How EFSI benefits SMEs in Europe - Fidimpresa Marche case study: Rogani (Italy), Shoe-makers

The shoe factory Rogani based in Monte San Giusto, founded by Bruno and Franco in 1976, specialises in the artisanal quality shoe. Operating in Monte San Giusto (MC), the country of the footwear of Macerata district, the company’s manufacturing process is carried out with production techniques consolidated over time and refined by the passion and precision of the staff who work there. Great attention is paid to detail, from the choice of leather tanned with natural methods, the all-vegetable leather sole, until the finishing and cleaning process, and the shoe factory centralises the great part of the production cycle in order to ensure quality control of all the stages of the production process.

At the same time, despite its firm roots in traditional production processes, Rogani has always been able to evolve and not to passively accept the changes that the fashion industry requires.

The company, which until now operated exclusively in the ‘men's shoes’ sector, will introduce for the first time, a line of women's shoes innovating its production totally. These shoes will have an innovative technical solution completely new compared to the reference market. This innovation concerns the creation of a new type of ‘interlocking’ between the upper and sole which will lead to the elimination of the adhesives used in the assembly phase. This will ensure maximum comfort and offer the customer a product made entirely by hand.

In 2016, Rogani secured a loan guaranteed by Fidimpresa Marche that has allowed the company to take the necessary step towards making new investments and start two new production lines. It has given a boost to a number of different dimensions of the business, including much-needed investment in research and innovation for projects like the women’s shoe line, alleviating cash flow problems typical of the industry in this time of crisis, and also facilitating opening up to new markets – namely the USA.

This support, backed by EIF, came under the Investment Plan for Europe, which aims to generate new investments by facilitating access to finance for European small and medium-sized enterprises.

Company: Rogani Bruno & Fabio SNC (Italy)

Type of business: Shoe-makers

EIF financing:  COSME LGF,  EFSI

For further information about EIF intermediaries in Italy please refer to: http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/where/it