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FERRINO, 140 YEARS OF ENTHUSIASM FOR THE GREAT OUTDOORS. The unique story of a brand that has been synonymous with mountains, adventure and open-air tourism since 1870
(25.05.2010)This marked the start of the Ferrino story. More precisely, the story began in the company’s Turin store at 107 Via Nizza, centre of production for waxed cloths, tarpaulins, and army tents as well as the only place to go if you were looking for avant-garde technology. Such people included Senator Giovanni Agnelli, who personally ordered “hoods” for his cars, and historical climbers and explorers such as Alberto Maria De Agostini, who pitched a “Neghelli” tent by Ferrino in Tierra del Fuego in the 1920s.
A versatile leading brand in the outdoor and professional equipment industries
In the 1950s and 60s, the production of camping items assumed great importance in the business of Ferrino as family tents and ridge tents began to play a large part in the holidays of many Italians.
Since then it has been a continued succession of new products, which has led Ferrino to broaden its scope, passing from traditional camping to outdoor. In the 1980s, Reinhold Messner chose Ferrino to design and manufacture the tents that would accompany him on all his “Eight Thousanders”. From that time on, Ferrino has provided equipment for the most important expeditions, always offering an attentive bespoke service.
Ferrino ranges from products with the highest technical content and value – such as its High Lab line, which have been subjected to stringent testing in Ferrino’s high-altitude laboratories for the last 16 years – to simpler items that meet the needs of traditional campers, hikers and travellers. Today, Ferrino SpA can be found in the very best sporting goods, outdoor and mountain shops.
Tents for campers and communities, sleeping bags, backpacks, bags and clothing as well as a wide choice of textile and metal accessories are amongst the main products made by Ferrino. In 2008, the company acquired the Baldas brand, a company specialising in manufacturing snowshoes, which are made entirely in Italy.
As well as the outdoor industry, for some years Ferrino has been making progress in new specialist fields. With a line of products specially developed for emergency situations, today Ferrino is a supplier to the United Nations, Caritas, Red Cross, Italian Civil Protection, National Mountain Rescue Corps and all the major humanitarian aid organisations.
At the same time, it is also expanding quickly into the armed forces equipment industry. In fact, Ferrino supplies the Italian and English Defence Ministries, for which it develops and manufactures special equipment made directly to customer request.
Company ethics
Between 1870 and the present, there have been many changes for the Ferrino brand, including the arrival of a new generation of businessmen and women in the company.
However, the past is and always has been a point of reference: attention to professionalism, care for working methods, and the choice of projects, designs and final creations have been behind the success of this brand for the last 140 years. With its T Res initiatives, Ferrino supports international solidarity projects, raising awareness amongst consumers with regard to the principles of responsible tourism and devolving 2% of its Ebit to this purpose. The company is also a member of AITR (Italian Association for Responsible Tourism) and EOG (European Outdoor Group), a group that involves European countries in the outdoor industry in initiatives to safeguard Nature.
Ferrino in figures
In 2009, business turnover for FERRINO reached nearly 20 million euros – an 11% increase compared to the previous financial year. As well as Italy – the main market, where the retail network numbers approximately 1200 sales points – Ferrino is also present on 35 export markets, more specifically, in France, Spain and Eastern Europe, where it is currently enjoying strong levels of growth, exporting some 35% of its products.
Some 60 employees work at the company headquarters: 4000 sq. m in San Mauro Torinese, totally powered by solar energy.
For more information, please contact:
STUDIO ERRANI –Ferrino Press Office
Tel. Fax +39 011/882699 – Tel. +39 02/87393888 E-mail: info@isabellaerrani.com
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