Felice d'Endice

#Duediligence Alert: The Italian Competition Authority (AGCM) has fined #GiorgioArmani SpA and GA Operations SpA €3.5 million for misleading ethical and social responsibility statements that didn't reflect the actual working conditions at suppliers and subcontractors to whom production had been outsourced. This follows the #Dior case a few months ago. The AGCM cited declarations in the Armani Code of Ethics, the Armani Values website (www.armanivalues.com) and the Armani website (www.Armani.com). Giorgio Armani SpA responded with surprise and plans to challenge the decision in the Regional Administrative Court (TAR), stating that they have always operated in fairness and transparency. This is the latest in the growing list of cases brought by competition authorities in France and Italy against companies whose #humanrights and #environmental claims are vague, unsubstantiated or false. It's important to note that the crux of the matter in each case was the failure to conduct due diligence, including the tracing and verification of production sites and standards. EU due diligence laws may be in flux, but prosecutors and competition authorities are reminding us that the risks to consumers, investors, companies and stakeholders are real. What should companies do now? Doubling down on announced audits of known suppliers will achieve nothing. This is not about the knowns, it's about the unknowns, the risks of subcontracting, of price-driven corner-cutting. Companies need to ask themselves how they may be causing or contributing to supplier attempts to evade labour laws, collective agreements, taxes and social security contributions. In short, companies need better risk identification, then they can target their audits. Michael Posner Dorothee Baumann-Pauly Justine Nolan Markus Löning Christine Kim Equiception Business and Human Rights Simone Cipriani Matteo Ward Ken Pucker

199

9 commenti

Thrilled to see my perspective on emerging customer behavior making headlines on Italy's #1 business newspaper (Il Sole 24 Ore) Giampaolo Colletti and Fabio Grattagliano perfectly synthesized what I've been observing: the lines between gaming, commerce, and brand engagement are dissolving before our eyes. The article highlights three game-changing trends that every marketer should understand: ☝️ Virtual worlds as marketing frontiers: Platforms like Fortnite, Roblox, and Minecraft aren't just games anymore, but act like immersive marketing ecosystems where brands can create authentic experiences that resonate with Gen Alpha and Gen Z. ✌️ The rise of new forms of "advergame": We're witnessing the emergence of advertising that doesn't interrupt the experience but enhances it. Brands are becoming part of the gameplay itself (aka creating value rather than disrupting it). 🫶 Community-driven commerce: These platforms are proving that the future of retail isn't selling products, it's building COMMUNITIES WHERE COMMERCE HAPPENS NATURALLY. What fascinates me most is how these gaming environments are teaching us new rules for customer engagement: 1. authenticity over promotion, 2. experience over transaction, 3. community over audience. The implications for traditional retail and marketing are profound and they apply beyond Fortnite, Roblox and Minecraft. 😉 -gs

120

9 commenti

🌐 In today’s hyperconnected world, inertia is a greater risk than disruption.   📗 In “Market Strategies in a Hyper-Connected World” (EgeaEditore, 2025), Alessandro Arbore argues that strategy must become a living process—constantly evolving, rarely fixed. The core lesson? Success lies in dynamic adaptation, not static plans.   What does this mean in practice?   👉​ Leaders must decide when to initiate change, when to join existing movements, and when to co-evolve, aligning boldness with defensibility. (Egea Online)   👉​ Marketing must reclaim its place as a strategic engine, not a downstream function. It’s no longer enough to execute plans—you must lead experiments, interpret signals, and shift course when data and intuition demand.   👉​ AI is a powerful ally—but one that must be steered. In marketing, generative AI should augment human insight, not replace it; success depends on preserving judgment, reputation, and tacit knowledge.   Arbore calls for new mindsets in leadership, marketing, and innovation. The environments we compete in are no longer linear or predictable.   📌 Only organizations that embed learning, agility, and “abductive” thinking (a way of reasoning that starts from incomplete or ambiguous information and generates the most plausible hypothesis to explain it) into their core will thrive.   👉 For those who lead, market, or design strategy in any capacity, this book can be a strategic guide to staying relevant when change is the only constant.   Discover more on SDA Bocconi insight: https://lnkd.in/dS53QqG3

84

👓 What the eyewear industry teaches us about successful #growth and bold and impeccable #corporate #strategy #ideation and #execution? Based on my recent SDA Bocconi #Insight contribution, here are five key lessons: 1️⃣ Vertical integration is a launchpad for innovation, not just control. 2️⃣ Proprietary brands strengthen portfolios beyond licensing logic. 3️⃣ Global listening matters, growth requires local insight, not just distribution. 4️⃣ Italy (and Veneto) is more than a supply chain: it’s an R&D lab in motion. 5️⃣ Eyewear is an important gateway to Made in Italy, cultural and emotional. Eyewear proves that heritage sectors can be reimagined, with the right balance of craft, scale, and vision. ➡️ Full article here (Italian version available): https://lnkd.in/d6M-WsRN #Eyewear #LuxuryStrategy #MadeInItaly #B2B #Innovation #SDAInsight #GrowthStrategy #Symbolicindustries

129

📣 This year the European Commission will be present at ECOMONDO - ITALIAN EXHIBITION GROUP with an official stand featuring the key funding programmes for the #green and #digitaltransition.  At the stand, visitors will have the opportunity to participate to thematic sessions and one to one meetings, and to hear directly from successful projects and companies how #Europeanfunds helped them bring their innovative ideas to life.  In addition, representatives from the European Commission, the CINEA - European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency as well as the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA) will be available to answer questions and provide guidance on how to access EU funding opportunities! 📌 Learn more at this link: https://lnkd.in/dib-ADgu

67

Excited for the new batch of the I-Tech Innovation Program! This program, promoted by Fondazione Golinelli and CRIF and managed by G-Factor, incubator-accelerator of Fondazione Golinelli, supports early-stage teams working on real-world problems with high-growth potential It’s not just about acceleration it’s about helping startups build the right partnerships, get funding-ready, and scale internationally The program will support 12 startups across 6 key verticals: •EdTech in Life Science •AI & Data in Finance & Green Economy •AgriTech & FoodTech •Industry 4.0 •Social Impact •TravelTech & Smart Mobility Applications are open to •innovative startups •spin-offs •newcos •entrepreneurial teams with just an idea Activities will take place between January and May 2026 with sessions both online and in Bologna What I appreciate most is how this program connects research, industry, and venture with the goal of building scalable, investable solutions, not just prototypes Applications are open until October 15 and there is an info webinars coming up on October 8th at 17:00 If you’re building something in one of these areas or supporting a team that is take a look, this might be the right platform Link in first comment

66

5 commenti

At OCRIM S.p.A. Open Day in #Turin, Mr. Alberto Antolini CEO, delivered the opening address, emphasizing the importance of precision in driving progress. “It’s the small details that make success,” he noted. Reflecting on today’s focus on artificial intelligence, he traced its roots back to mathematics and statistics from 2008. What was once considered a fairytale, he explained, is now becoming close to reality. “We haven’t created anything entirely new,” he added, “but we continue to build on what has come before us. It is the details that make the difference—and it is the details that yield success.” I borrowed a small excerpt from their opening monologue, a powerful piece and included it as a voice over in the short 50 second video. Enjoy.

42