Piquadro was established in Bologna, Italy in 1987 by Mr. Marco Palmieri, who has since been the permanent head of the brand. At the end of October 2008, the company opened its boutique in the famous Dubai shopping center BurJuman. Having met at the ceremony of cutting the red ribbon, held under the patronage of the Italian Embassy in the UAE, we asked Stefano Guazzelli, export manager, to answer a few questions.
- Good evening, Stefano, tell me, what will the Piquadro boutique offer such a demanding and fashion-oriented Dubai audience?
- First of all, we create bags, suitcases, backpacks, wallets and accessories of the highest quality and from the most unusual types of leather. Leather products made in Italy are a recognized benchmark for quality and grace. It is no secret that a woman, for example, even having bought one expensive bag, cannot walk with her constantly. She needs to constantly change, the bag must match a suit or shoes, sometimes even in harmony in color with nail polish or lipstick. Therefore, we offer everyone - both women and men, to constantly change.
- What is the price limit of your bags?
- I would say that all our products are affordable. If we talk about the cost in UAE dirhams, then one handbag can cost about 800-900, that is, completely inexpensive compared to products of leading world brands occupying a niche of luxury goods.
- Do Russian customers like your products?
- O, sure. Today we own the 41st brand boutique in 50 countries, including Russia. Our boutiques are in Barcelona, Moscow, Frankfurt, Salzburg, Hong Kong, AbuDhabi and now in Dubai. I think that those Russians who have already visited Piquadro in Moscow will be pleased to see the opening of a store in Dubai. Here, the prices will be slightly lower due to the absence of taxes in the UAE, and some models may vary. If we talk about what exactly Russian customers like, then I believe that this is an unsurpassed quality of our bags, briefcases and suitcases, as well as interesting color schemes. In the new collection, we also have the signature Piquadro orange color, and the fashionable purple this season, and expressive shades of blue, as well as black and brown classic colors.
- What can you offer as gifts on the eve of the New Year holidays?
- I think that our original laptop backpack can be a great gift for a man.
- Backpack?
- Exactly! Modern men need their hands free, for example, talking on a cell phone. A stylish leather backpack is no worse than a regular business portfolio, only more practical. We offer lovely ladies office and travel bags, cosmetic bags and purses. By the way, all Piquadro products are also known for their patented concept, which we call "technology inside." This concept implies the presence of a huge number of hidden in the bowels of our bags and portfolios of accessories - pockets, flaps and holders for many necessary things, as well as transformer bags, that is, for example, our ordinary women's business bag can be turned into a traveling bag, unzipping everything a pair of zippers. This is very convenient, which is why this concept attracts customers all over the world.
- Stefano, thanks for the conversation. And good luck in new markets!
