Proper Italian business etiquette is essential to help gain new partners and clients in the Italian community. Expanding globally is a popular step these days to increase market share and when you are confident with the proper procedures involved in Italian business etiquette your Italian counterparts will welcome you. Your new Italian colleagues look for a strong sense of individuality. They value compassion and loyalty and want partners who are personable in order to create and develop strong relationships. Italians are compassionate, formal people and will expect the same from you. Ensure that you fully exemplify a respect for the Italian system of hierarchy.

1. Foreign Staffing, Inc.

2.  Proper Italian business etiquette is
essential to help gain new
partners and clients in the Italian
community.
 Expanding globally is a popular
step these days to increase
market share and when you are
confident with the proper
procedures involved in Italian
business etiquette your Italian
counterparts will welcome you.
 Your new Italian colleagues look for a strong sense of individuality.
 They value compassion and loyalty and want partners who are personable
in order to create and develop strong relationships. Italians are
compassionate, formal people and will expect the same from you.
 Ensure that you fully exemplify a respect for the Italian system of hierarchy.

3.  Always offer special
consideration to the most senior
in the group.
 Understand that handshakes
may include grasping the
upper arm with other hand,
even the double cheek kiss.
 Do not use first names unless
specified.

4.  Italians like to get acquainted and will
engage in small talk, and then
continue on to the ideas and issues.
 The Italian pace of negotiations tends
to be rather slow, meetings are not
the time to make any concrete
decisions.
 Topics of conversation include,
culture, food, art, wine, soccer,
family, films, etc. Discussions on
religion or politics can be tricky and
are best avoided.

5.  Business cards are not normally
exchanged during social
occasions. When it is appropriate,
offering an Italian translation of
your business documents and
card will impress your Italian
colleagues.

6.  The month of August is typically reserved for
family vacations and many businesses will
close.
 Avoid scheduling any business during this
month when the only people in the cities are
tourists and those involved in the tourism
business.

7.  When exchanging gifts with your
new Italian business partners, the
most appreciated are specialty
consumable items such as liquors
and delicacies.

8.  Italian fashion is always up to date
and elegant.
 Even when dressed casually, Italians
are at the height of chic.
 First impressions are critical and the
image you present by the clothes you
wear can make all the difference.
 Take the time to review and even
update your personal image before
traveling to Italy.