Nastrotex-Cufra reacts to the pandemic and its difficulties by focusing on a careful corporate management as well as on eco- friendly products
“If the 2020 edition of Lineapelle did not achieve the desired effect, this year, on the other hand, there have been the right conditions for the active participation of visitors, as in the past,” stated Barbara Cucchi, owner together with her brother Robert of the enterprise based in Bergamo province, leader in the manufacturing of elastic tapes for underwear, sportswear and footwear.
After resorting in the first months to wages guarantee funds, on rotation, and after the interruption of production processes with the sole exception of plants used for the making of safety masks’ elastic bands, Nastrotex-Cufra has managed to get back on track. “The sportswear sector has been the driving force, it still is,” explained the entrepreneur, “so much so that we had to invest in new machinery in order to cope with the surge in orders and, little by little, we have succeeded in making up for the drop in the turnover generated by the footwear industry. We have implemented several countermeasures aimed at lessening the pandemic’s economic impact, such as a marked decrease in non-strategic and consulting costs, an optimization when it comes to the purchase of raw materials via a more careful analysis of stock turnover rate, a significant reduction of colour options (the latter decreased from 130 up to approximately fifty), thus favouring traditionally best-selling nuances. Moreover, thanks to a keen eye for sustainable development and in response to the latest market trends, our products have become increasingly eco-friendly. The new frontiers concern the type of raw material used during the processing cycle: we are preferring yarns in recycled polyester, cotton and wool, or made with either a bio-ceramic material or graphene.”
However, right now, the greatest source of concern for the company lies in the availability of basic materials: “Natural rubber, polyester and cotton are our “fuel”, we can’t afford to run out of stock due to the soaring transport costs and to unreliable delivery times. Therefore, we must be able to skilfully organize the warehouse. A complex activity given the increase in just-in-time work methods. It is difficult to keep one’s foothold on the market,” stated Barbara Cucchi, “an efficient structure is essential as well as a certain economic-financial solidity. And, most of all, it is necessary to believe in your own company. We do our best.”
NASTROTEX-CUFRA – www.nastrotex-cufra.it
