Natuzzi SpA

NYSE:NTZ

Earnings Call Transcript

[Operator]

[Audio Gap]

first quarter 2025 Financial Results Webcast. [Operator Instructions]

Joining us on today's call, as usual, are Antonio Achille, Chief Executive Officer; Pasquale Natuzzi, Executive Chairman; Carlo Silvestri, Chief Financial Officer; Mario De Gennaro, Chief HR, Organization and Legal Officer. Furthermore, at the explicit request of the Executive President, Mr. Natuzzi, also joining us on today's call are Pasquale Jr. Natuzzi, Executive Director, Chief Trading Contract Officer; Fiego Babbo, Global Retail Division Officer; Coldrin Coroama, Chief Wholesale Officer; Daniele Tranchini, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer; Domenico Ricchuti, Chief Operations Officer; and Piero Direnzo, Investor Relations. As a reminder, today's call is being recorded.

I would now like to turn the conference call over to Piero. Please go ahead.

[Piero Direnzo, executive]

Thank you, Kevin, and good day to everyone. Thank you for joining the Natuzzi Conference Call for the 2025 First Quarter Financial Results. After a brief introduction, we will leave room for the Q&A session.

Before proceeding, we would like to advise our listeners that our discussion today could contain certain statements that constitute forward-looking statements under the United States security laws. Obviously, actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements because of risks and uncertainties that can affect our results of operations and financial condition.

Please refer to our most recent annual report on Form 20-F filed with the SEC for a complete review of those risks. The company assumes no option to update or revise any forward-looking matters discussed during this call.

And now, I would like to turn the call over to the Chief Executive Officer. Please, Antonio.

[Antonio Achille, executive]

Thank you, Piero. Let me start, as usual, by sharing the highlight of the first quarter. We're going to be particularly brief since we want to leave more space -- Piero, [Foreign Language], to leave more space for a quality discussion with the management. As you see, we invited the core people from the grid.

So looking at the light, we closed the quarter at EUR 78.1 million, this is down from the last year by 7.6%, and we're going to be commenting the specific reason for this short fall of revenue in addition, clearly, to advantaging market conditions. Gross margin was down to 34.1% compared to 36.9% of the previous quarter. We will elaborate on this because it's particularly important.

The primary reason is because quarter we had a transitional phase, which was planned of the sheer production for Natuzzi Editions for the North America, China to the Italian market. I will elaborate later on why this contributed for a slight decrease in margin this quarter.

So the combination of revenue below what we need from scale and margin led to a loss in terms of operating loss of EUR 0.8 million in the quarter. Net financial costs were EUR 2.9 million compared to EUR 2.2 million in the previous quarter -- or the quarter of the previous year, mostly due to currency movement. As you know, the currency has been particularly volatile in the first quarter. Despite all the [indiscernible], we continue investing roughly EUR 2 million, primarily on the factory side.

In terms of cash, we closed the quarter with EUR 22.2 million in cash, slightly above from EUR 20 million at the end of the year. In this regard, it's important to notice that this was also the quarter where we completed the transaction of Iconic, which contributed to the cash position. We will have plenty of opportunity to discuss with you what we are preventing as an industry. I would say, global cities of the world as well, in a market that continues to be clearly very challenging.

I don't, let's say, expand on this element, because it's obviously the reason why I'm doing this statement. I was just reading the Dayton consumer confidence, the Board confidence for U.S., which went back to the beginning of 2023. I also saw the data for confidence in Europe, which are down 3.1 point -- percentage point. So it's quite evident that we are still working in a market where consumers tend to postpone durable purchases.

So as I mentioned, I keep it very short and light. I will return later to amend some of these elements. Let me now pass to Pasquale for an overview of the commercial achievement in the quarter.

[Pasquale Natuzzi, executive]

Well, good morning, everyone. Just for everyone information, okay, I'm Pasquale, my position is operative President. So in other words, I'm working together with our CEO to book all my experience at the company disposal considering the situation, which is complicated. No question about that. I mean the business environment, it's very, very difficult.

So because I have the commercial responsibility, I'd like just to recap what I wrote on my press release in order to stimulate question which will be very welcome from all of you shareholder, analyst or whoever. And that's why also I invite the Channel Director, like Diego Babbo. Diego Babbo has the responsibility for the retail channel. And Codrin has responsibility for wholesale channel. And as Pasquale Junior Natuzzi as the trade and contract responsibly, while Daniele Tranchini is our Chief Marketing Officer.

