Credit: Serena Cecchini

 

In recent years, SMEs in the fashion and luxury supply chain have found themselves facing epochal changes, between the advent of digital and the increasingly pressing need to make their processes and products more sustainable, and a crisis that has found them unprepared. And although all or almost all companies have the same problems, the feeling of being alone in battle is strong. Networking therefore becomes essential, on multiple levels.

 

This is where the business networks of territorial districts are born: consortia born from the bottom, transversal and complementary to the trade associations, which aim to give more importance to the voice of the individual, support companies in analyzing the market and support them in dialogue with the institutions.

 

But are they really effective in supporting entrepreneurs? We asked Federico Sodini, member of Tuscany4Shoes, the system of companies in the footwear sector promoted in 2021 by the Municipality of Capannori and the Chamber of Commerce of Lucca which brings together more than 65 companies in the Capannori area.

 

“Dialogue is fundamental: through the assemblies we try to understand what the common needs are to start operations that can help everyone, perhaps also asking for help from politics, both at regional and provincial level. With the new presidency (Serena Cecchini, who took office last October) we have acquired important expertise in the world of luxury, and we are increasingly pushing towards effective digitalization and communication”.

 

“What makes the real difference is the concrete support that the consortium gives to the entrepreneur in the market analysis process, which starts with an in-depth screening of the company and its reference market, during which the fundamental points are addressed: from the business model to the investments needed to develop it. From there, together, we take steps to achieve the objectives we have set ourselves”.

 

Why is this process more effective if done with a territorial consortium?

"Because they believe in companies, they start with them, agreeing to take the risk in case of failure: the service is in fact based on the principle of Success Fee, so for the entrepreneur and the company the risk is zero in relying on them for this path. The network then offers all the necessary support for the bureaucracy of the various steps, acting as an intermediary for obtaining, for example, tenders or patents".