What can you tell us about the specific challenges and opportunities of doing business in Italy? The LaCie Italy subsidiary has one of the richest markets in all of Europe.  Since opening, we have been able to establish considerable market share, and we now boast one of the most LaCie-saturated markets that have been produced worldwide.  Local bureaucracy, as well as a highly fragmented customer market, are challenges to our business. What are some of the best selling products in your region? Italy is famous for design and has a large customer base that appreciates not only the quality of our drives but the distinct LaCie look. Resellers are excited to stock products that showcase our dedication to aesthetics; they eagerly participate in programs that focus on the more design-intensive products.  Our consumer hard drives and monitors are consistently best sellers.

Tell us about your office. How many people are in it? Do you ever go out after work and socialize? What does everyone eat for lunch?

There are 16 members of the Italy Sub- most Italians. Our office is located in the Southern part of Milan, close to the Navigli area, and we normally take lunch together at a local bar and enjoy Italy’s famously delicious paninis.  When we reach our sales targets we will also celebrate with a business lunch or dinner taking in a local Aperitivo, which in Milan means a cocktail with a huge buffet dinner. 

What's a typical work day like?

We normally work very long days, generally around 11 hrs including lunch, from 9am to 8pm.  A routine part of Italian sales is a lot of driving! Since most of our visits are made commuting by car is it not unusual for our sales team to average 75,000 KM (47,000 miles) a year in visits. 

Why do you like working for LaCie?

There are a lot of reasons why LaCie is a great company to work for. LaCie’s original business model allows us to maintain a competitive edge in a highly saturated market. We’ve cultivated a multi-channel approach that creates opportunities to reach a greater number of users dependant on our technology.  The location of our customers is another benefit; it’s not uncommon to have sales visits in beautiful places like Venice, Florence, Rome, and even Capri.  And, consistent with the lifestyle of the company, we work hard with wonderful rewards.