Again, I will read whatever -- not whatever, what I wrote on the press release just to remind everyone or to stimulate everyone to ask eventually any question. And the Chanel Director, Marketing Director, that's why they have been invited here to any of your questions. Because they have been very much involved activities that we have been implementing.

So no question about the market in which we operate have not shown those signs of improvement we expected. This environment has been further affected by the induction of United States trade duties on April 2, the perduring Russia-Ukrainian conflict, and more recently, the escalation of tension in the Middle East. In this context, we have intensified our effort to support commercial deployment.

We continue to implement our brand commercial strategy that integrates collections, marketing and customer experience, while closely monitoring its effectiveness in a challenging market environment. The brand guidelines have now been centrally codified to accelerate their global and consistent rollout.

This year marked our return to the Salone del Mobile Fair in Milano, after a 5-year absent that coincided with the pandemic and postpandemic period. At the Milano Fair, we unveiled the new Natuzzi Editions collection, Feelwell, Dolcevita and Neo Heritage. During the Milan Design Week in April, we have also presented the Natuzzi Italia Comfortness and Circle of Harmony collection, which reflects our evolution in a global lifestyle brand.

Through to our heritage, Natuzzi Italia collection has been enriched through collaboration with international designers, such as Andrea Steidl, Karim Rashid, Marcantonio and Marco Lipparini -- Mauro Lipparini, sorry, for both Natuzzi Italia and Natuzzi Editions. The new collection has been supported by tailored, high-quality marketing campaign, which I'm sure if we want to have deeper information, Danieli will give you plenty explanation.

We have work to support and innovate the 3 channels in which we operate: Retail, DOS and and franchising; Galleries; and the newly established Contract channel. In Retail, we have made a significant investment to improve analytics and intelligence. We have built the infrastructure to monitor store performance in real time, focusing on key indicators, such as foot traffic, conversion rate, average ticket and product category performance.

This enabled a data-driven diagnostic of each stores across our network, with the objective of progressively improving the performance of our retailers.

The Reimagined Gallery format, that was introduced last year, late last year, has become operational in the first quarter 2025. While we still in this early stage, it has started to show some initial signs of a positive impact, both in terms of new opening and remerchandizing, particularly in the United States.

Following the launch of Natuzzi Harmony Residence in Dubai last November, we are seeing early signs of growing interest in our Contract division, an area we consider having significant growth potential and strategic relevance for our group. Pasquale Junior Natuzzi will give you all the explanation you need.

Our immediate focus is the full and effective deployment of this strategy in our main market. We have a prioritized initiative aimed to strengthen sales and engagement across our region, although their full impact will depend on market dynamics execution over time.

Natuzzi America remains a strategic priority. We have implemented a new organization with the appointment of new Vice President of Retail, Justin Christensen; and the new Vice President, Human Resources, Sharri McIntyre, who will focus on improving our retail and commercial operation.

Justin has over 25 years of experience in the retail industry, particularly in fashion, having worked with European and American fashion group, which includes Brioni and Ralph Lauren. Sharri, with over 20 years of experience, has held the position of Vice President, Corporate Human Research at Louis Vuitton and Human Resources Director, at Williams-Sonoma.

In Europe, we have taken direct control of our largest market, United Kingdom, by appointing a new country manager, Antoine Nikolay, to lead the commercial development for both the retailer and wholesale channel, Antoine brings over 10 years of experience in the luxury and consumer goods.

In Italy, the recently appointed country management, Rocco Rella, is contributing positively to improve the quality of both our direct and franchising distribution.

In China, we have work closer with our local JV team to enhance the quality of our retail network and strengthen brand presence. In July, we will present a new Natuzzi Italia collection to our dealers, replicating the Milan Design Week format at a local level.

Our new collection have generated interest among both existing and prospective clients, leading to commitment to open new galleries in France and in Germany.

We believe that the steps we have taken on collection, marketing and retail management represent a solid foundation for improving our commercial performance over time. Our objective remains to strengthen the brand and enhance operational efficiency with the aim of delivering sustainable value for our quarter. However, the actual results will depend on market conditions, consumer sentiment and the effective execution of our strategy.

