Julian's trip to B&B Italia

Over the weekend of 16-19 November, Julian, Tangram’s Managing Director, was in Northern Italy at a corporate weekend for B&B Italia’s top European dealers. 98 dealers stayed in a luxurious ‘confection’ of a hotel on Lake Maggiore – marble, cut glass and gilt covered every surface. The weather was cold but fine and snow lay on the distant Alps.


The weekend comprised a variety of trips to local attractions, (including staggeringly pretty lakes), a golf competition (won by Julian!), spa treatments and evening presentations from Antonio Citterio (explaining his new Flat.c shelving system) and Patricia Urquoila. Patricia gave a guided walk through the hotel gardens where her new Canasta range of outdoor or conservatory furniture was displayed.


Besides the relaxation it was a great opportunity to learn more about the furniture business in different parts of the Europe – whether enormous stores in Istanbul serving the city’s rapidly growing population of 14m or smaller outlets on Belgium’s north sea coast or in the Bulgarian capital, Sofia. While the variety and size of businesses was enormous, everyone shared a passion for great design and B&B Italia’s quality of product.

This was reinforced on the last day when the dealers travelled to B&B Italia’s factory to view the latest designs in its refurbished showroom. During 2008 Tangram will also be showing these products including the Fat sofa, Pier wardrobe system, Flat.c and Canasta.