Friday, August 25, 2006
End of the Dolce Vita?
Just a few years ago, there seemed to be more banks in Italy than coffee shops, which certainly tells you something.
But as the banking system modernised, that came to an end as the smaller banks were bought out by their bigger rivals, among them Unicredit, San Paolo, Banca Intesa and Monte dei Paschi di Siena.
Yesterday, the mergers took another step forward with the merger between San Paolo and Banca Intesa, forming the second largest bank in Italy behind Unicredit.
What that means to me and you is that banking services can only get better as they are finally falling in to line with European Standards.
But the downside is less coffee and chit chat with the bank manager and a more impersonal service. La Dolce Vita is, it seems, slowly losing out to efficiency.
Emma Bird is the co-director of How to Italy.
Ps - don't forget: when you buy Starting a Business in Italy: setting up and running a successful business in the Bel Paese we'll give you bonuses worth hundreds of Euros and the chance to win a free place (worth Eur750) on one of our Business Building Bootcamps. Must buy September 29 to pick up bonuses and enter competition. Details coming soon.
But as the banking system modernised, that came to an end as the smaller banks were bought out by their bigger rivals, among them Unicredit, San Paolo, Banca Intesa and Monte dei Paschi di Siena.
Yesterday, the mergers took another step forward with the merger between San Paolo and Banca Intesa, forming the second largest bank in Italy behind Unicredit.
What that means to me and you is that banking services can only get better as they are finally falling in to line with European Standards.
But the downside is less coffee and chit chat with the bank manager and a more impersonal service. La Dolce Vita is, it seems, slowly losing out to efficiency.
Emma Bird is the co-director of How to Italy.
Ps - don't forget: when you buy Starting a Business in Italy: setting up and running a successful business in the Bel Paese we'll give you bonuses worth hundreds of Euros and the chance to win a free place (worth Eur750) on one of our Business Building Bootcamps. Must buy September 29 to pick up bonuses and enter competition. Details coming soon.
Thursday, August 24, 2006
Only five weeks to go!
Only five weeks to go before our book Starting a business in Italy: how to set up and run a successful business in the Bel Paese is published.
It's a wierd, but admittedly cool, feeling to see a year's worth of bashing out words at the computer transformed into book with an isbn number and bar code.
A small group of people have already read it and given it the thumbs up and on September 29 you'll get to finally find out what they are raving about.
We want you to have everything you need for your new start up in Italy so to celebrate the launch of Starting a Business in Italy: how to set up and run a successful business in the Bel Paese we'll be giving away bonuses worth hundreds of Euros - but only if you buy the book on September 29 from www.amazon.co.uk.
We'll be revealing the bonuses at www.howtoitaly.com soon. You'll also be able to read a free extract from the book.
Have you got what it takes to run a business in the Bel Paese?
Emma Bird is the co-director of www.howtoitaly.com
It's a wierd, but admittedly cool, feeling to see a year's worth of bashing out words at the computer transformed into book with an isbn number and bar code.
A small group of people have already read it and given it the thumbs up and on September 29 you'll get to finally find out what they are raving about.
We want you to have everything you need for your new start up in Italy so to celebrate the launch of Starting a Business in Italy: how to set up and run a successful business in the Bel Paese we'll be giving away bonuses worth hundreds of Euros - but only if you buy the book on September 29 from www.amazon.co.uk.
We'll be revealing the bonuses at www.howtoitaly.com soon. You'll also be able to read a free extract from the book.
Have you got what it takes to run a business in the Bel Paese?
Emma Bird is the co-director of www.howtoitaly.com
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
Making the Move
Moving to Italy is not always smooth sailing and bureaucracy inevitably gets in the way.
Plus, unless you're one of the lucky ones, landing a job is never as easy as it would be back home.
That's why you need to plan your move to Italy carefully and not leave it till the last minute.
One person contacted me yesterday because they were moving to Italy the following day and still hadn't decided where they wanted to live or what they wanted to do. Even worse, they didn't have any savings to keep them going until they found work.
It's not an approach I'd advocate to anyone. Thorough planning is a must. And don't worry about starting too soon. By checking out all your options and visiting the area you want to be in several times to get a feel for the place, you've got a much better chance of making your new life abroad work out.
Emma Bird is the co-director of www.howtoitaly.com
Our book 'Starting a Business in Italy: how to set up and run a successful business in the Bel Paese' is coming soon.
Plus, unless you're one of the lucky ones, landing a job is never as easy as it would be back home.
That's why you need to plan your move to Italy carefully and not leave it till the last minute.
One person contacted me yesterday because they were moving to Italy the following day and still hadn't decided where they wanted to live or what they wanted to do. Even worse, they didn't have any savings to keep them going until they found work.
It's not an approach I'd advocate to anyone. Thorough planning is a must. And don't worry about starting too soon. By checking out all your options and visiting the area you want to be in several times to get a feel for the place, you've got a much better chance of making your new life abroad work out.
Emma Bird is the co-director of www.howtoitaly.com
Our book 'Starting a Business in Italy: how to set up and run a successful business in the Bel Paese' is coming soon.