That's the reason why I got involved but -- direct -- Channel Director and also the Marketing Director. If you have any questions, we will be very pleased to give you all the explanation. Thank you.

[Operator]

[Operator Instructions] Our first question is coming from David Kanen.

[Antonio Achille, executive]

Dave, I'm afraid you're on mute. Or I don't know, Kevin, can you help David to mute or [indiscernible] you manage it.

[Operator]

David would like to be open your mic front and please ask your question.

[David Kanen, analyst]

Okay. My apologies. Are you able to hear me now?

[Antonio Achille, executive]

Yes, please go ahead.

[David Kanen, analyst]

Okay. In the prepared remarks, you highlighted that you moved production for various reasons out of China and over to Italy. And then that caused some disruption in gross margin. Furthermore, you explained that you enacted a price increase of 10%. So last quarter, Q4 gross margin was 38.1%, so we went backwards to about 400 basis points. With the moves now completed, should we expect a return back to the 38% level, assuming we're doing EUR 75 million to EUR 80 million a quarter. Is that a good assumption or it's going to take some time?

[Antonio Achille, executive]

So it's definitely something we want to manage. As you know, since second of April, which is after this quarter which was commenting, the administration also introduced a 10% out of -- yes, can you partially mute, David, there is a return in the voice. So after this quarter, we are commenting, the U.S. administration also introduced a duty of 10% from -- for product exported from Italy.

So we are definitely reviewing also this aspect in light of the 9 April, which was -- the 9 July, which was the deadline anticipated by the administration -- American administration to potentially review this duty. Because absolutely, we want to take all the measures to reinforce the margin, especially for this component.

In addition, as an anticipated in the press release, we're also considering more sustainable production location for Natuzzi Edition for North America. We have, as you know, factory, including EMEA. Any movement of those production need to be clearly considered in the light of the rigid precondition we have in term of agreement with the public institution and the contract in Italia. So the protection of margin, it will be pushed with 2 actions.

Short term, we're going to be reviewing our, let's say, price list, also in consideration of the duty which has been introduced and would be most likely confirmed. More midterm, we are also being potentially allocation of the production from Natuzzi Editions outside Italy, but this is something which needs to be concentrated also with the local institution beyond and -- in the industrial transition carefully be planned from an operational standpoint.

In case you want to have, which is a very important element, more context of the constraint and the preexisting agreement, Mario is the best person in this team to provide them.

[David Kanen, analyst]

Okay. So my question is, in Q2 and for the balance of the year, notwithstanding, yes, it looks like there's going to be a 10% tariff from -- coming in from Italy, unless Trump makes a spread deal with Miloni, they seem to get along pretty well, but we'll assume 10%. So should I continue to assume that gross margin will remain at the 34% level in Q2 and beyond with the tariff, let's say, landing at 10%? Or will it improve with the price increase and some of the moves? That's what I don't really...

[Antonio Achille, executive]

It's a central question. As you know, we don't provide specific guidance in these figures. Not -- also because they are a result of a complex algorithm where there is price realization, product mix, production cost, materials. So we don't provide specific guidance. What I can reassure you, at least in my capacity of CEO, that we're going to be very determined in readjusting the marginality on Natuzzi Edition towards North America.

In light of also the tariff, we need to protect our margin because the tariffs don't depend on us, it's an industry standard. So definitely, we're going to take price adjustment there. In terms of production allocation, it's a more structural move. But also there, the company is very serious about having a discussion with the government to face some historical constraint that prevent a more effective allocation for this production.

[David Kanen, analyst]

Okay. And then operating expenses for the quarter were down to EUR 27.4 million in Q1. So have you done 38% in gross margin, you would have actually had almost a $3 million operating profit, $2.5 million to $3 million. So that's why I'm focusing on margin. That reduction in operating expense to EUR 27.4 million, is that sustainable?

I know there's some variable costs, specifically transportation, commission, et cetera. But assuming all things equal, let's say 78 million with the same mix more or less in revenue, can you maintain that EUR 27.4 million operating expense level? Or there was something anomalous that drove it lower?

