Family Bertulli interview

1. What was the origin of the concept of the Mario Bertulli shoe brand? How did you father develop it?

Chiara Bertulli : It occured to my father to develop elevator shoes (elevated and not «elevating» as you say) during his trip to the USA.

2. What was the origin of the concept of the Mario Bertulli shoe brand? How did you father develop it?

Chiara Bertulli : It occured to my father to develop elevator shoes (elevated and not «elevating» as you say) during his trip to the USA.

3. What was the origin of the concept of the Mario Bertulli shoe brand? How did you father develop it?

Chiara Bertulli : It occured to my father to develop elevator shoes (elevated and not «elevating» as you say) during his trip to the USA.

4. What was your father like as a person? How was he regarded across the world of shoemaker?

Chiara Bertulli : My father was a simple person, enjoying life and beautiful but simple things, enjoying to be in company, eating and drinking well, he was a solar person listening to people, willing to human contact, always looking for new but simple things, it's his passion for his work which makes him famous, a shoemaker always willing to satisfy needs of a person and make someone's life better even through a simple pair of shoes.

5. What was the origin of the concept of the Mario Bertulli shoe brand? How did you father develop it?

Alexandra Bertulli:My dad read a lot, took notes, rethought, attended conferences and more ... I don't remember the origin of the brand, but it certainly came from his study and from the desire to do something that was useful to others.

6. What do you think makes the Mario Bertulli brand special, and different from other shoe brands?

Alexandra Bertulli: He studied every model, he designed the line, the color, the details together with the experts in the sector. Each model was a "creation".

7. As the daughter of a master shoemaker, was your father always going to be a shoemaker?

Alexandra Bertulli: I remember that when I was a child he also sold other items by mail, but memories are distant, throughout my life the shoes designed and sold by my father have been my daily life.

8. What was your father like as a person? How was he regarded across the world of shoemaking?

Alexandra Bertulli: My father was an incredible man, a gentleman of other times. He always smiled, he always had a word for everyone. He worked tirelessly, dedicating body and soul to his passions and his family. He had many friends, many in the sector, he was esteemed by all for his originality. Even her way of dressing spoke to others about herself ... she always had something colorful and some accessories (a hat, a scarf ..)

9. What do you remember of your father’s work when you were a child? Did you watch him work?

Alexandra Bertulli: Alexandra Bertulli: I remember many things about my father, but above all I remember the great ability to transmit courage and to encourage me to choose my path. Yes, he happened to see him work, when I studied during the summer I often went with him around for work and it was very nice.

10. How has the company and brand changed in your lifetime?

Alexandra Bertulli: I did not follow closely the evolution of the company, I was more spectator, my sisters chiara and cristina participated in the evolution, I chose to work in another sector, I deal with planning and control in a company that provide software and services for banks.

11. Can you tell us about your father’s reproduction work, and the book that he reprinted in 2005?

Alexandra Bertulli: I remember that period, I think he dedicated hours and hours to that book, at that stage of his life it was his project.

12. How important was your father’s research into medieval production techniques in the development of his shoes?

Alexandra Bertulli: It was part of his way of dealing with life to take things seriously, to deepen, to read, and in this direction also the study of history and of the medieval one in particular.

13. Your father has had prestigious clients in the past. Please tell us about the shoes he made for Pope Benedict XVI?

Alexandra Bertulli: I have no elements, referring to my sisters.

14. Is there a story about the famous Marios thumb of his left or right hand ?

Alexandra Bertulli: No story to tell, only a disease (psoriasis with arthritis) that has accompanied him throughout his life and which has represented a great source of pain for him. My father was always in pain, yet he never complained. The pains in his hands were sometimes so severe that he could not tie his shirt ... I remember when he asked me for help sometimes.

15. How did he deal with the different competitors who were copiing his products?

Alexandra Bertulli: My father has always focused on quality materials, on suppliers of excellent components, I think those who copied have not made similar choices, because quality costs.