Success stories

New entrepreneur:
Silvia Belà (Italy)
Age: 25
Company name: (Start-up)
Sector of activity: Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

Host entrepreneur:
Arek Seredyn (Netherlands)
Age: 42
Company name: Rafa-kids / www.rafa-kids.com (12 years of experience)
Sector of activity: Furniture, domestic appliances and cleaning products

The HE Arek Seredyn is the owner of Rafa-kids a young brand operating internationally online and through partner retailers that reaches worldwide sophisticated clients offering high-end design products for children as well as an excellent opportunity for personal development with an insight into an exciting world of fast growing internet brand. The HE offered the NE a challenging position in an ambitious design-lead brand where creativity and joined responsibility is highly valued. rnThe NE Silvia Belà decided to participate in the EYE programme as the first step to run her own company. The EYE programme was a good chance for her to make a leap into the design arena to learn from expert colleagues and professionals see how companies work their strategies and how to meet clients’ needs. Learning on the field and collaborating with experts and professionals in a dynamic environment gave the NE key suggestions on how to manage her business.

During the business exchange the NE had the opportunity to assist and support the project of product design and its marketing. The HE planned to introduce new products in the 2018 collection. So during the 5 months of cooperation the NE I had the opportunity to work alongside the HE team on the full process: bringing a product to the market from the first design stages to the direct sales to customers and retailers.rnThe NE was in charge of implementing a common project. She worked alongside the founders on all aspects of running an online brand: Market research - Product development – Production systems and logistics - Marketing B2B and B2C - Marketing and PR strategies and campaigns - Communications and customer service.

This exchange offered the NE a real-life stage to build on industry-recognized skills. The HE’s team always encouraged the NE and taught her all the aspects so the NE acquired new skills experience and professionalism. More specifically the NE could refine her problem solving skills seeing how companies face problems in a short time. Moreover during the project daily tasks the NE had the opportunity to discuss with the HE about her business plan learning about how to start run and manage a business in the creative field with its opportunities expectations and problems.rnAt the beginning the HE gave the NE with small graphics assignments. That expanded later to designing complete layouts of online communication. This work progressed in a later stage to online marketing campaigns that were a very new subject for the NE. She asked questioned listened and learn fast this work being beneficially for the NE in the future significantly.

For more information, please contact the local contact points involved in the exchange:

New entrepreneur's contact point:
Centro Studi Cultura Sviluppo (Pistoia, Italy)

Host entrepreneur's contact point:
Quarter Mediation (Utrecht, Netherlands)

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