When I’ve traveled within the States there are a few differences that you notice between each state. However, going to another country, where many speak Italian and a little English, and looking at how they conduct their business is very different compared to the United States.
We had four business visits throughout the entirety of the trip. The first was a visual design group called Metaverse Architects. They’ve taken on many design projects for different businesses and were started in 2020. They had a very relaxed approach to their business model and focused on quality over quantity. All the other business visits followed the general rules of focusing on quality over quantity.
The second business visit was to an avocado farm. It was very interesting, because although avocados are foreign to Italy, a man from a family of lemon tree farmers traveled to Brazil to understand how exotic fruits and vegetables thrive. He had farms in Taormina, near Mount Etna, and explained how the volcano conditions are great for growing exotic fruits and vegetables. He started experimenting by growing small patches of avocados and mangos to see if they would be successful. With the amazing soil from Mount Etna, the fruits were very successful. He started selling avocados in 2007 but it was difficult at first because avocados were not very well known and not traditional in Italy. Additionally, he was the first to bring them to the market and had to go around to markets and convince them they were worth the purchase and better than importing avocados. He showed us that with passion and consistency, it is possible to be a successful pioneer in an industry.
The third business was a tuna production business called Callipo. They were by far the largest business we explored. They showed us their production process. I enjoyed how thorough they were about their rules when going into the tuna production process and walking us through each step. We had to wear hair nets and cover our shoes and clothing with their sanitized jackets. There were no pictures, jewelry, or anything on your person allowed. Once again this process showed how Italian businesses pride themselves on quality products.
The last business we visited was a handmade sandals business in Capri. In Capri and all over Italy, leather was very popular to be used for wallets, purses, notebooks, and even sandals. One of the things Capri was known for was their leather sandals. Two sisters started a leather sandal business in Capri where they make the sandals to perfectly fit your foot and make it while you’re there, so it’s completely customized. They started this business because although many places sold these leather sandals none of them customized them to fit exactly right and they found this as a need. They took their passion and found a need for it in Capri.
Three of these businesses found a niche where they could be successful and follow a passion. They were all started by people with a vision and are very successful in what they do today. I like seeing how Italy doesn’t have as many chains compared to the United States. A lot of the businesses we explored were unique and start-ups. All of these businesses were so excited to share their story and were very welcoming to our entire group. Something I didn’t expect to witness was all these business owners’ excitement and love for what they were doing. None of them went into the business for the money they would make, but instead how they could pursue their passion and serve those around them.
My initial impression going into study abroad was that their businesses were a lot smaller and I didn’t understand their work-life balance. However, I learned that they are successful in what they do because they find a passion and pursue it. Although it might not end up expanding, they’re more focused on what their passion is and what they enjoy doing. When I would go to different stores throughout the cities, I really enjoyed talking to the owners about their business. There was a business named “Co Ol De Sac,” and he had many products from various artists. His passion was selling unique products to customers from different local Italian artists including himself. Further, many of the businesses only sold products that were made in Italy, so I was surprised by just how much Italians support each other’s business and how much pride they take in their authentic products.
Overall, this study abroad experience helped me grow in many ways. I enjoyed learning how to communicate with different people. Many talked a lot with their hands and knew a fair amount of English. They loved chatting with everyone and had a different, slower way of life. This experience showed me how much you can learn from others and every experience you have is another opportunity to grow.
