The Italian Community ™ is the story of abusiness idea that has been very successful. Today hundreds of Italian professionals, but also companies, shops and services managed by Italians and which are aimed at fellow expatriates in Great Britain are registered in the largest Italian directory abroad. We talked to those who came up with the idea: Alessia Affinity.
For other interviews with Italians in Great Britain you can read , promising, , promising e , promising.
The Italian Community: the transfer
You were born in early 2014. Were you already in London?
I actually moved back in 2002. Per love: my future husband had found a job here. For me it was a hard-fought choice, because I was happy where I was. I was doing well in Rome and I was taking the first steps in the career that I had chosen and that I liked.
Despite the doubts you left everything behind.
My passion, from an early age, was to work as an advertising copywriter. Before knowing about the move, the plan was to stay in an agency for ten years to learn the trade, and then create something of my own. Coming to London I achieved my goal well ahead of schedule.
Thus was born the first creature.
THEmarketing and digital agency it left after 3 years that I was in London, when I was expecting my first child. It can be said that they were born together.
The Italian Community: the project
It all started with Idea 188.
Yes, the agency that I founded from the beginning had a precise identity: a network of freelancers who work remotely, no physical location, maximum reduction of the impact on the environment of our activities. We not only work with digital, but we avoid the environmental footprint of commuting, the use of paper and other office materials, and electricity. For a long time our motto was CCarbon Neutral Creativity.
How did the idea of virtual "yellow pages" for Italians in Great Britain come about?
If until 2013 the clients of the agency were mostly international, since that date they have noticed a real one boom of Italians who moved to London and opened businesses. They turned to us because they needed a partner who knew the English market but spoke and had Italian cultural roots.
So we understood that there was a void to fill: all the immigrants here were looking for doctors, lawyers, Italian artisans but did not know how to find them. Here it is The Italian Community ™, marketplace virtual that lists products, services, shops, but above all Italian professionals and SMEs. We wanted it open to all activities and in a short time it exploded. L'registration for both users and companies it is Delivery to Italy takes one or two business days and last December we launched the free app, again with excellent results. It is the first project of its kind and it is we are expanding also to other countries, such as France, Germany e United States, where there are other very numerous communities of Italians.
The Italian Community: the future
The portal is booming, then.
Yes, we also have the English version for all those who love our country and are looking for Made in Italy products but do not speak Italian. Also, and this is the next step, we are about to launch one shop online of Italian products powered by Amazon. Mostly foodstuffs, which are the most requested, but not only. There will also be fashion e handicraft.
Working with Italians, including those who are thinking of coming to Great Britain and opening a business or bringing the business they have in Italy to the English market, do you think the trends of Italian emigration to London are changing?
Today thethe average Italian immigrant is very young, is just over 20 years old. Here he often comes into trouble, without information and without sufficient preparation. Of course it is a very useful experience: here he can do the job. This, however, does not apply to those who want open a business. To create any business, a good business plan is essential, which goes into detail on all aspects. Even the most extraordinary ideas without a proper business plan fail. Paradoxically, the opposite can also work instead.
Has Brexit changed anything from your point of view?
It has put a stop to company plans to move staff. The climate of uncertainty does not allow for long-term plans. Instead the singles not only keep coming to London, but there was indeed a increase of Italian immigrants. Maybe they have heard so much about the country precisely because of Brexit. Maybe because the common thought is: better now that the borders are open, we don't know afterwards. Sure now we are citizens of the world and mobility is a reality. And in mobility I see only positive sides, of growth and enrichment.
