DISCOVERY
ROBERTO GAVAZZI
“OUR MISSION IS TO CURATE BEAUTIFUL DESIGNS THAT LAST FOR A LIFETIME, not just for the next six months or so,” says the CEO of Boffi| De Padova, Roberto Gavazzi, celebrating the launch of the new Boffi| De Padova Studio at Lee Garden Three in Causeway Bay last November. Famed for its sophisticated interpretation of modern sensibilities, cutting-edge technology and traditional craftsmanship, Boffi has been curating top-notch kitchens, bathrooms and storage systems since 1934.
“Back then, Boffi was positioned simply as a kitchen company specialised in crafting contemporary creations,” explains Roberto. “When I joined the company in 1989, my first idea was to take the brand in another direction by incorporating the concept of cabinets into the likes of bathrooms and wardrobes. With such expansion, we were able to open showrooms around the world by developing relevant products.”
The brand didn’t stop there though, as it acquired prestigious Italian furniture design brand De Padova to provide total solutions for global tastemakers. Roberto continues, “When you step inside any of our showrooms, like this one in Hong Kong, you instantly feel like you’re at home – there’s a sumptuous sofa you can sit on to enjoy a good read, or you can simply enjoy the cityscape on the well-furnished terrace. We want you to immerse yourself in this charming atmosphere and be fascinated by it.”
While Roberto thinks there is tremendous market potential in Asia, he reveals that it’s challenging to look for a competent partner to “present the brand well”. “We have to ensure we can offer the best service and team in the city where we are, so sometimes we wait until we find the right partners before entering a market,” he explains. “With KI Design Limited in Hong Kong, who is a reputable partner in the field, the collaboration has been successful – and exhilarating.”
「我們致力打造出可終生享用的永恆設計，而非只為了接著的6個月而製造。」Boffi去年11月選址銅鑼灣利園三期開設新旗艦店Boffi| De Padova Studio，Boffi| De Padova公司行政總裁Roberto Gavazzi受訪這樣說著。事實上，自1934年起，Boffi至今一直以渾然天成的演繹手法，融合現代美學、創新科技和經典工藝，專門製造頂級浴室、廚房和家居收納系統，聞名國際。
「Boffi最初的定位是一間專營當代設計的廚房公司。我於1989年加盟後，第一個想法就是要把品牌帶到另一方向，將儲物收納的概念融入浴室和衣櫃等設計中。業務逐步拓展，我們研發出更多相關產品，成功進駐世界各地開設陳列室。」當然，品牌沒有因此而停下腳步，反而更收購了著名意大利傢具設計公司De Padova，為環球品味人士提供打造完美家居的全面方案。Roberto續說：「當你走進我們任何一間陳列室，例如香港這間全新旗艦店，自會感到自在如家：這裡擺放了一張奢華沙發，讓你舒適地安坐其中，靜靜閱讀，走到裝潢優美的平台欣賞城中美景亦可，全無拘束。我們正正希望大家能沉醉於這股寫意的氣氛之中。」
亞洲市場潛力龐大，要尋找合適的夥伴推廣品牌，Roberto坦言這絕對是一大挑戰：「我們必須確保能為所在城市提供最優質的服務和團隊，在準備打入一個特定市場前，都一定會耐心等待理想的合作夥伴出現。我們與香港業內專家KI Design Limited的合作相當成功，令人充滿期待。」