Renzo Costa: From preparing portfolios to more than five business lines | Marina Bustamante | Leather | Italy | Peru | Europe | Shopping Centers | Chile | economy

In July last year, the Peruvian brand Renzo Costa Celebrating 50 years in the market. Although it was born as a company dedicated to leather, along the way they saw potential in other new business areas and spared no resources to venture into them. Also, adequate positioning and significant local demand for their flagship product led to (re)stimulation of the international market.

At the age of just 17, she was able to purchase a S/600 sewing machine with the help of her father. The founder of the company is Marina Bustamante. He began creatively creating his first leather straps and wallets, which would be key to building the brand.

So, in 1973, Renzo Costa, in honor of his first son. Although the monthly rent of its premises located at Center of Lima It cost US$1,000, which was not a deterrent to his undertaking. With this, Patta was able to open his first shop with the capital he sold and a loan from his relatives.

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Now, 50 years after its creation, the Peruvian company has more than 60 points of sale distributed in shopping centers and strategic areas of Peru with a workforce exceeding 300 workers.

From handbags to pizzas

In its beginnings, the Peruvian company only produced and sold wallets in its sole location, however, over the years it expanded its product portfolio based on its core products: skin. In this way, the brand delivers Backpacks, backpacks, jackets, diaries and accessories like kangaroos, card holders and key rings. In addition, it also has a line of cleaning and care products for skin.

A line of footwear for women and men is also part of the Renzo Costa product range. Currently, this category accounts for 5% of the brand's total sales, but they expect this to grow in the coming years. They already have their own stores in some shopping centers in the capital.

But skin isn't everything. The Peruvian company started diversifying in 2018 and entered the premium chocolate sector to satisfy a niche. It also opened a dedicated store for this product in the Real Plaza Bruchúcco shopping center (ate)

read more: Renzo Costa rebuilds his Cercato de Lima factory, and what's it all about?

Continuing with that vision, in 2020, the national company decided to compete in the perfume market by launching its “Renzo Costa 73” fragrances, which are offered in all the brand's stores.

Meanwhile, Renzo Costa's latest line of business is gastronomy. He opened his first Italian restaurant late last year. Costa tomatoes, where they serve pizzas and pastas. They are planning to set up eight blocks of shopping centers this year.

Try your luck abroad

If the local market is covered with many varieties, now the brand wants to try its luck abroad again. Renzo Costa already crossed the borders and came to Chile in 2010, the year he established his first block at Santiago de Chile Airport, and then looked for new places to grow. Due to this, the store was kept in the shopping street Costanera Center.

However, its development in the neighboring country did not continue. The brand chose to exit that market in 2015. At the time, sources in the retail industry indicated that the brand did not receive the expected response and hence it took a step back. Now, the Peruvian company is again betting on a project abroad, but with a more ambitious goal as it hopes to grow in the European market. It offers its products from 2023 onwards ItalyIn a space located in the Umberto I Gallery in Naples, the results obtained will be visible only in the years to come.

however, Marina Bustamante revealed Management This will not be the only store they have in this country, as they plan to open more stores in Rome and Milan, as they feel there is an opportunity to grow in one of the fashion references. To do this, it ensures that it has strategic partners.