Bizzarri enters U.S. market
By Joan Gunin -- Furniture Today, March 14, 2005
High Point — Bizzarri, an upscale Italian custom leather seating maker from Forli, will make its formal U.S. debut at April's High Point market.
Bizzarri will target high-end specialty stores and better department stores with 20 contemporary introductions at Showplace, space 3618. The collection emphasizes full aniline European hides, cut by hand, and such tailored enhancements as reinforced inside stitching.
"We are coming to the U.S.A. because we have sold some products here in the past and we feel our styles could be successful here," said Paolo Cicognani, sales manager. "We produce high-quality products, but we can target not only the high-end market, but also medium-high and sometimes medium — but not mass market chains."
He declined to be specific on retail pricing, but said the line is "competitive and affordable" compared with other leather seating products made in northern Italy.
Owned by Mario Bizzarri, the high-end family operation was established in Forli in 1977.
Undaunted by the euro's clash against the limp dollar, Cicognani said, "We have just begun, so we have not experienced any drops or particular problems in sales."
Bizzarri is basically a made-to-order operation but Cicognani noted, "There are some dealers who can afford full containers of our products."
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