Roberto Gavazzi (Boffi): The Challenge Is Not Acquiring Brands, but Building a Design Pole

Determined but gentle, charismatic but discreet, Roberto Gavazzi has been for nearly 30 years at the helm of Boffi, a company founded in 1934 which specializes in the production of high quality kitchens and bathroom furnishings. In 2015, Boffi acquired De Padova, the design brand loved by Italy's enlightened bourgeoisie. Gavazzi graduated in Business Administration from Bocconi in 1976, and recalls his university experience as a big "cultural, human and social stimulus". Then, with the same passion, he went on to create one of the first business systems in the high-end furniture industry.

➜ In a very fragmented sector, you have been able to create a design pole.
The acquisition of De Padova is part of an operation which we have discussed for many years with Maddalena De Padova, the brand's founder. It is not a combination of design brands, but rather a business system that can be a one-stop station in the market. We supply all home interiors and furnishings from the kitchen to the living room, from the bathroom to the bedroom, while preserving the authenticity of the brands involved, by utilizing a lean manufacturing model and a global albeit selective retail system.

➜ Is selling kitchen blueprints very different from peddling furniture?
Of course, a world of systems, such as kitchens, requires complex production and logistics, long development times and significant financial commitment. Designing, manufacturing and selling sofas, tables, chairs, bookcases, on the other hand, is a lot less risky and guarantees a better profit margin. This for me was a pleasant surprise.

➜ Have you managed to create synergies between the two brands?
Yes, by gaining a competitive advantage.

➜ In what way?
De Padova is an iconic company but with limited management and and almost nonexistent visibility abroad. Today, while retaining its identity, we have put Boffi's know-how at the brand's disposal: the two management teams were integrated, creating corporate functions coordinating the two brands. So De Padova can leverage Boffi's expertise to expand internationally and Boffi can be on the market with a more structured supply proposition.

➜ Has the De Padova collection been rethought in light of the Boffi logic?
No, even though it has been updated thanks to the contribution of Piero Lissoni, by enhancing the iconic pieces, eliminating the obsolete ones, adding new items especially in sofas, padded armchairs and futons, where there is still a lot of work to do. On one thing we have been uncompromising: the language of the brand had to continue being recognizable by customers. Regarding distribution, we have focused on the Boffi model, with a limited network of of passionate and enthusiastic distributors, who guarantee the brand's high positioning.

➜ Is there any brand you would like to buy?
There are brands which are incredibly fascinating: who would not want to own them? However, careful evaluations must be made, focusing on brands that are functional to and consistent with our business plan.