Occhibelli: a formula for success
Set up in Porto Mantovano in 1995 thanks to the enterprise of Claudio Morganti, the current President and Sole Proprietor of the Purchasing Group, Occhibelli has been able to interpret and respond to market needs and has again demonstrated the high value of its services and the considerable power of association. We asked Morganti some questions about the company and its particular characteristics.
This is now a consolidated group. Can you sum it up in figures?
Occhibelli Group and Genio Lab closed 2010 with billings of 9 million euros and a total Group turnover of about 15 million euros, despite the negative international economic scenario. Moreover, there are exciting prospects for 2011, which promise an estimated 15% growth against 2010 and billings of over 10 million euros. This positive trend is even more significant if you consider that the increase in billings is due exclusively to the increase in the number of associates and not to the acquisition of new groups. At the end of 2010, no fewer than 245 outlets have joined our business, a number that is forecast to rise to 350 by the end of 2011.
OcchiBelli Group was set up with a formula you describe as being innovative. Tell us about it.
“Our formula is innovative because of three elements: simplicity, realism and organization. Simplicity: whereas other groups adopt very complex association procedures, OcchiBelli Group offers very simple conditions that associates can easily understand. Realism: unlike many groups that mislead opticians with grand projects that rarely produce tangible results, OcchiBelli offers its associates many services that simplify and improve their day-to-day methods of working and the image/service they want to present to their customers. Organization: in Italy there are groups – even those with a large number of associates – that are fairly unstructured, they do not have a large presence in the territory and are forced to provide their customers with only marginal daily follow up. The OcchiBelli strategy has been planned over the years and is continually developing to follow the market; this has allowed the group to establish two main offices with a team of 25 people who are ready to help opticians with everything they need”.
Your range of action covers the North and part of Central Italy. What is the reason for this?
There are two main reasons. The first is presence in the territory: the current commercial structure of six tied agents allows us to be present in the territory with service quality that other groups find it difficult to match; they want to have the numbers, but do not follow their customers they way they should. In addition to this, the two main offices in Mantua and Verona guarantee associates almost immediate delivery of products and services, such as the deliveries within 24-48 hours guaranteed by the ophthalmic laboratory. In short: an increase in the number of associates, but only if they are guaranteed appropriate service.
What are you aiming for next?
To improve the coverage of our territories and to be an even more “independent company” at the service of associates by expanding the range of products offered exclusively to the outlets in the OcchiBelli Group. We want to become increasingly closer to our customers and be an essential point of support for managing and solving outlet problems. Associates satisfaction has always been our main aim.
