There’s one sentence I hear more and more often when I sit down with business owners to talk about export strategy: “Pier Paolo, uncertainty weighs more than tariffs.” Trade wars (and not only those), sudden shifts in the geopolitical landscape … Continue reading
When some German customers reduce their orders, we tend to say that “Germany has come to a standstill”. But those figures describe our customer portfolio, not necessarily the German market as a whole. This is an important distinction, especially for … Continue reading
A few weeks ago, during a meeting of Confindustria Vicenza’s Mercati in Vista service, I analyzed the foreign sales network of a manufacturing SME. The company policy was clear: one distributor per country. On paper, France, the United Kingdom and … Continue reading
Digital platforms and artificial intelligence have dramatically reduced the cost of sales research. Today, an SME can quickly identify hundreds of potential customers, distributors or partners. It can analyse their websites, find the right people to contact and collect information … Continue reading
In recent weeks, speaking with many SME entrepreneurs, the central theme remains the same: trade fairs. They are essential stages—there is no denying it. Human contact, a handshake, and the ability to show a product in person remain irreplaceable pillars … Continue reading
2025 left us with a very clear message: the international competitive landscape is changing faster than many companies can react. We see it every day. Markets that once felt “safe” are slowing down, new competitors are entering the game, buyers … Continue reading
As we close out 2025, one fact is clear to everyone: the competitive landscape has changed more in these twelve months than it did in much of the previous decade. For our SMEs, this represents a real turning point. Looking … Continue reading
In August, Il Sole 24 Ore published two contributions – by Giuliano Noci and Carmine Fotina – that prompted reflection on the evolution of Italian exports.The picture that emerged was less dramatic than what is often reported, yet equally clear: … Continue reading
Since February, I’ve been collaborating with the FarExport helpdesk of the Vicenza Industrial Association as part of the “Mercati in Vista” project. In just a few months, I’ve met with over 30 companies from our region — a valuable opportunity … Continue reading
For many SMEs producing components, tooling, or offering services—from carpentry to mechanical processing and mold production—specializing in a single sector can become a significant risk. Recently, I collaborated with a company specializing in high-quality plastic molding that had focused exclusively … Continue reading