[Antonio Achille, executive]

So I'm going to be -- going back to your question to make sure I answer in a correct way. Provided the scale is the one we are discussing because, of course, there's a matter of absorption of those expenses, I have good confidence that we are on a good track to reduce operating expenses. We're also doing a contingency. We just discussed and implemented with our CFO here a contingency on all discretionary expenses.

We launched with Domenico here and his procurement team, an effort to review the cost of purchase of material and transportation. So provided the scale and the mix, which in your opening question, stay at the level we are witnessing today, I have confidence that the expenses will go down in percentage. They will go down in absolute term is a matter also then to maintain or increase the scale of -- to witness also a reduction in percentage.

[David Kanen, analyst]

Okay. And then Mr. Pasquale called out some of the changes that you've made in your, I guess, you would call it, software or technology platform to track retail locations, and he said something like you're seeing early signs of improvement. Could you just speak to that a little bit what these differences are? And when did you see improvement and how profound is it?

[Antonio Achille, executive]

I'll let Pasquale comment on this.

[Pasquale Natuzzi, executive]

Sincerely -- I mean, I don't -- I mean, the communication is not really the best one here, and I have understood what David said. Could you repeat please let it again?

[David Kanen, analyst]

Yes. Mr. Natuzzi, you had said that you had implemented some changes in terms of, I'm assuming, technology information flow between headquarters and your retail locations. And this new platform you said is showing early signs of improvement. I believe you said that both for the whole unit, the new commercial unit, as well as your North American retail. So if you could explain what some of these changes are before and after, what it was like before, and magnitude of the improvements that you're seeing and why. Just give us more color or depth on these early signs of improvement.

[J. Emerson, analyst]

Okay. All right. So I asked Diego Babbo. Diego is our Retail Director. So it will give you explanation about that, okay? Diego.

[Diego Babbo, executive]

Yes. Well, actually, Mr. Natuzzi is referring to the fact that we have, let's say, institutionalized a robust process of ongoing performance assessment with actionable insight, translating into precise and timely action plan. This is part of our culture of improvement, which has allowed us to strictly address underperforming categories and capitalize on emerging opportunities.

We are based on a software platform, which is the Power BI platform, which is allowing us on a rolling basis to look at the any single store, not only directly operated, but also including all our dealers that decided to join our system, which are more and more embracing the idea. And we are now able to really make some business decision based on action figures, as was a practice probably in most of the retailer advanced retailer and not very much in our industry.

We have -- I have to say we achieved a good threshold and a good level of excellence in that. Through that, by the way, to give you some color, a cornerstone of our progress in that lies also in our remerchandising strategies, which has been measured through the system. In terms of meticulously analyzing the behavior of consumer and in-store dynamics through the system, we have refined our product placement the visual storytelling, making our [indiscernible], let's say, more engaging and effective in driving conversion.

It's a data-driven approach that is spread with announcing performance analytics, that somehow has empowered our teams to anticipate market trends and consumer needs to create the agility. To give you just a couple of examples. By looking at this trend in our store, we have seen -- we have been able to set action plan in order to try to offset what has been a quite strong decrease in traffic, let's say. And the key factor indicating the decline in store traffic has been the dedication and rationale of our store staff who have benefited from target training program.

This has been added by using the system measuring results, offsetting the decline in traffic, mostly in U.S., through 3 main pillars and actions. One, as Pietro could be eventually commenting more than me, is the fact that we are addressing the trade business to the architect in our store, which is now part of our the double check activity through our software, which has achieved considerable results. Mostly in the U.S., we have stores where we are exceeding 25%, 30% of our business made through the trade business.

And through the system, we also implement action in order to improve the conversion rate of the customers are getting B2C and consumers that get into our stores, together with actions that -- the average ticket of most. So everything is now, let's say, putting on a raw basis in the system, which is also strengthening our internal collaboration, integrating feedback loops between retail operations, merchandising and supply chain to ensure optimal execution at every level.

[David Kanen, analyst]

Okay. I'm going to go back into queue in case someone else would like to ask questions. But I have a request, Antonio, if you would be kind enough to make an introduction to Justin Christensen, the new North American Retail VP, I would appreciate that.

[Antonio Achille, executive]

Sure. We will contact with our local team.

[Operator]

[Operator Instructions] There are no further questions. [indiscernible] the questions you may have from.

