Product and Industrial Design

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Tobia Repossi, Founder of TR & Partners, located in Crevalcore, Bologna, Italy.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

We design products for clients who have the ambition to develop new concepts with high standards of design and execution. Our clients are market-leading companies looking for new perspectives but also young startups from the Valley, India, and China.

We have an extensive portfolio of designs for interiors and outdoors, as well as furniture, electronic appliances and accessories, with hundreds of iconic products sold in major chains worldwide. We have a unique approach to the project, built out of accurate research and analysis, strong mechanical and industrial background to help the best innovators.

Tell us about yourself

I am a registered Architect and Designer with twenty years of experience in product design for furniture, electronic appliances and accessories. I have worked for major Chinese market-leading companies as well as European and American brands and for startups from China and Silicon Valley. My designs have been sold in Apple Stores and in other famous retail chains and have been selected for international awards.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My works have been selected for the Compasso d’Oro Prize, Design Index, Media-stars, Modern Decoration Award, A’Design Award, and Red Dot Award and published in magazines and newspapers.

What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?

Working in the hardware startup panorama is hard because of the market pace. Time to market is reduced, and sometimes we have just a few weeks to develop products between the brief and the start of the production chain. Add a few continents involved in the design and the development, with different languages and cultures, and you have a perfect receipt for mistakes. Being organised and super-connected is a must in this field.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

Running a design business today requires the following:

Continuous and maniac updates in terms of technologies and the latest trends.
Extreme connection with cloud-based CAD software and communication and management platforms.
The capability to see the market trends and need a few months ahead. If years, you are a genius.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.tobiarepossi.it/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/trepossi
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tobiarepossi/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/trandpartners/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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