Ksara: Italian brands embody a blend of tradition, style, and innovation

Innovative, quality, functional, harmonious, elegant. These traits mark the most sought-after products, with those designed by Italian brands shining brightly among them.

“Italian brands embody a blend of tradition, innovation, and style.”

“The market is expanding steadily. Our shop boasts a wide range of Italian goods, including items from L'Oca Nera, Pozzi Milano-Easy Life, IVV, Guzzini, Brandani, WD, Pasqualetti, and Home Decor-Nuvole di Stoffa. Customers value their craftsmanship, distinct style, beauty, and uniqueness,” says Carol Saad of Ksara. “These names represent a mixture of tradition, innovation, and style, giving the buyer a sample of Italian excellence.”

What are the most popular products?

“It's tough to list them all: from ceramic tableware and kitchen utensils to glasses and home decor like vases and candlesticks; from crystal wine glasses and glass vases to decorative bowls and ornamental statues; from mirrors to deluxe bedding and stitched pillows. A variety of solutions cater to diverse preferences and tastes, featuring elegant design and meticulous attention to detail, blending practicality with allure.”

Established in 1998, Ksara has always been a place where customers can discover unique gifts, get tailored advice, and join in special events.

What tasks must a shop perform?

Saad continues: “The shop serves several purposes. It's a space where customers can explore, engage with, and buy products or services. It also gives brands a platform to display their products. Shops are vital in linking online and offline channels, offering services like click-and-collect and dealing with returns. The greatest challenge is online competition and adjusting to how consumers behave digitally, while also providing them with a seamless, omnichannel experience. Today, stores serve as trading hubs and bring together communities of shoppers.

Thanks to Milano Home, these communities and brands have grown in Ksara’s world.

Milano Home isn't just an exhibition. It's an immersive experience that sparks ideas for refreshing my home and design projects,  a key event that fosters interaction and solidifies relationships, and it offers a chance to share udeas, understand market trends, find new products, and uncover potential business prospects. These links and experiences enhance communication, creativity, and competitiveness in the home furnishings industry.

It’s like stepping into a world where design dreams become reality. Visitors can explore the latest trends and innovations in home living on an engaging journey, where each corner offers fresh inspiration and opportunities. The vibrant displays and precise craftsmanship fill the air with a truly contagious excitement and creativity. As a design enthusiast, I always look forward to exploring the diverse styles and aesthetics presented by brands from all over the world.”

Empatias: your home tells your story

Empatias, a young company established in 1993, specialises in interior decoration and has always chosen top brands, with a keen eye on Italian ones like Alessi, Cassina, Zanotta, Gervasoni 1882, Living Divani, and B&B Italia. With three shops in Portugal (one in Porto and two in Lisbon) Empatias offers a wide range of lighting, furniture, and home goods.

Isabel Santos, CEO of Empatias, says, “We've blended different styles to capture the preferences and trends of a discerning audience. I always choose quality brands that embody sustainability, design, and practicality, as I believe these elements set us apart in a sometimes bewildering and scattered market.” 

In Portugal, the connection between the buyer and the physical shop remains strong. Shops must now be places where customers can experience products, discover quality, and express their personality through sensory experiences. Shopping is an act of love; you must love what you purchase. I believe in the saying: your home tells your story.”

Promoting themed events strengthens customer relationships and bolsters loyalty.

Do online sales impact spending in shops?

“The internet has undoubtedly changed market dynamics, but it hasn't changed the respect and trust built over time between the retailer and the customer. The traditional features and opportunities of a physical store are unique and cannot be replicated. I'm referring to the chance to see and feel the item, to ask the expert for information, benefits, and get advice on a specific product. To strengthen our relationships with customers, we organise events with manufacturers. These events not only foster brand loyalty but also engage people and put them at the heart of the action.”

What do you like most about your job?

“Crafting bespoke solutions, developing ideas, creating designs, transforming an empty space into the dream our customer deeply desires. In a world where everything appears within easy reach and there's little room for conversation, it is fulfilling to start and nurture personal relationships.

Dreams and ambitions sometimes also arise and grow from visiting industry exhibitions.

I enjoy visiting exhibitions to explore products, see their textures, and assess their quality. Most importantly, I value building personal relationships with suppliers and meeting new industry professionals. Exhibitions are the best filter for this, and Milano Home stands out as an event that encourages connections and sparks new ideas and opportunities.”

My Kitchen, when shops are brand storytellers

Tronodideias, trading as My Kitchen, specialises in selling kitchen utensils and accessories. Founded in 2013, the company runs two stores in Funchal, Madeira.

“For us, the kitchen is the heart of the home,” Abel Remesso explains.

Does Italian home living still have an allure for Portuguese customers?

“The market experienced notable growth after the Covid pandemic as many people developed a love for cooking while they had to stay at home. Many people found that cooking can be a hobby, and our shop's items are now more in demand. Italian products stand out for their variety, uniqueness and quality, making them very popular in Portugal. Our customers are discerning; they enjoy hosting friends and sharing a cooking experience, so they seek stylish and attractive items. Among the Italian brands, I could pick out Guzzini, Olipac, Easy Life, and WD, but we're seeking new firms to broaden the range available to our foodie customers.”

What features should the items you choose have?

“Firstly, we select products for their design and function from reputable brands that focus closely on reducing their environmental impact during manufacturing.”

Physical shops aren't just places to buy things. They also tell the brand's story and are spaces for interaction.

How important is it to meet with suppliers and colleagues at Milano Home?

“Taking part the Milan exhibition is very important to us because it allows us to share experiences with regions from around the world that have different ways of life and traditions.”

What challenges do physical stores face today?

“Physical stores are more than just places to shop. They serve as storytellers for brands and live adverts, playing a key role in attracting new customers. Stores also offer spaces for experience and interaction.

The key to a shop's success is offering a unique and personalised service, something only a physical store can provide. Online stores have their own features but lack the direct and personal interaction with customers.

I’ll borrow one of Milano Home's key themes: Specialist shops are the primary point of direct contact with the customer. This definition perfectly captures our shops’ philosophy. Our primary aim is to be close to our customers; we strive to be a direct link to the brands we represent and to foster trust with our clients.”