[Antonio Achille, executive]

Another question why maybe people...

[Operator]

David, I have a David, but I just want to make sure.

[Antonio Achille, executive]

Please, please. Otherwise, I would move to comment the figure more [indiscernible] Please go ahead, David.

[Operator]

Can you hear me my friend? I'm just going to make sure you're unmuted.

[David Kanen, analyst]

Okay. Question is on the commercial division. Also, you called out that you're seeing early signs in that business, if you could give us an update. What is -- longer term, what is the potentiality of the size of that business? And any color that you can give us in terms of the early signs that you're seeing now that are encouraging?

[Piero Direnzo, executive]

I'm not sure if you're referring to -- are you referring to the trade -- the projects business, the trading contract business?

[David Kanen, analyst]

Yes. Is that what you call the commercial division, like selling to hospitality...

[Antonio Achille, executive]

Well, we come -- I think that the reason why the team was a bit puzzled. We call it the Contract. Commercial is all the division. Contract is what we refer more with this, let's call it, B2B or B2BC opportunity, which is led by PJ. PJ, I believe you are the one best take the question. Please go ahead.

[Pasquale Natuzzi, executive]

So Mr. David, as you well know, we're overseeing, for sure, first of all, a phenomena which is pretty positive on one end for consumers, which is the growth and the extended, let's say, lifespan of furniture products that is growing. And that is causing, as a matter of fact, a significant -- a slower pace in the repurchase cycle for consumers. That's a phenomenon that we're somehow looking at on the retail side.

Then if you consider the macroeconomic pressures that we all think, clearly that impacts, like Antonio was opening in his remarks, it's definitely impacting consumers' confidence and purchase intention. Now there is -- we are seeing there is a shift in our retail business model. There is a somehow hybridization of what was a B2C purely type of commercial dynamic into a B2B2C model, where the business to business is represented by the relationship with the design community, which is what I'm looking in [indiscernible] with what we call trade and contract division, which is a team and a business unit that overlooks on 2, let's say, business trajectories.

On one hand, we do develop and deliver bespoke solutions to hospitality operator, hospitality and commercial, residential, not a bespoke solution in the residential field, of course, which is very important. So that is what we call bespoke. And is what also gave life to incredible best practice of the Harmony Residences in Dubai, which was a relationship -- let's say, an opportunity built -- or a relationship started with real estate developer based in Dubai. And that is now being replicated in different geographies of the world that are adding onto the opportunity by opening up to new opportunities of branded residential.

On the other hand, we are also, in parallel, improving the organization by ensuring commitment and disciplined growth with design leadership, bespoke development integrated customization and leveraging, of course, the Natuzzi, controlling of retail being, Natuzzi supply base, for whatever that is more related to retail. So the trade business in our retail fleet is what I also overlook at supporting Diego and his retail teams with a, let's say, a dedicated set of skills, [indiscernible] and tools to promote the business with designers, architects or even developer and hospitality operator in all of those adjacent areas where our retail network lies today.

And here, we're seeing that, of course, there is some market research, which one is -- I want to quote, it's ThinkLab U.S. who reported that the average power of a design studio in America is 40x higher than an average American consumers. And the top 200 design firms in America have 140x the spending power potential over an average American consumer. So you can understand that this business-to-business relationship has much more loyalty and potential than whatever we were going after on the B2C side of our retail business.

So let's say, consider the trade and contract division as a business unit that, on one hand, is trying to leverage on our global retail network, trying to have localized type of relationship or sentinels, business procures that do grasp here out for opportunities of any sort of development in their areas, and they relate to our corporate team, which is a team that I started up over the last year. And that does, in effect, contract and bespoke solutions.

But then we have our stores. And like Diego said, there is locations today in which implementing and focusing, especially in America, the potential is definitely the highest. These locations where we're focusing on consider -- every Monday, I speak to overall American trade teams of the world in each and every locations, and we are seeing an incredible growth, where, like Diego said, some stores reached 30% and even more of a share of voice, of trade sales in their stores, which is sales where, of course, it's not just delivering the design service, but it's also harvesting the relationship with design professionals, which will allow us to have loyalty and long-lasting B2B kind of connection with these design professionals.

