netrashetty
Netra Shetty
XPLANE is a design company that creates illustrations for corporate clients. The company aims to distill complex processes into easy-to-grasp illustrations, using visualization techniques which it calls Pictonics. XPLANE was founded in 1993 in St. Louis, Missouri by David Gray as a visual arts company creating graphics for magazines such as Business 2.0 (in particular that magazine's "XPLANATiONS"). It soon expanded into illustrating corporate presentations, business plans, and whitepapers; training; and interactive design.[1][2][3][4]
In 2000, the company was awarded the St. Louis Business Journal Best Places To Work award for People Development. At the time of the award, the company had a policy of flexible working hours and of allowing employees two weeks at full pay every year for workshops, seminars, and training. Other employee perquisites included discussion groups during the day, night classes taught by employees to other and to prospective employees, a weekly party on the company building's roof every Friday after hours, and a massage once per month.[2] The company's headquarters are now located in Portland, Oregon.[5]
On its website, the company hosts two web logs, the xBlog (information on design topics) and the bBlog (business applications of graphic design), and case studies that include graphical user interfaces, statistical maps, and discussions of Internet protocols and brand strategy. The weblogs are run by Knowledge Manager Bill Keaggy, a digital designer who spends between 10 minutes and 2 hours per day on them.[6][7][8]
g 9 billion euros in 2007. According to recent estimates provided by UNIPRO, exports of Italy’s cosmetics grew by 5.3 percent reaching a total of 2.25 billion euro, while imports increased by 4.5 percent totaling 1.43 billion euro with respect to 2006. Italy exports approximately 28 percent of its total turnover.
Hair and body care products continue to dominate the cosmetic industry. These two products make up 32 percent of the total marketplace. Facial care, make-up, and body hygiene products are the best prospect products for U.S. companies and 43 percent of the total cosmetics market is directly made up of these three different product areas.
Italian consumers seem to prefer more specialized channels for purchasing cosmetic products. The pharmacy channel for purchasing cosmetic continues to be the most lively as it increased 8.5 percent from the previous year. The pharmacy channel offers sophisticated products at a more affordable price to most consumers. However, the perfumery channel still remains an important aspect to the concept of beauty, although there has been a change in consumption to other channels due to the expensive nature of the products. The herbalist shop market is another major potential participant in the marketplace, registering an increase of 4 percent with respect to previous years. Consumers remain enthusiastic about the herbalist market due to its perceived value for money.
Suppliers
The following companies are distributing Italian and French cosmetic products in Italy:
Door and Channel - Top sellers in women’s fragrances
Armani - Number one in men’s fragrances
L’Oreal Italia Spa. - strongest in color cosmetics
Coty Lancaster Italia S.p.a.
Deborah Italia S.p.a.
Euroitalia S.r.l.
Eurocosmesi S.p.a.
Schiapparelli Pikenz S.p.a.
Market Issues and Obstacles
In order to be competitive in the Italian market companies should be prepared to heavily invest in promoting their products and brands. U.S. companies will need to be able to effectively promote their image and appeal to Italian tastes and fashion preferences. Packaging is also a key component. Products should be packaged in a well-presented, eye-catching fashion. In addition, to sell cosmetic products in Italy a U.S. company must have an Italian representative (either a subsidiary/representative office/agent/distributor/or importer) whose company is properly registered in Italy.
All ingredients used in cosmetic products are subject to stringent European and Italian regulations guaranteeing consumer protection. The Italian consolidated text of laws of the EU directive n. 2002/34 pertains to production and commercial distribution of cosmetics products in Italy. The decree laws are important, as they provide not only a new set of rules regarding production and distribution, but also a new definition of cosmetics. This definition allows for the recognition that cosmetics can have a role in the “protection and maintenance of the well being of the skin and related areas.” It is mandatory for a company importing U.S. cosmetic products to maintain a file or dossier containing all the information needed to evaluate the safety of the cosmetic product and prove its effectiveness.
Italy imports nearly all its cosmetic ingredients. Substances such as aloe vera, lavender, and essential oils are used in the production of locally made products. Demand for raw materials will increase as Italy continues to sell its products abroad. Italian exports have been growing at an average rate of 5 percent per year over the past 10 years. Italy exports mainly within the European Union, United States, and recently in emerging markets such as Russia.
