Mec Europa thinks about the future by focusing on quality and training
General Manager, Paolo Baiguera: “Our goal is to grow further to ensure quality, craftsmanship and strict control of the production process.”
News aziende Arsutoria
October 2024
Founded in 1973, Mec Europa is a leading Italian luxury footwear manufacturer. Located in Verolanuova (Brescia, Italy), the company has a production capacity of 4,000 pairs of shoes per day, made in its five production plants covering an area of 20,000 square meters, which are supported by a warehouse of more than 5,000 square meters dedicated to the storage of materials.
Mec Europa collaborates with the world’s most prestigious fashion brands, offering a complete service from design to the production of the finished product. “Thanks to the work of our more than 300 employees and a meticulous attention to quality and innovation, we proudly represent the true Made in Italy in the footwear industry”, emphasizes Mec Europa General Manager Paolo Baiguera.
The success of the Lombard footwear company is characterized by a remarkable growth path. Mec Europa, in fact, recently opened a new location in Verolanuova going on to complete a 2 million euro investment in 2 years.
We ask Baiguera what is the motivation behind this important project, especially in such a complex period for the fashion industry?
“Our decision to invest stems from a deep conviction: in times of crisis, such as the one we are currently experiencing, it is essential to know how to seize opportunities. Our company has faced difficult challenges before, such as the 2008-2012 crisis, and we have come out stronger. We have learned that investing in quality, craftsmanship and control of the production process sets us apart in the market. The complete internalization of the supply chain, which we now manage directly, is a concrete example of how we intend to ensure excellence and innovation, even in complex times. When many people were offshoring in the late 1990s and at the beginning of the millennium, Mec Europa always believed in the importance of being able to manage every production process ourselves. We knew that sooner or later the choice would pay off. Now luxury customers appreciate our vision.”
Could investing at such a complex time, when even griffes seem to be stuck, prove to be a gamble?
“Our reality is proceeding against the trend; in fact, we continue to grow. The numbers speak for themselves: in the last three years, turnover has grown and our margins have grown. We closed 2023 with a turnover of 27.5 million euros and aim to close 2024 with a 40% increase over the previous year, precisely because of the investments made. We entered the signature champions league late compared to others, but we prepared maniacally to provide a complete and accurate service. Today we are being recognized for this investment.”
You have increased your assembly lines to 7 and hired over 155 people in the last two years. Have you experienced a benefit you did not expect from this expansion?
“I would not speak of surprises as much as confirmations. We knew that our choice to internalize would bring numerous benefits. Today, with direct control of the entire supply chain – from design to finished product – we can ensure the highest quality at every stage of production. Our ability to maintain high standards, both in terms of efficiency and social impact, stems precisely from this strategic decision. Every day we see the fruits of this choice, and the market, particularly luxury brands, increasingly appreciates that we can ensure quality, traceability and sustainability.”
Having control over all production processes, what innovations are you looking to most to evolve further?
“We have developed software tailored to our needs, and we have built it by directly involving all our employees. The goal is to track quality in real time, at every stage of the production process. This tool not only serves the company to monitor, but also the operators to improve their work and feel part of the project. Tracking quality in such detail allows us to anticipate problems and refine details, while maintaining the craftsmanship excellence that sets us apart. We don’t just tell our customers in words that we offer them a quality product, but we can demonstrate it, as well as assure them that we interpret quality as constant refinement.”
What are the next goals in terms of sustainability?
“Sustainability is a central aspect of our strategy. We have invested heavily to ensure compliance with the highest environmental standards, provided all plants with bicycles to get around within them, electrified the car fleet, and placed a resource in the company dedicated to developing a welfare program with the sole aim of improving the well-being of all employees. We will also soon start with the installation of solar panels on all our plants.”
You have placed great emphasis on youth training. How are you addressing this issue and what is your vision for the future?
“We believe that the future of our industry depends on the ability to train, engage, enthuse and motivate the younger generation. Investing in young people is perhaps the most important innovation to focus on. That is why we have created a continuing education program, which involves our most experienced workers in transferring their know-how to young people. Working in our industry requires deep craft skills, and we don’t just teach a single task, we want to pass on a culture of shoemaking. We wish to raise masters, not workers. So it is essential to involve young people, make them part of our project and make them feel that they are part of something bigger. Only in this way we can ensure the continuity and success of Mec Europa in the years to come. With this in mind, we will soon be launching a special training project aimed precisely at involving our young employees and growing in them a passion for this job.”
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