ICEBREAKERS
BRILLIANT!
1. Italians are exceedingly aware of fashionable attire and appreciate la bella figura (a refined, beautiful image). They have a discerning sense of style and will recognize brand names, from shoes to sunglasses. So in a way, your first icebreaker is your entrance in beautifully fitting clothes. Many executives consider attractive clothing just another investment that will make everyone feel comfortable and respected.
2. Italians love to comunicare (talk) and mangiare (eat). A successful first visit should involve both. In Naples or Palermo, you may talk for two or three hours before any business comes up at all. Follow the client’s lead with polite questions about the region’s cultural sites, art, history, music (opera), ...
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