Colorificio San Marco S.p.A. – Interview to Pietro Geremia
Colorificio San Marco S.p.A. – There are Italian companies that, defying the general trend, are actually capable of growing constantly, steadily and represent a worthy investment for their stakeholders. The key word for these companies is: working – working hard. And conjugating hard work with respect for their history, their family, their employees and the geographical area they happen to be. But respecting one’s territory doesn’t mean rejecting globalization: on the contrary lots of Italian family run companies have expanded their horizons and embraced a worldwide kind of commerce. Colorificio San Marco is one of the best examples of this kind of 100% Italian, 100% family run companies: it all began in 1930 when Pietro Tamburini started his linseed paint business – and it was a success. We talked about this and more with Marketing Director and Manager Pietro Geremia.
Mr. Geremia, your company is almost one hundred year old. Can you tell us something about its story?
Of course. Well, it all began in the 1930s, when my grandma’s father – Pietro Tamburini – started working on paints he would sell to local artisans. In 1962 my grandma Alessandrina took care of renaming the company, from Pietro Tamburini & A into Colorificio San Marco S. p. A. the name still in use today.
Why discarding the family name?
Grandma was a deeply religious woman and Saint Mark is the saint patron of our city, Venice. Certainly grandma Alessandrina wasn’t only that, she was clever, ambitious and put her degree in Economy to the service of this company, to which she was utterly devoted and committed. We have to thank her for modernizing our productive process and the phases of research and development of new products.
In the 70’s it was my father’s turn, Mr. Federico Geremia. He was a pioneer, he pushed this company outside Italians borders: we started exporting in the East of Europe, France, but also in the Middle East. Today he’s the company’s President, General Manager and Sales Manager. Ours is a very tight-knit family, I’m particularly close to my sisters: Marta (Financial Director) and Maria Luce (Human Resources). But really, we work keeping in mind the principles on which the company was founded which means actually caring for our employees and our customers. Together with my sisters we innovated the company even more, we introduced more managerial positions and employed young people. We aim at accelerating our foreign acquisitions, have a steadier hold on the building tools business and generally expand our production.
What are the pros and cons of a family run company?
I would certainly say that we are “forced” to care even more for our co-workers which in our case are our relatives. This fact prompts us to focus on long-termed projects instead of short-termed ones because our working team isn’t composed by strangers that could leave us any minute. And this is undoubtedly positive.
On the other hand, the main disadvantage is that being a family run company, when it comes to money we all need to chip in, invest and re-invest our own savings.
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Can we talk about 100% Made in Italy products when it comes to your company, then? And how about your company’s bond with its native region?
Yes, one could say Made in Italy, but we really like the term Made in Veneto most. Indeed we pursue an ideal of Italian quality and beauty and we export this around the world. Do you want one example? We are leaders in Russia’s market. Our clients know that their homes are actually enriched by true Italian quality. About our region, Veneto, I’d say our bond with it is everything. In one of our factories in Marcon we opened a company kindergarten, in order to enable our employees to work without the struggle of finding who will take care of their children while they’re working. We also contributed financially to the restoration of some of Venice’s monuments such as the Napoleonic columns of Piazza San Marco.
What’s the secret of your success?
First of all: determination. Secondly, we managed to keep our money into our company. We kept investing even during hard times. Last but not least, our dedication to our job, the actual amount of time we spend working for our common goals. Personally, my working day starts at 7.30 AM and it seldom ends before 8 PM.
Is there something you’d like to say to those young Italians willing to create and invest notwithstanding these times of economical crisis?
Young people have what it takes to seize new opportunities and make the best of them, however few these opportunities may be given these age. Back in the past, being determined, passionate and willing to do sacrifices for our careers was enough, but today the road to success is rockier and trickier, one needs to complete their personal qualities with studies, being more than competent.
You became competent also thanks to the University we attended together, Bocconi. What does this mean to you?
Bocconi shaped my head in a way that enables me to always find a solution, even when everyone’s convinced that there isn’t a solution to a certain problem. It educated me to make the best of everything, which stimulated my ambition. .
The healthy kind of ambition combined with values and a fertile territory gave birth to a successful company – our Colorificio San Marco is one excellent example of Italian quality business, isn’t it?
I wish Pietro all the best, he’s an amazing person and a capable businessman.
