In conversation with Francesca Rapisardi, General Manager Worldwide, PARDGROUP (Exclusive Interview)

When was the company founded? Please provide a brief overview. 

Pardgroup was founded in 2014 with a vision to revolutionize marketing strategies and Retail Design, Pardgroup was established with a clear purpose: to redefine the way businesses engage with their audience. Since its inception, Pardgroup has been committed to find a creative approaches to enhance brand visibility, drive customer engagement, and ultimately, boost business growth.

As a multinational field marketing and retail services agency, Pardgroup offers a complete all-round service to the retail world. Delivering high-end projects on behalf of premium and luxury global brands, we manage and deliver the design, production and installation of shop windows, pop-up stores, P.O.P. materials and exhibition structures, whilst also offering merchandising and instore promotion services. We guarantee our clients a global and multi-channel approach, paying particular attention to sustainability and social responsibility.

Which are your main markets? Do you have plans to expand? 

We are currently present with organized offices in the following countries:

• Milan, Italy
• London, UK
• Dubai, UAE
• New York City, US
• Madrid & Barcelona, Spain
• Lisbon, Portugal
• Nice, France
• Dublin, Ireland
• Lugano Switzerland
• Hong Kong, China OPENING JUNE 2024

What about the profile of your clients?

Our clients are mainly premium and luxury global brands, spanning from Fashion, Sportswear, Consumer electronics, Beauty and Fragrances and Beverage. We work with multinational global companies with a GLOCAL approach though our world wide offices

Tell us more about the business areas and your USPs

Pardgroup offers great advantages in the area of retail interior design, production and Project managerment of Premium project Worldwide.

With a global network of 10 strategic locations across the world, and over 20 years of industry expertise, Pardgroup is knowns to deliver exceptional results.

We also have an in-house Design studio as well as 3 company owned production facilities – THE YELLOW FACTORY.

Our in-house design studio is equipped with the latest tools and multi cultural talents to create immersive 2D, 3D renders, and technical drawings, ensuring precision and creativity in every project.

Pardgroup also has a team of multilingual international project managers and architects to help manage projects locally, this also allows us to solve any issues in a timely matter.

What sets us apart is our vertically integrated approach. 

As mentioned, with three company-owned production facilities strategically located in the UK, Northern Italy, and the UAE, we guarantee streamlined production processes and superior quality control.

Our international team of project managers and architects enables seamless project management and on-the-ground support.

Finally we believe in Sustainability and Up-cycling and on top of green certifications we have multiple upcycling opportunities we offer our clients to reuse VM materials.

By selecting Pardgroup, our clients will find a collaborative partner committed to delivering excellent service.

How important is creativity in your field? What about the understanding of luxury? 

Creativity is extremely impoirtant for us and for our clients, and for that reason we decided to create a dedicated Design Studio, called Axielab

Axielab is part of the Pardgroup Family and it is an enthusiastic group of young and  talented designers, passionate about creating exceptional projects tailored to our clients needs. Axie’s ambition and individuality seek to craft bold brand activations like temporary stores and installations, pop-ups, shop in shops, windows displays, events and much more.

Curious by nature, we push the boundaries of our production knowledge, always eager to pursue and deliver disruptive solutions in the operational fields of retail, hospitality and graphics.

Axie is based in Milan but is international: you can find us also in London, Dubai, Madrid, Dublin, Lugano and New York.

Why Axielab?

Axolotls are aquatic-dwelling amphibians, therefore they can live in different environmental conditions – water but also land.

With a name coming from Aztec mythology, they have been studied for a long time by biologists thanks to their astonishing ability to regenerate their body.

They are versatile, unique and…pretty cool.

Please provide a few examples of your most spectacular projects. 

• FENDI SELLERIA – Shibuya Parco – Tokyo April 2024
• DIOR SAKS – Saks 5th Avenue NYC – Window Frames and Pop-in – December 2023
• ZEGNA FACADE – The Dubai Mall – December 2023
• LORO PIANA Cocoon – Holt Vancouver – October 2023
• LOUIS VUITTON JEWELRY – The Dubai Mall – May 2023
• LOEWE X ON RUNNING – The Dubai Mall – Oct 2023
• FENDACE – Harrod’s London UK – May 2022
• ARMANI LOVE – Miami Flagship store – November 2022

Similarly to other industry sectors, do you face any staffing challenges? 

Yes, surely we have faced the same challanges as most companies around the world, however we do believe a lot in giving back to our team, as to minimize staff turnover. The biggest asset our company has it’s its people, so we all make sure everyone feels satisfied and happy with their job.

We also have a flexible WFH schedule which is highly appreciated by everyone.

 

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