Design as a lever to support the entire “furniture” sector to restart after the pandemic. This is the premise on which B (u) Y Design is born, a virtual platform of integrated promotion for the internationalization of the “furniture-design” system combined with an incoming plan, meetings in companies in the area with high-level operators selected in all the world. Presented today in Siena, it is the first project of its kind in Italy: virtual meetings, through an interactive, innovative and physical platform to promote Tuscan design, the craftsman of the future together with the territory and tourism. B (u) Y design brings selected international operators in the sector (the largest architectural firms in the Arab, Asian, Americas, Africa and Europe) to companies and – when not possible – into the portal, making them meet ‘virtually’ the 30 Tuscan companies chosen for the ‘showcase’ and the others involved in B2B for a total of over 100 companies in the furniture, lighting, accessories, outdoor (residential, hospitality, commercial areas) sectors.
“B (u) Y design – explain the creators – is a multisensory event which, thanks to the support of Ice (the Agency for the promotion abroad and internationalization of Italian companies), the Tuscany Region, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and by regional sector associations, aims to attract the international operator, and to fill the moments of meeting with customers and intermediaries lost in recent months (eg Salone del mobile) ».
In his speech, the president of Ice Carlo Ferro underlined the results achieved in 2020-2021 as a record period with 516 billion in exports. A figure that means the definitive exit from the impact of the pandemic at least from the point of view of exports. In the design system, which marks a + 5.3% in the first 11 months of 2021 compared to the same months of 2019, the Tuscan district has made an important contribution, having Tuscany exported a billion euros worth of products (exactly 1,019. 000,000 euros relating to the abitare-design system, i.e. furniture, furniture, ceramics, crystal, accessories, artistic craftsmanship) with 5,500 Companies (furniture, accessories) and 18,000 Employees.
“Design is one of our business cards in the world – comments Leonardo Marras, councilor for the economy of the Tuscany Region – and this new virtual showcase will make the sector even stronger and closer to potential international buyers”.