Andrea's Vision: Growth, Relationships, and Belonging

"My job consists of researching and opening new stores," says Andrea. In the Rimini division, he oversees the commercial development of the Terranova and Calliope brands in Liguria, Lazio, and Tuscany, particularly in town centers, commercial outskirts, and retail parks. Every new opening is the result of a complex process that starts with analyzing proposals received from specialized brokers. "We evaluate the location based on precise criteria: territorial coverage, the commercial appeal of the area, vehicle and pedestrian traffic, road accessibility, and store visibility. We also consider competition, tourism, income levels, and local consumer behavior."

To support these decisions, Teddy uses advanced geomarketing tools — software that allows for a detailed analysis of a location’s potential. "After this phase, we share the data with the commercial management team, develop a forecast budget, and if approved, we carry the project forward until the store opens." But the work doesn’t end there: once the store is inaugurated, operations are handed over to commercial supervisors.

Thanks to this methodical approach and trust in our partners, our Group continues to grow at one of the fastest rates in the market. In 2024 alone, 100 new stores were opened, bringing the total number of points of sale to over 900 across 39 different markets. The online presence has also strengthened, with 31 active e-commerce markets and projections to expand into 20 more by 2025.

Andrea and his team’s work is not limited to expanding the company’s direct store network — it also includes franchising development. "About 65-70% of Teddy stores are opened through franchising, using a consignment model, with entrepreneurs who often choose to invest in multiple stores."

As Luca Binci, Director of Teddy’s Development Team and Andrea’s supervisor, highlights: "Maintaining a strong pace of store openings and entering new markets is a fundamental driver for the company’s growth and for achieving the objectives set in our current business plan." This forward-looking strategy is always in pursuit of new challenges, with the ambitious goal of opening 120 new stores in 2025 while ensuring high-quality locations and valuing the people involved in this journey. A key part of this journey is training: "We support new entrepreneurs entering the Teddy world through our training programs, delivering over 3,500 hours of training per year. Our role is also to build a relationship of trust with those who decide to open one of our brand stores."

This multidimensional approach is both an added value and a great responsibility: "We are the company’s first external point of contact, and the quality of our work directly impacts the success of our retail network."

Opening a store is not just about data — there is a part of the process that no software can replace. "You can’t open a store without seeing it in person," Andrea says with conviction. "The developer’s intuition matters: you need to know the area, the territory, feel the atmosphere, and, most importantly, build human relationships with the entrepreneurs."

His job requires being on the field, traveling, and engaging in continuous dialogue. "I’m usually away from home two or three nights a week. But I really enjoy this aspect of my work — it’s exactly what I was looking for when I first discovered Teddy at an open day in Bologna."

Andrea joined the company in 2019 and has personally experienced what it means to be part of a company that puts people at its core. Other career paths were possible, but the trust he felt from the beginning shaped his relationship with the company. "I prioritized Teddy because they believed in me, invested in my training, and helped me become the person I am today. I still get emotional thinking about it."

Andrea quickly realized that Teddy is not like other companies. He discovered this during his first interviews with Pierluigi Marinelli, a long-time figure in the company with 35 years of experience. "He had a unique approach to recruitment: for three months, every Monday evening, he invited me to dinner in Rimini. He wanted to get to know me as a person, not just as a professional. It’s a method I greatly appreciated."

But the moment that impacted him the most was an unexpected meeting. "One evening, before dinner, Marinelli wanted me to meet someone at Teddy who wished me good luck. During dinner, I realized that person was Alessandro Bracci, our CEO. That moment made me understand the value of humanity at Teddy: respect for roles is important, but what truly matters is people."

One of the aspects Andrea finds most fascinating about his job is the opportunity to be an entrepreneur of himself. "We have the freedom to manage our own time, but with that freedom comes great responsibility. It’s not just a job — it’s a personal and professional growth journey."

This philosophy of individual responsibility, passed down by our founder Vittorio Tadei, remains alive in Teddy today: "The human values instilled by our founder are something we must never lose. It’s what makes the difference."

For Andrea Reggiani, working at Teddy means much more than developing retail locations — it’s a journey through strategies, places, and people, driven by a clear and shared vision. "Every new opening is a challenge, but also an opportunity for growth — for us and for the entrepreneurs we work with."

And it is precisely this combination of skills, intuition, and values that makes his role so special. Because expanding a brand is not just a matter of square meters — it’s about belonging, relationships, and mutual trust. And that is what makes Teddy unique.