NATUZZI - Living Rooms - ITALY
PASQUALE NATUZZI
Pasquale Natuzzi, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Natuzzi Group, was very young when he started his career. The son of a cabinet-maker, at just 19 years of age he opened a workshop in Taranto with three collaborators, producing sofas and armchairs for the local market.
In 1962 he moved to Matera where he began to gain commercial experience, giving him in-depth knowledge of the difficulties and mechanisms of distribution.
In 1967, still in Matera, Pasquale Natuzzi returned to his first love: the production of sofas and armchairs, this time on an industrial scale.
In 1972 he founded Natuzzi Salotti S.r.l. One year later, following a fire that completely destroyed the Matera factory, Pasquale Natuzzi decided to relocate production to Santeramo in Colle (Bari – Italy), which is the current headquarters of the Group.
AT THE BEGINNING OF THE '80S
During a trip to the USA, Pasquale Natuzzi intuitively spotted an opportunity to carry out a radical change of direction: “democratising” the leather sofa, once a product for an elite niche.
In 1985 Natuzzi Upholstery Inc. was established, based in New York, a company especially designed for the needs of its North American clients.
The successes achieved in the USA, confirmed by the flotation on Wall Street in May 1993, drove Natuzzi to conquer other markets, mainly in Europe and the Far East, where the Group confirmed its leadership within a short space of time.
In 1998, further confirmation of the Group's strong ties with the American market was given by the inauguration in High Point (North Carolina) of a futuristic-looking building, designed by the architect Mario Bellini, housing the offices of Natuzzi Americas, with over 60 employees and a large showroom measuring 8,000 square metres.
With North American expansion continuing, the Group then went on to strengthen its presence both in Europe and in Italy. The Nineties saw the opening in Taranto, on Pasquale Natuzzi's initiative, of the first shop in the franchising chain Divani & Divani by Natuzzi. The chain's success is confirmed by the presence of 285 Natuzzi stores worldwide (mainly in Italy, Spain, France, Switzerland, China, Australia) and 327 Natuzzi Galleries, mainly in the United States and Northern Europe.
Pasquale Natuzzi continues to work with the same passion he held at the beginning of his career and personally oversees strategic activities relating to strengthening the brand with investments in product innovation and research, marketing, communication and staff training, working alongside the Group's managers to define future strategies.
INTERNATIONAL AWARDS
This constant effort and commitment, with the aim of growth for the company, increasing the number of collaborators and promoting growth in the region has been rewarded by an Honorary Degree in Education Science, conferred in December 2001 by the University of Bari.
In 2008 Pasquale Natuzzi was inducted into the American Furniture Hall of Fame. He was the first international recipient of the honour.
In 2010, in Milan, on the occasion of China Awards 2010, the Italy-China Foundation awarded the Natuzzi Group with the Capital Elite prize, as the best evidence of Made in Italy in China.
In 2011 Pasquale Natuzzi has been honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Anti-Defamation League for distinguishing himself with creative work to improve, enhance and benefit relationships among partners, vendors and employees.
In 2013, from Paris has come the Throphée de l'Innovation for the armchair Re-vive. The prize was awarded by a panel of experts during the Furnishing Fair Espritmeuble.
In the same year, Natuzzi was among the finalists of the ICT Innovation Award. The award is given to companies having distinguished themselves by the IT innovation and strategic actions.
TODAY
Pasquale Natuzzi today lives in Santeramo, is married, and is the father of five children. After more than fifty years of challenges and intuitions, the Natuzzi Group is the top Italian producer for interior design, with 11 factories operating in Italy and around the world (China, Brazil and Romania), turnover of 488,5 million Euros (as of 31st December 2016) and 5.172 employees.
Compliance with strict international standards concerning quality management and environmental protection has earned the Natuzzi Group two important certificates: ISO 9001 and ISO 14001, as proof of our commitment to operating with low environmental impact. It is this continuous research for superior quality that lets us offer a 10-year warranty on the structure of our products and 2 years on padding, mechanisms and upholstery.
Our company is never satisfied, however, and has thus created its very own Quality Laboratory, responsible for testing every sofa component to ensure that each one complies with the strictest international standards as well as guaranteeing maximum comfort and resistance to wear: the materials are subjected to repeated tests in order to measure their performance and resistance over time in every situation and weather condition.
The special polyurethane foam padding is patented and developed at our facilities in Italy.
We are very proud of the many recognitions we have received over the years. Italian and international awards, to the company and to Pasquale Natuzzi, have marked some of our most significant goals.
1995:
Premio Leonardo Qualità Italia
Natuzzi receives from Oscar Luigi Scalfaro the Prize for Italian Quality for companies well established abroad.
2008:
Pasquale Natuzzi inducted into the American Furniture Hall of Fame
He was the first international recipient of the honour.
2010:
China Awards
Pasquale Natuzzi wins the Capital Elite Award as Italian businessman outstanding in relations with China
Interiors Monthly Award, Natuzzi wins for best leather upholstery
Interiors Monthly is the leading British magazine of design and furnishing.
2011:
Natuzzi awarded during the UK-Italy Business Awards ceremony
The prize is a formal recognition to the Italian companies having chosen the UK for their international business development
New York,
Pasquale Natuzzi honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Anti-Defamation League
It's a recognition for promoting the business development always respecting the human rights.
2013:
Paris, Natuzzi Re-vive wins the Throphée de l'Innovation 2013
The prize was awarded by a panel of experts during the Furnishing Fair Espritmeuble
Milan, Smau 2013:
Natuzzi among the finalists in the ICT Innovation Award
The award is given to companies having distinguished themselves by the IT innovation and strategic actions.
2014:
The "2015 Italian Talent" Special Award is assigned to Pasquale Natuzzi for his group's made in Italy philosophy.
2015:
Italian Talent Award
The Natuzzi Group was awarded the Interior Innovation Award 2014 at Koelnmesse by the German Design Council.
2014:
Interior Innovation Award
It was awarded “Best Product” and “Best Corporate Communication” from the Designers Institute of New Zealand during the annual showcase of excellence in graphic, spatial, product and interactive design.
Best Design Award, Natuzzi Re-vive redoubled
Natuzzi Re-vive was awarded during the Israel International Fair, held in October 10-17, 2014.
Prize for the Technological innovation
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Headquarters:
Natuzzi S.p.A.
Via Iazzitiello, 47
70029 Santeramo in Colle, Bari
ITALY