items would follow the fashion curve, which moves up and down with changing tastes, style and trends.