The company was set up in Bologna over 60 years ago, characterised by a strong creative drive. Ingenious intuitions that enabled it to enter the everyday lives of millions of people: from household products to the turning point that was the invention of the Protective covers for remote controls. For FARE INSIEME, Giampaolo Colletti interviews Riccardo Meliconi, Chairman of Meliconi
by Giampaolo Colletti
@gpcolletti
Photocredit: Giacomo Maestri e Francesca Aufiero
“Get a good idea and stay with it. Dog it, and work at it until it's done, and done right.” This is one of the best known quotes by Walt Disney and perfectly illustrates the dedication, resilience and perseverance in carrying forward one’s ideas, even entrepreneurial ones, and in fully believing in them. There you are, all this has something to do with the story we are about to tell you. Alongside another element - that of simplicity. Because, at times, the best ideas are the simplest ones. But what happens when a company decides to get busy finding precisely those simple and functional ideas to solve everyday problems? That is to say, when it truly starts to listen? The story we are about to tell you started din 1967 and spans several decades. 1967 was a pivotal year that represented a turning point between the economic boom that characterised the Postwar period and the first student protests and movements that occurred throughout 1968. A period, however, when people thought up and created things. That is how Meliconi was born. Everything started from the vision of Loris Meliconi, an Emilian Archimedes. The first household products such as the bread bin, the pedal rubbish bin or the salad spinner entered the homes of the Italians as innovative everyday objects at the time. Then there was the launch of the remote control protective cover in the late 1980s that marked the company’s entry into the electronics goods market. More recently, it introduced the dryer stacking kit and washing machine bases. “In general, the ability to innovate, adapt and identify market needs has always enabled Meliconi to react to difficulties promptly,” states Riccardo Meliconi, chairman of Meliconi.
Company profile. Today, the headquarters is in Cadriano, a district part of Granarolo dell’Emilia in the Bologna area with less than 1 thousand inhabitants and an ancient history. The company moved here in the early 1970s and continues to boast a strong connection with the local territory. Meliconi is managed by Riccardo and Patrizia Meliconi - children of the founder Loris - and by Lorenzo Meliconi, the son of Riccardo who represents the third generation. There are 120 employees with a turnover that, in 2024, reached €33 million in a market heavily rooted in Italy where 65% of the business is focused, as well as a widespread presence in the big retail chains specialising in electronics. On an international level, the remaining 35% of the business is carried out directly in France and Spain through its branches and in numerous other countries via a distribution network. “Our growth is driven by constant investments in innovation with new product launches in both the TV and audio-video sectors, as well as accessories for appliances and the green line,” says Meliconi. This is the company profile of an iconic Bologna business leader in the production of accessories for TV and electrical appliances. “Our distinctive element is our ability to combine functionality, design and innovation in accessible and practical products without ever losing sight of Italian quality. The constant attention to consumers and the ability to transform everyday needs into concrete and smart solutions are what truly characterises us. It is not by chance that our claim is ‘Smart ideas for the home’. Our recent growth in Spain represents a natural evolution towards increased internationalisation, with a determination to export Meliconi products to neighbouring markets. In this case, we believe it is essential to have someone actually present on the territory to talk to clients and consumers directly thereby conveying the value of our products,” highlights Meliconi. The company deals with creating and manufacturing products, and also provides after-sales assistance to clients and consumers. Therefore employees cover a wide range of positions, including designers, industrial designers, production experts, marketing specialists, sales managers, logistics professionals, IT operators and administrative personnel. “That is why training is essential,” stresses Meliconi.
Successful ideas. From household products to the remote control protective covers, ranging from TV brackets, the audio-video accessory range, TV headphones, bases for electronic appliances down to MyBike, the new line of universal supports to hang, hold up and take care of all kinds of bikes. This is where dozens of ideas take shape, destined to go down in history. “Innovation stems from listening to the market and observing actual domestic habits. Every new idea is the fruit of the combined work of the design, engineering and marketing departments, where the initial intuition is turned into a product thanks to tests, prototypes and attention to the materials. Empathy and the ability to listen to consumers, development speed and the urge to improve the everyday lives of people are of tantamount importance,” explains Meliconi. A relevant part is played by the digitisation process. Because ideas... also become high-tech. “We have always invested in technological renewal and IT processes aimed at the digitisation of business procedures. Based on a multi-year plan, the company has invested in technological infrastructure and the specific digitisation of procedures. We are looking towards the future with confidence. We will continue to pursue sustainable innovation by investing in new projects, smart products and solutions that make everyday life easier. For the first time in our history, we are initiating a collaboration with a prestigious international company to come up with new products in the electrical appliance sector. And we are doing this as we carry forward our mission, i.e. solving everyday problems with simple, effective and sustainable ideas,” concludes Meliconi. After all, simplicity is the winning idea for successful organisations.
https://podcast.confindustriaemilia.it/
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