There remain ample opportunities in the Italian cosmetic market. Despite its competitiveness, there is room for innovative products of high quality and good design in the marketplace. Italians also tend to choose products that are nicely packaged and creative.
In 2000, the company was awarded the St. Louis Business Journal Best Places To Work award for People Development. At the time of the award, the company had a policy of flexible working hours and of allowing employees two weeks at full pay every year for workshops, seminars, and training. Other employee perquisites included discussion groups during the day, night classes taught by employees to other and to prospective employees, a weekly party on the company building's roof every Friday after hours, and a massage once per month.[2] The company's headquarters are now located in Portland, Oregon.[5]
On its website, the company hosts two web logs, the xBlog (information on design topics) and the bBlog (business applications of graphic design), and case studies that include graphical user interfaces, statistical maps, and discussions of Internet protocols and brand strategy. The weblogs are run by Knowledge Manager Bill Keaggy, a digital designer who spends between 10 minutes and 2 hours per day on them.[6][7][8]
g 9 billion euros in 2007. According to recent estimates provided by UNIPRO, exports of Italy’s cosmetics grew by 5.3 percent reaching a total of 2.25 billion euro, while imports increased by 4.5 percent totaling 1.43 billion euro with respect to 2006. Italy exports approximately 28 percent of its total turnover.
Hair and body care products continue to dominate the cosmetic industry. These two products make up 32 percent of the total marketplace. Facial care, make-up, and body hygiene products are the best prospect products for U.S. companies and 43 percent of the total cosmetics market is directly made up of these three different product areas.
Italian consumers seem to prefer more specialized channels for purchasing cosmetic products. The pharmacy channel for purchasing cosmetic continues to be the most lively as it increased 8.5 percent from the previous year. The pharmacy channel offers sophisticated products at a more affordable price to most consumers. However, the perfumery channel still remains an important aspect to the concept of beauty, although there has been a change in consumption to other channels due to the expensive nature of the products. The herbalist shop market is another major potential participant in the marketplace, registering an increase of 4 percent with respect to previous years. Consumers remain enthusiastic about the herbalist market due to its perceived value for money.
Suppliers
The following companies are distributing Italian and French cosmetic products in Italy:
Door and Channel - Top sellers in women’s fragrances
Armani - Number one in men’s fragrances
L’Oreal Italia Spa. - strongest in color cosmetics
Coty Lancaster Italia S.p.a.
Deborah Italia S.p.a.
Euroitalia S.r.l.
Eurocosmesi S.p.a.
Schiapparelli Pikenz S.p.a.
Market Issues and Obstacles
In order to be competitive in the Italian market companies should be prepared to heavily invest in promoting their products and brands. U.S. companies will need to be able to effectively promote their image and appeal to Italian tastes and fashion preferences. Packaging is also a key component. Products should be packaged in a well-presented, eye-catching fashion. In addition, to sell cosmetic products in Italy a U.S. company must have an Italian representative (either a subsidiary/representative office/agent/distributor/or importer) whose company is properly registered in Italy.
All ingredients used in cosmetic products are subject to stringent European and Italian regulations guaranteeing consumer protection. The Italian consolidated text of laws of the EU directive n. 2002/34 pertains to production and commercial distribution of cosmetics products in Italy. The decree laws are important, as they provide not only a new set of rules regarding production and distribution, but also a new definition of cosmetics. This definition allows for the recognition that cosmetics can have a role in the “protection and maintenance of the well being of the skin and related areas.” It is mandatory for a company importing U.S. cosmetic products to maintain a file or dossier containing all the information needed to evaluate the safety of the cosmetic product and prove its effectiveness.
Italy imports nearly all its cosmetic ingredients. Substances such as aloe vera, lavender, and essential oils are used in the production of locally made products. Demand for raw materials will increase as Italy continues to sell its products abroad. Italian exports have been growing at an average rate of 5 percent per year over the past 10 years. Italy exports mainly within the European Union, United States, and recently in emerging markets such as Russia.
There remain ample opportunities in the Italian cosmetic market. Despite its competitiveness, there is room for innovative products of high quality and good design in the marketplace. Italians also tend to choose products that are nicely packaged and creative.
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