Italy: Why and how to conquer the lifestyle market
VOCAST is launching Italian curated lists for the lifestyle market. With over 67.000 fashion brands (1) and over 30.000 interior design companies (2), not to mention world prestigious wool, silk, lace and leather manufacturers, Italy represents one of the largest lifestyle markets in the world. The country’s ancient artisanal traditions have drilled Italians to dress and decorate homes properly for centuries.
As Italians put quality and beauty at the center of any product, they are highly educated consumers who seek a sophisticated product with a long-lasting lifecycle. It is therefore not a coincidence that Scandinavian design has been trending increasingly in Italian fashion magazines and among consumers the past years. Inevitably, there are still a few things to know about the market. Here is why and how you should conquer the Italian lifestyle market:
Quality: Make sure to do your homework
Italians know quality and love a good story. Make sure that your product descriptions are complete, on-point and put effort into storytelling when it comes to the provenience and sourcing of material and design. With that in mind, forget ambiguity- Italians will call you out for it. Instead, underline the uniqueness of your product even in the smallest details. This is key to tackle the competition of the national merchandise mark, Made in Italy.
Since the 80’s, Made in Italy has developed into a global mark of excellence regarding quality and design for products designed, produced and packed in Italy. The Italian regulations are more strict than the German and American mark and special efforts have been made for the past twenty years to protect and market Made in Italy.
Keep it cordial
Like in many south European countries, titles and formality play an important role in most communication, especially if you are not well-acquainted with the recipient. For this reason, keep contact with the press formal and cordial to stay on the safe side, and you will make sure that your message is well received.
If they like it, Italians will want to put a ring on it
With over 67.000 fashion brands in Italy alone, the competition for the consumers’ attention is high and the love story of the Italians and their favorite brands go way back. Do not try to please everyone: When it comes to the Italian market, unique positioning and identity will have a higher return as many Italians seek to invest in brands long term. This implies putting a strong emphasis on branding and storytelling. Ultimately, you also need to nurture the customer relationship as they will want to feel just as special as you are to them. Quite the commitment, but in return, you will have one of the most loyal customers in the world.
Get acquainted with the media landscape
Fashion – Reach
+35 Magazines
+80 Editors
+70 Influencers
included in VOCASTs Italian curated lists
Home/Interior – Reach
+30 Magazines
+70 Editors
+50 Influencers
included in VOCASTs Italian curated lists
A rich influencer scene
Italy was a bit late to the party when it came to digitizing the lifestyle industry. However, many brands are now up-to-date with E-Commerce, social media channels as well as with influencer marketing. Global influencer royalty Chiara Ferragni paved the way to a rich fashion and lifestyle influencer arena with thousands of active influencers, many specialized in various niches. For this reason, the influencer market is constantly changing with new profiles arising weekly, ensuring that as a brand you can find an Italian profile that suits you.
Key publishing houses
The Italian publishing landscape is advanced and long-established with multiple magazines focusing on various parts of the fashion and design system. Note that some of the top-titles such as Elle, Vanity Fair and Grazia will be found in the Weekly magazines curated list, unlike some of their international sibling editions.
Like most large lifestyle markets, there are a few key publishing houses holding the most important, but not all, lifestyle magazines:
Meet the editors
To get access to the Italian curated lists of these and +35 magazines, Influencers, Trade Publications, Editor-in-chiefs, Editors, Directors, and more
Olivia is the Italian Market Coordinator at VOCAST. She studied Fashion Marketing & Communication at IED in Milan, where she also began working with fashion marketing and PR. When not at VOCAST, she can be found in her kitchen developing recipes, dealing with the transition from pizza to rye bread.
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