Ceramiche Piemme still on upward trajectory

One of the oldest of all Italian ceramic tile manufacturers, Ceramiche Piemme is enjoying new levels of success and in 2016 posted 8% year-on-year revenue growth to 104 million euros, twice the size of the increase reported the previous year.

The company’s managing director, Massimo Barbari, believes that these good results are underpinned by two factors: an increase in exports, which now account for 85% of total turnover, and a substantial shift away from manufacturing on behalf of third parties in favour of direct sales under the company’s own brands.

The growth in turnover remained on track in the first half of 2017. “We have seen a solid increase in general sales under our own brands, which reached all-time record levels in June, not to mention an increase in profitability. As well as boosting our confidence for the months to come, this interim result gives a glimpse of solid prospects for further growth”, commented Massimo Barbari.

In the last couple of years, as well as upgrading technology, Piemme has also been reorganising its sales and marketing strategies, by repositioning the brands “Ceramiche Piemme floor and more” (dedicated to design-oriented floor and wall tiles aimed at the mid-to-high segment of the residential and commercial market) and “Valentino by Ceramiche Piemme”, which is an exclusively top-end brand.

At Cersaie 2017 in Bologna, Ceramiche Piemme launched five new collections including a 120x240 cm large format. The “Ceramiche Piemme floor and more” brand presented Fragments designed by Pierre Charpin, as well as Uniquestone, an extensive new collection with a close focus on aesthetics that draws inspiration from a blend of stones.

• Read the complete interview with Massimo Barbari published in Ceramic World Review 123/2017