Doing Business with . . .

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Doing Business with . . .
ITALY

• Prepared by
• Crystal

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ITALIAN CULTURE
Italy is described as colorful, rich, bold, and
romantic. Italy has a population of over 58
million people. Italians have a passion for
everything they do. Italians love to laugh,
talk loudly, and speak with hand gestures.
Italians love their food, music and heritage.
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MAP OF ITALY
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FLAG REPRESENTATION

• GREEN symbolizes hope
• WHITE represents faith
• RED symbolizes the bloodshed that brought about
  the independence of Italy

Italy
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Time Zone

• ITALY

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Official Languages Spoken

• Italian
• German
• French

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Holidays Celebrated in Italy

• Epiphany January 6
• Liberation Day April 25
• May Day May 1
• Festival of Republic June 2
• Ferragosto August 15
• All Saints Day November 2
• Immaculate Conception December 8
• Feast of St. Stephen December 26

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When Doing Business in Italy

• Good manners and courtesy are prized qualities
  in Italy
• Kwintessentia Language and Culture
  Specialists

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Five key factors that are helpful when conducting
business in Italy
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Greetings

• When arriving and leaving, shake hands with
  everyone
• Women may kiss good friend on either cheek
  (more like pressing the sides of each others
  face)
• Italians are comfortable with standing very
  close. Dont back away! This is interpreted as
  unfriendly.

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Introduction

• Dont use first names unless invited
• Use the title
• Man
• Dottore
• Signor
• Woman
• Dottoressa
• Signora

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Meetings, Negotiations Appointments

• Italians prefer to do business with people they
  know
• Best time for appointments are between 10 a.m. -
  11 a.m. and after 3 p.m.
• Avoid August, due to Holidays
• When writing a message, write it in Italian, if
  possible
• A sense of urgency shows signs of weakness

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Punctuality

• Aim to be punctual
• Deliberate lateness is considered sloppy
• Taking peoples time for granted is simply rude

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Entertaining

• Hospitality plays a key role in Italian business
  culture
• Invitations to lunch and dinner are expected
• There are certain protocols for dining

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Best source of transportation

• Trains are by far the best way to travel around
  Italy.

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Main Attraction
The Leaning Tower of Pisa
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Tourist Attractions
Pasteum
Cinque Terre
Amalfi Coast
Milan
Tuscany
Firenze
Rome
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References

• Kwintessential Ltd, Kwintessential Language and
  Culture Specialists, Retrieved April 28, 2007.
  http//www.kwintessential.co.uk/etiquette/doing
  - business-ital.html
• Life in Italy .com, Retrieved April 28, 2007.
  http//www.lifeinitaly.com.html
• Rizza, Maria. Personal e-mail Interview, April
  28, 2007- May 8, 2007. rowri_at_tin.it.