Retail Observer

RETAILOBSERVER.COM MAY 2014 30 S meg, an Italian appliance company, was founded in 1948 by Vittorio Bertazzoni Sr. a member of a well-known family of entrepreneurs in the appliance industry. Originally operating as a metal enameling company, the acronym Smeg, Smalterie Metallurgiche Emiliane Guastalla (Metal Enameling Factory based in Guastalla, Emilia) conserves the memory of the initial business specialty. Shortly thereafter, Smeg began to specialize in the manufacturing of home appliances that were perfectly interpretative of contemporary trends. Smeg products have left a mark in the history of Italian design thanks to the company's love for well designed and well executed work, and the determination to make products that are distinguished for quality, technical characteristic and style. In the 1970's Vittorio's son, Roberto Bertazzoni, joined the company and, under his guidance, the business grew tremendously. Roberto Bertazzoni began to work with famous architects such as Guido Canali, Mario Bellini and Renzo Piano. Each of whom have left a profound impact on the company. Their ideas have enhanced and transformed production, offering the possibility to bring home not just a product with excellent technical characteristics, but also tastefully designed appliance. Thanks to this dedication to style, SMEG appliances soon went from being simple useful products to icons of Italian style, unique in the world, a perfect fusion of practicality, technology and beauty. Today, almost 70 years later, Smeg is still a family operated business and the current CEO is Vittorio Bertazzoni Jr. the grandson of the founder. Smeg is supported by a loyal and experienced workforce between 3 factories all based in Italy, and 17 subsidiaries worldwide. The presence of the brand in the United States was consolidated in 2007 with the opening of the subsidiary and of a prestigious showroom in the A&D Building in the heart of New York City. After 6 years of business on the Eastern Coast, Smeg Usa is proud to announce new partnerships in Western North America. In 2014, Smeg USA effectively doubled the distribution network to extend to both coasts of North America and much of the land in between. Adding a total of 6 distribution centers from Phoenix, Arizona to Vancouver, British Columbia. The expanding territory stands a triumph for continued growth of the Smeg brand and an attestation to our expertise Smeg USA extends its reach further into Canada with the help of Pacific Specialty Brands and strengthens its network in the southwest with R&B Distributors. With the addition and assistance of these top tier distributors, Smeg USA can satisfy the growing demands of consumers nationwide. With over a hundred years of combined professional experience, Pacific Specialty is located in Vancouver and services British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and reaches as far out as Thunder Bay in Ontario. In the States, they cover Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Utah, Colorado and Alaska, delivering the highest quality European design appliances. In the Southern States, R&B will service areas between San Francisco to San Diego, then onto Nevada and New Mexico to fulfill the need for tasteful, European appliances in the American Southwest. Family owned and operated since 1968, R&B provides a premium service with exceptional care. The growth stands as a triumph for the Smeg group globally, and the US subsidiary as it promises to bring further benefits from the manufacturing plant in Italy all the way to the American West. The company's expansion and strengthening of the brand will allow for more Smeg trained professionals, in more locations, with quicker access to the increasing product range. Smeg proudly wlecomes Pacific Specialty and R&B Distributing to their ever-growing family. M A N U F A C T U R E R [ N O T E S ] RO SMEG MAKES WAVES ON THE WEST COAST Italian style spreads through North America

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