So to be frank, I do believe that this is the future of our industry. I also sit in the Board of Director of the Italian National Furniture Association, which also owns the Salone del Mobile Furniture Fair. And all of the peers and competitors or colleagues that we have on the international level, they all are seeing incredible results by pursuing the world of contract, projects and trade. Because in this period of times, working once again with design professional, being specified by contractors, becoming loyal suppliers for big hospitality operators is what can mind the gap of what the global economy is unlikely showing to effect today.

[David Kanen, analyst]

Okay. Thank you for that commentary. Last question. I had made an introduction, Antonio, to probably the largest home furnishing e-commerce company. And I believe it was something that you were going to get stood up. Could you give us an update on that when do you expect to launch and give us an update there?

[Antonio Achille, executive]

I will pass it to Coldrin who has been the person implementing this opportunity.

[Codrin Coroama, executive]

Thank you, Antonio. David, thank you for the question. So we are -- we have met quite a few times. They have visited us during Milano, during Salone del Mobile Fair. We've had great time together. We have also met again. They have followed up with a meeting in High Point market in October. And we are now in the -- going through some technicalities in terms of finding the common ground in moving forward, technically speaking.

I will also be meeting with their executive leadership team in Florida where they have a congress upcoming in September. We are confident that we will be able to positively conclude discussions by the time we met in September in Florida. So first and foremost, thank you for bringing this opportunity forward. We're working on it and we're cautiously optimistic about being forward in a positive way.

[Operator]

There are no further questions at this time. I'd like to turn the floor back over for any further or closing comments.

[Antonio Achille, executive]

So in closing, maybe as typically we do, Carlo, you want to -- Carlo and Piero, you want to highlight some of the key dimension of the quarter as reported? Even though I believe most of the audience -- looking at the audience, which has the opportunity to review maybe with figures. But please, if you want to provide any commentary on the performance and more on the economic side. I mean [indiscernible].

[Carlo Silvestri, executive]

Thank you, Antonio. Do you hear well?

[Antonio Achille, executive]

Yes, we do.

[Carlo Silvestri, executive]

Yes. Thank you, Antonio. I will provide a couple of comments that maybe is worthwhile to underline again related to our performances, while we have been discussing about the gross margin, given the situation in both channel mix and, let's say, between retail and wholesale and the new, let's say, production allocation.

What is maybe worth to be, let's say, confirmed is that in the other industrial cost, we see a decrease from EUR 4.9 million to EUR 4.4 million. So we have a saving of EUR 0.5 million given as a result of a lower related depreciation following the closure of all of our Shanghai plant and the move to the new plant in Punjao. So this is a saving that will -- it's in our P&L as a result of this transition process.

Then going back to the selling expenses. And while we have seen an overall increase in the -- transportation cost as a result of higher tariff of Italy, North American -- route. On the other side, we have benefited of EUR 800,000 saving given this new industrial location. So we've lowered deliveries from China. So this is like a plus of all the process we are going through in terms of industrial location.

And adding on the question of Mr. Kanen, we need to confirm that we had closed in 2024, 3 nonperforming stores, 1 in Spain, 1 U.K. and 1 in Italy. And this is benefiting us with USD 700,000 savings in selling expenses. So these are data that confirm that our active portfolio management is indeed giving benefit to our P&L.

On the other side, when, let's say, some few remarks on our financial costs. While we will see the impact of the decrease of the interest rates that is reflected in financial cost from EUR 2.6 million to EUR 2.2 million, we have been overweighted by unfavorable currency movements on the trade receivable and payables. So we did not have any change in our hedging policy. This has been basically the results of the floating and unpredictable exchange rate of the U.S. dollar in the first quarter that has brought us EUR 1 million loss compared to EUR 200,000 profit last year. So these are, let's say, something on top of what we have fully described in our press release.

[Antonio Achille, executive]

Okay. Thank you, Carlo. Kevin, I believe if there are no further questions, as always, we also welcome the audience to reach us separately after the -- individually after the completion on the call. I believe, Kevin, if there are no further questions, we can thank the audience on behalf for Natuzzi. I also thank Pasquale and all the team who joined us today, and we can close the meeting.

[Operator]

Thank you. And thanks everyone for joining us today. That does conclude today's webcast. You may disconnect your line at this time, and have a wonderful day. We thank you for your patience today.

[Antonio Achille, executive]

Thank you.