My story My Project

At the age of 50, I am in Australia trying to build a future for me and my daughter, which is the most important thing I have in my life.

I left Florence for Australia 10 years ago, with my partner and my daughter, it was only supposed to be a short period and instead I'm still here. It's a difficult country to settle in but once you fit into their culture, it's a fantastic place full of opportunities. That's not to say it's easy.

When I arrived, I brought some product samples from Italy, to show and sell to local shops. This immediately proved to be a very interesting and profitable path. Unfortunately, after about a year and a half, when work was going very well, I separated from my partner, and it wasn't easy. Two and a half years passed before I settled down properly and then little by little, I managed to get the business back on track but not like when we started.

The goal was to import and distribute the products to all stores in Australia. From now on I found it difficult to find agents to represent us, and it has always been more difficult to sell. For my part, I no longer had the desire to go around with the car to sell, it was too complicated and unprofitable. In 2019 with the Covid event, the shops stopped buying and I was afraid of having to close the company, but I didn't foresee the online market taking over.

I immediately understood that it was the right path to take, and from the 3 brands I imported in 2019, in three years we went to 37 Brands, with around 7000 sku’s. Today the project I have in mind is to create a niche marketplace, bringing brands and products from all over the world and divided by category.

However, I want to tell you what the criteria and evaluation I made.

I was born in Florence, and I have spent almost all my life among companies producing fashion and objects for the home and lifestyle, products for which Florence is famous throughout the world. I have friends who have factories that work for the biggest fashion brands, synonymous of quality. I decided to select Brands that are not as well-known as the big ones, but have equal or even better products, they are the same manufacturers that produce for their brand. Cutting-edge materials built by the hands of expert craftsmen creating high quality products. In Italy as in the rest of the world, there are companies’ unknown to the masses, but with fantastic products, and I want to be their voice in the world.

Premium brands mean affordable luxury.

Challenges persisted as I struggled to find agents to represent our products, leading to lacklustre sales to local stores. The arduousness of door-to-door sales lost its appeal, compounded by its dwindling profitability.

The onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2019 threatened to shutter my business, until the unexpected rise of the online marketplace breathed new life into my endeavours. In three years, we went from 3 Brands to 37, encompassing around 7000 different products. Today, my vision extends beyond mere commerce. 

Born and bred in Florence, I've spent a lifetime immersed in the world of fashion and artisanal craftsmanship—industries for which my city is renowned worldwide. Drawing from my experiences, I've curated a selection of brands that may lack the household recognition of industry giants yet boast products of equal or superior quality. These are the craftsmen who labor behind the scenes for renowned brands, crafting masterpieces from cutting-edge materials—a testament to their expertise and dedication. 

In every corner of the globe, there exist hidden gems—companies whose exceptional products remain undiscovered by the masses. I aspire to be their ambassador, amplifying their voices on the world stage and championing their excellence.

I never sit still for a minute; due to the many things I must do every day. Growth is one of the scariest and most wonderful things that can exist. The adrenaline gives me the strength to carry on with my project, but perhaps now the time has come to share this project of mine with someone to achieve my goals.

Thanks for your time.

AM.