Positive growth for Salmoiraghi & Viganò Group
Billings and Ebitda
Billings grew by 25.5% from 120 million euros to 150.6 million euros.
Ebitda increased from 17.2 to 21 million euros (+23%)
Growth with the same number of stores
The positive sales trend continues into the new year: growth with the same number of stores increased by 6.3%.
Pretax profits
The Group's pretax profits stood at 9.5 million euros, a 20% increase compared to the year 2006/2007.
Salmoiraghi & Viganò Group:398 stores+90 stores
Salmoiraghi & Viganò brand:266 stores+38
VistaSì brand:117 stores+37
Spacciocchiali brand:15 stores+2 (from May 2007)
Growth is due not only to the increase in outlets, but also to a constant improvement in marketing policies which raised sales performance levels at the Group's core stores.
At the end of the year, the Group had about 400 stores, now the total is 415 outlets throughout Italy and is represented by three trade names:
- Salmoiraghi & Viganò, with 276 stores it is the leader of the medium-high range
- VistaSì, with 123 stores it dominates the 'lowest price' area
- Spacciocchiali, acquired recently and with 16 outlets in the north-east, it is a new business with very large stores that distribute only its own very up-to-date and very competitively priced brands and which offer a very precise optical-optometric service. 
The Group's particularly active policy for developing the network has led to the acquisition of 50 outlets in major city centers and over 40 in shopping malls, giving a total of over 90 new outlets. Because of this strong expansion, 220 new people were hired, bringing the total of employees to 1,500.
The financial year that has just ended also saw the Group's return to the optical instruments business thanks to the acquisition of Italy's main retailer.
In this segment, Salmoiraghi & Viganò recorded a considerable increase in billings - from 550 thousand euros to 3.620 million euros.
The Group's significant growth was supported by equally significant investment: almost 30 million euros were allocated to outlet acquisition, restyling and new openings.
An important moment for the Group was the inauguration of the new head office in Milan. The main façade of the 7,000-square-meter building has been branded Salmoiraghi & Viganò and it houses all the companies in the Group as well as the logistics center. This has enabled to maximize the efficiency of internal processes, improve communications between parties and contacts with partners, suppliers and outlets, and therefore offer clients an increasingly high level of service.
'The exceptional growth recorded this year is bringing us closer to achieving the objectives set for 2009 in the Company's three-year plan, and far ahead of the time envisaged', declared company president Dino Tabacchi. 'For next year, we forecast equally strong growth with billings that should be close to 200 million euros with an investment of 28 million euros. These additional investments will allow us to increase the number of stores to 488, which will mean hiring an estimated 280 additional specialized personnel and opticians in particular.'
2007 also marked Salmoiraghi & Viganò's return to television as the 'Eye Connoisseur'. The campaign on the Mediaset and La7 TV networks and Italy's main radio channels, which appeared in March and again just recently, was considerably successful in terms of brand awareness which rose by 5% after the appearance of the TV commercials.
Today the Salmoiraghi & Viganò brand is known to 70% of Italians as the optics reference store.
December 2007 will see the start of Salmoiraghi & Viganò Evolution. A new concept in optician's stores which combines the excellent style of Italian and international high fashion with a range of unique products selected from the most exclusive and elegant lines from all over the world. The concept aims to meet the needs of those who are always on the lookout for the latest trends, who want a sought-after quality product, an extremely high standard of service and special attention.
The layout will be prestigious and elegant: a refined environment characterized by new colors, furnishings and a sign that conveys the store's aptitude for research and innovation, already a feature of the brand.
The new concept and the new store will be inaugurated December 1 at 111 Via Branca, Pesaro.
