Foreign Staffing, Inc.

Proper Italian business etiquette is

essential to help gain new

partners and clients in the Italian

community.

Expanding globally is a popular

step these days to increase

market share and when you are

confident with the proper

procedures involved in Italian

business etiquette your Italian

counterparts will welcome you.

Your new Italian colleagues look for a strong sense of individuality.

They value compassion and loyalty and want partners who are personable

in order to create and develop strong relationships. Italians are

compassionate, formal people and will expect the same from you.

Ensure that you fully exemplify a respect for the Italian system of hierarchy.

Always offer special

consideration to the most senior

in the group.

Understand that handshakes

may include grasping the

upper arm with other hand,

even the double cheek kiss.

Do not use first names unless

specified.

Italians like to get acquainted and will

engage in small talk, and then

continue on to the ideas and issues.

The Italian pace of negotiations tends

to be rather slow, meetings are not

the time to make any concrete

decisions.

Topics of conversation include,

culture, food, art, wine, soccer,

family, films, etc. Discussions on

religion or politics can be tricky and

are best avoided.

Business cards are not normally

exchanged during social

occasions. When it is appropriate,

offering an Italian translation of

your business documents and

card will impress your Italian

colleagues.

The month of August is typically reserved for

family vacations and many businesses will

close.

Avoid scheduling any business during this

month when the only people in the cities are

tourists and those involved in the tourism

business.

When exchanging gifts with your

new Italian business partners, the

most appreciated are specialty

consumable items such as liquors

and delicacies.

Italian fashion is always up to dateand elegant.

Even when dressed casually, Italiansare at the height of chic.

First impressions are critical and theimage you present by the clothes youwear can make all the difference.

Take the time to review and evenupdate your personal image beforetraveling to Italy.