puntoitalia

www.puntoitalia.com

1. Tell us about your business

puntoitalia is your one-stop shop when it comes to

• web design (we combine flair and functionality to create outstanding sites suitable to our clients' needs)
• graphic design (again, a clever mix of european and australian touch adds unique flavours to our creations)
• corporate image (logos, annual reports, brochures, publications, the works)
• publishing (no, we are not a printing company but we can follow your publishing needs from A to Z utilising the best and most reliable printers around, we speak their lingo and we know what you want)
• and now also hosting through our IT arm CMS Hosting (now this is the latest addition to the array of services available. Registering your domain has never been so easy. Even if you don't need one now, just give it a try and see it for yourself)

2. When and why did you start your business?

I established the business in 2003, after 5 years as Secretary General for the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Queensland. It was time for a sea change, which for me it meant going back to my previous job and passion, design and design again.

3. On a personal level, what have you achieved with your business?

I have reached inner peace and the knowledge that the professional path I have chosen years ago has proved to be the right one.

4. What are some of the challenges you’ve faced in growing your business?

Starting from scratch is indeed challenging. The main hurdle was to promote puntoitalia, which is now an ongoing activity through promotional offers and word of mouth. Cash flow is not much of a problem, as we tend to maintain enough funds to see us through both tough times (payment wise) and to allow us to concentrate on long-term projects.

5. What activities have been successful in promoting your business?

Word-of-mouth always works, especially if the clients are satisfied with the results and the price tag attached to them. We have also somehow expanded our services by including domain registration and web hosting for example. in this way our clients can benefit from an all-round service, from design to web maintenance. We have also created strategic alliances with prominent Italian companies to promote our services overseas and, on the Australian soil, by becoming involved in specific projects with a great chance of success.

6. What activities were less successful for marketing your business?

Hmm, interesting question.. All our decisions were made based on budget and scope, but the less successful activities always involved third parties. The most important key to success, we feel, is to partner with businesses and individuals that share your passion and are just as driven to succeed as you are. Our partnerships are always based on a 50/50 basis, so if we grow so do our partners.

7. Name your favourite thing about your business

On a personal level, the freedom of choosing our clients is definitely way up the top. On a professional level, we pride ourselves in being always available and ready to look after our clients' needs.

8. Who or what other businesses or business people inspire you?

I have had the pleasure of meeting, in 2001, Fausto Paltrinieri, the founder of Studio C.E.T (Modena, Italy). Since then we have become friends and business partners and I have always admired Fausto's ethics and values. We always try to apply in our business dealings the simplest and most effective rule of all: Do not do to others what you do not want done to yourself.

9. What are your plans for the future of your business?

We would like to firmly establish puntoitalia overseas and to create an exclusive client portfolio.

10. Share your best business tip with our readers.

Always respect your business partners, choose them with wisdom and build friendships that go beyond the dollar sign. See what the competition is doing and judge what could be done to position yourself in the marketplace. Network as much as you can, but again, choose wisely.

Visit us at: www.puntoitalia.com