In
1995 a company was born in Modena that capitalises on what the family had done
in the past, but looks beyond that. This is Unizip, a company that over the
years has become a point of reference on the Italian market for major
manufacturers in the fashion sector. For FARE INSIEME Giampaolo Colletti
interviewed Simonetta Pasini, Sole Director of Unizip
by Giampaolo Colletti
@gpcolletti
Photocredit: Giacomo Maestri e Francesca Aufiero
What I am
about to tell you is a love story. Love for one’s work, made-to-measure like
one of those fashion accessories made with patience, skill and passion. Love
for one’s customers, pampered in their purchasing choices. And love for one’s
family, with the father with whom she has worked side by side since she was
very young. This love story, with so many nuances as only the most beautiful
love stories can have, is that of Unizip. At its head is Simonetta Pasini, an
entrepreneur born in the world of zip fasteners. Her entire childhood was spent
with her parents, infused by the art of working in the family business. Doing
her best and aiming for excellence. So teamwork, along with an incredible
passion for experimenting with original solutions, has enabled Simonetta and
her team to bring new ideas and products to life, turning ideas into concrete
projects.
Company
profile. Everything began in the iconic 1990s that defined an entire society.
That's when Unizip became an important reference point on the Italian market
for major fashion manufacturers. In this case doing is not enough; because you
have to do your best, as we said earlier. So the company soon expanded its
production, focussing on the latest trends, proposing a complete and varied
range of zips with technologies. There is also the possibility of customising
the product according to the customer's taste, making the article unique and
sophisticated. Today, Unizip has 11 employees and a turnover of Euro 3 million,
with a growth of +12% over last year and an export share of 40%. Among the
designer labels that use Unizip are brands such as Max Mara, Schera, Herno,
Change, Armani, Balenciaga, Gucci, Mugler, Bottega Veneta, Christian Dior and
Twinset. From Modena to the world, in a continuous journey. Unizip Shanghai and
Unizip Hong Kong, production and service centres in Asia, were established while
a showroom was opened in New York. But let's take a step back in time.
Actually, more than one. The initial idea was Simonetta's grandfather's who, in
the early 1900s, began to go around markets offering haberdashery items.
Fundamentally, it all started from there. Listening to the market, the
old-fashioned ones in the streets, with the constant hustle and bustle of
people. Simonetta's father continued along that path, becoming a sales
representative, while Simonetta entered the company after completing her
studies. But she wanted something more, something new. ‘I realised that I
wanted something of my own and my passion was zip fasteners. I used to sell
shoulder straps, yarns and zip fasteners but it was the zip that intrigued me
most because it gave me the chance to develop my creativity. Basically, a zip
opens up a whole new world and you can work with moulds and raw materials that
become patents. My ex-husband and I began to want something different, trying
to satisfy customers who in the meantime demanded more advanced zips. Unizip
was born from these premises. The initial insight? To propose the zips
available in stock in order to offer customers a service, something that almost
nobody was doing in 1995,' Pasini explains.
Innovation
and tradition. Companies that leave their mark, driven by people and ingenious
ideas. This is the case with the invisible zip fastener. Yes, that’s right.
Invisible. ‘At the time, only a world-leading company produced them with
delivery times of two or three months. Instead, we started to produce this
product and customers placed their trust in us. After all, we are a company
that has always preferred originality to large numbers: attention to people
with welfare and working from home, attention to the environment with GRS
certifications of products and twice-yearly environmental monitoring. And then,
we take care of all our customers’ needs,' says Pasini. The business changes
constantly, but some things remain the same. ‘We have remained true to the
values we believe in: loyalty, honesty, transparency, wellbeing and dignity of
the person, quality. Innovation mainly concerns the product side and recently,
on the back of winning the Women's Entrepreneurship Competition, we have
renovated the offices and the reception area of the company,' Pasini says.
Meanwhile, in recent years, the production of big brands has moved to Europe
and, above all, to China with a view to delocalisation. ‘All this has made it
more difficult for us to maintain our market share, but thanks to our passion,
creativity and customer service we have still managed to grow,' Pasini
concludes. Always believe, never give up. That is the recipe of the best
organisations.
https://podcast.confindustriaemilia.it/
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