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Pasquale Natuzzi was very young when he started his career. The son of a cabinet-maker, in 1959 at just 19 years of age he opened a workshop in Taranto with three collaborators, producing sofas and armchairs for the local market.
In 1962 he moved to Matera where he began to gain commercial experience, giving him in-depth knowledge of the difficulties and mechanisms of distribution.
In 1967, still in Matera, Pasquale Natuzzi returned to the production of sofas and armchairs, this time on an industrial scale.
In 1972 he founded Natuzzi Salotti S.r.l. One year later, following a fire that completely destroyed the Matera factory, Pasquale Natuzzi decided to relocate production to Santeramo in Colle (Bari – Italy), which is the modern-day headquarter of the Group.
Somewhere about the middle of the 70’s, Natuzzi took part for the first time to a furniture fair in Bari. Here started first contacts with some customer from Middle East: Saudi Arabia, Israel, Jordan. In 1976 Natuzzi exported the 60% of the turnover in those countries, while 40% was realized in Italy.
At the beginning of the 80’s there is the turning point of Natuzzi Group’s growth. During a trip to the USA, Pasquale Natuzzi intuitively spotted an opportunity to carry out a radical change of direction: “democratising” the leather sofa, once a product for an elite niche. The first sofa sold at $999 in the United States was a Natuzzi, at the famous store Macy’s.
Following the success in the USA, in 1985 Natuzzi Upholstery Inc. was established. Based in New York, the company was especially designed for the needs of its North American clients.
The successes achieved in the USA, confirmed by the quotation on Wall Street in May 1993, drove Natuzzi on to conquer other markets, mainly in Europe and the Far East, and to reach the world leadership in leather upholstery.
In 1998, further confirmation of the Group’s strong ties with the American market was given by the inauguration in High Point (North Carolina) of a futuristic-looking building, designed by the architect Mario Bellini, housing the offices of Natuzzi Americas, with a huge showroom measuring 8,000 square metres.
In 1962 he moved to Matera where he began to gain commercial experience, giving him in-depth knowledge of the difficulties and mechanisms of distribution.
In 1967, still in Matera, Pasquale Natuzzi returned to the production of sofas and armchairs, this time on an industrial scale.
In 1972 he founded Natuzzi Salotti S.r.l. One year later, following a fire that completely destroyed the Matera factory, Pasquale Natuzzi decided to relocate production to Santeramo in Colle (Bari – Italy), which is the modern-day headquarter of the Group.
Somewhere about the middle of the 70’s, Natuzzi took part for the first time to a furniture fair in Bari. Here started first contacts with some customer from Middle East: Saudi Arabia, Israel, Jordan. In 1976 Natuzzi exported the 60% of the turnover in those countries, while 40% was realized in Italy.
At the beginning of the 80’s there is the turning point of Natuzzi Group’s growth. During a trip to the USA, Pasquale Natuzzi intuitively spotted an opportunity to carry out a radical change of direction: “democratising” the leather sofa, once a product for an elite niche. The first sofa sold at $999 in the United States was a Natuzzi, at the famous store Macy’s.
Following the success in the USA, in 1985 Natuzzi Upholstery Inc. was established. Based in New York, the company was especially designed for the needs of its North American clients.
The successes achieved in the USA, confirmed by the quotation on Wall Street in May 1993, drove Natuzzi on to conquer other markets, mainly in Europe and the Far East, and to reach the world leadership in leather upholstery.
In 1998, further confirmation of the Group’s strong ties with the American market was given by the inauguration in High Point (North Carolina) of a futuristic-looking building, designed by the architect Mario Bellini, housing the offices of Natuzzi Americas, with a huge showroom measuring 8,000 square metres.
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With North American expansion continuing, the Group then went on to strengthen its presence both in Europe and in Italy. The 1990s saw the opening in Taranto, on Pasquale Natuzzi’s initiative, of the first shop in the franchising chain Divani & Divani by Natuzzi. The chain’s success is confirmed by the presence of 293 Natuzzi stores worldwide (mainly in Italy, Greece, Spain, Portugal, France, Switzerland, China, Australia), 366 Natuzzi Galleries, mainly in the United States and Northern Europe.
Today Pasquale Natuzzi personally oversees strategic activities relating to strengthening the brand with investments in product innovation and research, marketing, communication and staff training, working alongside the Group’s managers to define future strategies.
In 2008 Pasquale Natuzzi was inducted into the American Furniture Hall of Fame. He was the first international recipient of the honor.
— presso Puglia.Today Pasquale Natuzzi personally oversees strategic activities relating to strengthening the brand with investments in product innovation and research, marketing, communication and staff training, working alongside the Group’s managers to define future strategies.
In 2008 Pasquale Natuzzi was inducted into the American Furniture Hall of Fame. He was the first international recipient of the honor.
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