The comments of the companies after the Salone del Mobile.Milano 2023

arper, ralik, stand, salone milano, salone del mobile

Arper at Salone del Mobile.Milano 2023, photo courtesy

CEOs and representatives of some leading companies at Salone del Mobile.Milano 2023 take stock of the past week
 

New energies and synergies. New arrivals and renewed meetings. A few hours before the close of the 61st edition of the Salone del Mobile.Milano, the CEOs and representatives of some of the companies that took part and were the protagonists of the last week, now take stock of what was achieved. 

minotti, stand, salone milano, salone del mobile

Minotti at Salone del Mobile.Milano 2023, ph. Alessandro Russotti

Minotti and its 75th anniversary

We starts with Minotti. Present with an exhibition architecture designed to bring the soul of the brand to life, the company explains, the Minotti Pavilion has evolved, becoming a scenographic place with unique dimensions and characteristics, laid out on two levels and with the lanes of the fair incorporated inside it. The central lane was interpreted as a veritable boulevard, with a sinuous course enlivened by large areas of greenery to evoke the Mediterranean shrubland. Roberto Minotti, who runs the company together with his brother Renato, explains: “Minotti’s history is closely bound up with that of the Salone, which has always been crucial to us. At an international level we consider it the most important event, as well as an outstanding stage for all companies in the sector. This was also the reason why this year we focused everything on the Salone del Mobile – we did not present any events outside the fair, but focused on our stand, within which we created an architecture capable of portraying and condensing a historic milestone for our company, given that we are celebrating its 75th anniversary. So we deployed all our strengths, values and know-how, from product to architecture, from decoration to technology.” 

In particular, Roberto Minotti explains that this year the whole world of design was back at the fair, bringing renewed energies and synergies: “I think of Asia and in particular China, which we have not seen at the fair for some years, as well as India. And then presences from the United States, Australia, Europe and North Africa. In short, an edition that was not just useful but also dynamic, enabling us to meet and renew acquaintance with our historic opposite numbers, and also make new acquaintances in businesses sometimes parallel to ours, from yachting to hospitality.”

molteni, stand, salone milano, salone del mobile

Molteni at Salone del Mobile.Milano 2023, ph. Francesco Stelitano

Molteni, an international showcase

A classic Roman house interpreted through an evident contemporary remake. Inside, in addition to the novelties, for the first time also the presence of an outdoor furnishings. There were long lines to visit the Molteni stand and Giulia Molteni, Marketing and Communication Director of the Molteni Group, says she is well satisfied: “For us this is the sixty-first Salone, because my grandfather was one of its founders” she recalls. “So naturally, since we are an Italian and family group, the fair has a great emotional value.” 

From offices to public furnishings, from contract to kitchens, the vision offered by the group that includes Molteni&C, Unifor and Citterio is not only historical, but also all-round. “We were looking forward to this Salone with enthusiasm, to its return in April, which is certainly the best time both for us and for visitors coming from abroad. Visitors from around the world returned, but new geographies also opened up, as well as countries where Italian design still needs to assert itself with more authority – I’m thinking of the United States, or distant markets like Australia, India, and emerging markets such as South America.” This latest edition, continues Molteni, was certainly a showcase on these countries, but it was also characterized by the return of Asia and in this sense it marked a break from the 2022 edition: “Stronger arrivals from Japan and China were again attending in person. Attendance was also qualitatively more important, even if it was still lower than the numbers in 2019. This is normal, since for instance, digital communications continue in part to make up for the fact that traveling has become more expensive for a lot of firms.” 

arper, stand, salone milano, salone del mobile

Arper at Salone del Mobile.Milano 2023, photo courtesy

Arper, Life is Beautiful

And if for Molteni what has just closed was a Salone del Mobile that confirmed its strength and ability to create new opportunities, relations were a fundamental element of this edition also for Roberto Monti, CEO of Arper: “The Salone was an important event to meet our numerous international partners, and to build the Arper of the future on the solid foundations of responsibility, towards both our planet and the generations of today and tomorrow.” 

Amid a cascade of white fabrics, the Arper space welcomed and enthralled the public: “With the brand concept ‘Life is beautiful’ we talked about vitality, energy and optimism,” continues Monti. “All qualities that are strongly expressed in both the stand and our Milan showroom, and in our new collections and partnerships with designers.” 

de sede, stand, salone milano, salone del mobile

De Sede at Salone del Mobile.Milano 2023, ph. Stefan Giftthaler

de Sede, an unforgettable experience

Great classics and the latest innovations also at de Sede’s stand, which closes its trade fair experience with great enthusiasm: “The Salone del Mobile 2023 remains in de Sede's memory as an unforgettable experience – and a great success” says Monika Walser, CEO of de Sede Switzerland. “Starting from the wonderfully coherent stand concept by atelier oï as a homage to Swiss nature and landscape to the new sculptures by atelier oï, Philippe Malouin and Sven Dogs”. 

In terms of visitors, it was also a success: “The many visitors from all over the world and a flood of positive feedback prove to us that our craftsmanship in combination with international design still perfectly meets the needs of contemporary and exclusive living.”

santa and cole, stand, salone milano, salone del mobile

Santa&Cole at Salone del Mobile.Milano 2023, ph. Francesco Merlini

Santa & Cole, a successful edition

From Euroluce, Marc Montenegro Kronenberger, Managing Sales Director of Santa & Cole, responds enthusiastically: “The new layout was amazing, really congratulations to the fair organization.” 

The visitors at the Santa & Cole stands, he underlines, were also a success. “A lot of people showed up every day, which was a good sign for us because the presence of people in the field is usually at its peak during the first days,” he adds. “Yes, the rain on Thursday probably helped a lot, because dealers, importers, architects, and interior designers were here instead of going to the city and having fun.” He explains that Asia was leading the way among the visitors. “For us, it means Korea, China, the Middle East. Not so much from Middle Europe, and I believe some important presences from Germany were missing due to the strike. However, this edition was a huge success.”