Buying Furniture in Calabria

[Jenroy]

I have started a new thread, rather than continue the existing thread, as all of the outlets mentioned previously seem to be specific to the North and as you know the South is like another country

We are in the process of completing on a villa in Calabria and will need to completely furnish it. Having tried the complete furniture pack route on the Internet with disastrous results we are left with either buying in the UK and shipping it all out or purchasing locally.

Being Calabria it seems that there is not a great deal of choice and, as one of those choices would be to use Ikea in Naples does not appeal, our choices are limited even further.

I would like some advice on how practical it would be to purchase in the UK and send/take the whole consignment or has anyone experienced buying locally in the area.

Any recommendations would be gratefully received.

Roy

[Sebastiano]

[quote=Jenroy;82010]I have started a new thread, rather than continue the existing thread, as all of the outlets mentioned previously seem to be specific to the North and as you know the South is like another country

We are in the process of completing on a villa in Calabria and will need to completely furnish it. Having tried the complete furniture pack route on the Internet with disastrous results we are left with either buying in the UK and shipping it all out or purchasing locally.

Being Calabria it seems that there is not a great deal of choice and, as one of those choices would be to use Ikea in Naples does not appeal, our choices are limited even further.

I would like some advice on how practical it would be to purchase in the UK and send/take the whole consignment or has anyone experienced buying locally in the area.

Any recommendations would be gratefully received.

IF you can't find anything you like in Catanzaro or Cosenza then you'd be adsvised to get it from Naples or Roma...i once had a calabrian client who was telling me how he got all his furniture from Roma.But take a look in either or both those cities anyway you might be suprised what you can find there.
otherwise it's down to bringing it from outside.

[pigro]

you make it sound like Calabria may be a big barren commerce free zone ... II'm sure it's not, the calabrians also have to buy their furniture somewhere!

assuming the house is yours for your own use rather than for commercial letting, I think you'd be well advised to make do with the bare minimum initially - even if that means a blow up bed, plastic garden furniture and suitcases for wardrobes etc. Just enough to get by for your first few weeks there, and all available for buttons from the local Fa de Te on day one.

then use the breathing space that buys you to tour your area looking for shops ... there are loads of furniture places dotted around, but many rely more on local billboard advertising than internet or whatever, so may not be obvious unless you get out & about. It'll also be good in genral to cruise around, getting your bearings and generally exploring. Reward yourself with tarta & caffee every 30Km's, and a gelato for each furniture emporium you find.

Also, ask your new neighbours, your agent, your geometra or the bloke who runs the local bar. Quizz'em mercilessly. Doesn't matter how basic your Italian is - you'll have fun trying and it will break the ice. Some of our best friends in the village are those we harassed for all manner of help (in our pidgeon Italian) when we first arrived.

If neccessary, learn - or write down - in advance a couple of simple sentences like "I need to find a <specify style> furniture shop within <specify distance> of here, but I can't speak italian. Here's a map, can you write some names and locations on on it for me?". People will want to help. They'll probably go out of their way to find someone who can speak enough English to describe where to go, or even offer to guide your there personally.

Another option is to visit some local agritourismi/hotels and check out the furniture in their reception area ... if you see some stuff you like, ask them where they got it. No guarantees, but it may be local. you'll be able to check out their restaurant at the same time, so more opportunities to eat while you shop!!

Bottom line - people in the UK rave about italian design, and often pay through the nose to buy it - so it's "out there". You've got a head start ... definitely have a good look locally before giving in to the temptation to order & import from UK ... that may seem like a simple option now but it carries its own potential set of headaches delivery wise ...

good luck either way, but if circumstances permit, I think exploration wins over importation on every level.

[Neil T]

Good advice, as ever.


Jenroy and Sebastiano
Can I suggest that when you've done this vital and enjoyable research, you report back here.

[Sally Donaldson]

Jenroy, there is the usual Mondo Convenienza | Arredamento e Mobili per la tua casa and although the furthest south branch seems to be Latina, you can order online. This one too I have just found in my bookmarks and again you can order online. Arredamento di interni

(Definitely not IKEA - yet!!!)

[Sally Donaldson]

I apologise you cannot buy online from Facciaarredament and the company is based in Pescara.

[Sally Donaldson]

Try this - Hai cercato Arredamenti nella regione Calabria | PagineGialle.it

[Paolina]

Hi
We are in Calabria at the moment and there are furniture stores everywhere, from small local ones to quite large outlets. In Basilicata, just a little bit north, there is an area known as 'sofa valley' and a company called Natuzzi produces sofas there. They are, in fact, one of the biggest furniture producers in Italy and I believe their headquarters is somewhere near Bari. They have quite a few outlets in Basilicata and Puglia so not too far from you.

Don't panic, whatever you have heard, you can get everything you need in Calabria.

[Sally Donaldson]

Paulina, is this the company - Divani & Divani by Natuzzi or Natuzzi It's how you live If so I love it!!! Strikes me though they could be expensive.

[2nd Generation Calabrian]

Dear All,

Accept my apologies for being somewhat sensitive and defensive of Calabria but if you wipe the sleep from your eyes, everything is available!

I fly to Lamezia on Monday for 5 nights, solely with the reason of purchasing some bedroom furniture and budgeting for two kitchens for my two purpose built brand New Villas in Calabria - 90% finished.

Why not try the link below.

EMMEZETA : arredamento, elettrodomestici, brico e tempo libero, audio video, informatica, moda

This is a National Company with around 11 huge stores within the Italian Mainland and Isles and one is based in Calabria!!!
Not bad for the backward Deep South ehh?

i.e. Montalto Uffugo - Just off the A3/E45 Motorway exit - unless you are Stevie Wonder, you can't miss it! If you're travelling from Reggio to Salerno (North) it is on your Left - vice versa (South) it is on your right.

I have personally visited this store on numerous occasions over the last 2/3 years to purchase a selection of items including perfume, table lamps, Screws and Nails and wheelbarrow!

It is huge. They sell all type's of furniture from Classical (Reproduction) to Contemporary (Modern). They sell furniture for every room in the house, and i mean every room, with the prices seeming very reasonable.

I can not comment on delivery charges, stock availability etc for furniture but no doubt will do so over the next few weeks.

They also sell a huge variety of other goods, including:

Domestic Electrical Goods - From Fridge Freezers to Hoovers
Audio Visual Electrical Goods - TV's to Mp3 Players
Household Goods - Carpets, Curtains, Cutlery, Glassware, Plates etc etc etc
Clothing - Male, Female, Childrens

...including numerous other items - too many to mention.

My best description would be a hybrid of a Department Store that meets Ikea that meets Wilkinsons.

The air-conditioned store is open all day (no siesta) from 9.00 to 20.30 most days... even on a Sunday (please check specific times on website). It has free parking and is on a huge site equiavalent to a UK "Out of Town" retail park.

On the same retail park you will find other Outlets including a Supermarket, fast food restaurants, Garden Centre and Occasional outside flea Market.

I have no affilitiation with the company and this is by no means a sales pitch but i would be interested in anyone's feedback not only on this company but any others that surely DO exist in the region.

No offence intented or implied.

Mickey "O"