In this interview we delve deeper into the collaboration between Vingino and football legend Lionel Messi. Danny Zwager, Vingino’s export manager, talks about the specifics of this partnership, the impact of Messi’s move to Miami and the brand’s vision for the future. An insightful conversation about fashion, football and the positive impact of partnerships.
Can you tell us something about the collaboration with Messi and how it came about?
We have enjoyed working with celebrities, footballers and influencers for years. We have already worked with Senna Bellod, Memphis Depay, Daley Blind and Emre Can. Last year, the opportunity arose to work with Lionel Messi, considered the greatest footballer of all time. That was before the World Cup, but our managing director Jan van den Berg firmly believed in it and the collaboration turned out to be very positive.
How do you think Messi’s status as a global icon will impact Vingino’s brand and product lines?
In our experience, Lionel Messi is adored by people all over the world. International trade fairs also confirm this. That’s why we encounter great enthusiasm and positive reactions wherever we present our Lionel Messi collection. This naturally creates new opportunities for us. And because quality and service are very important to us, this creates short-term and unique partnerships. This is how many new partnerships are being created around the world, through which we hope to also sell Vingino and Raizzed in the future. This collaboration is reminiscent of our projects with Daley Blind, Senna Bellod and Emre Can in Germany. However, Vingino’s collections will never change and the Vingino DNA is very important to us.
Can you tell us about some of the challenges you face as an export manager, particularly with regard to international expansion?
Of course, there are challenges that lie ahead, the biggest of which is of course the difference between the seasons. If it’s winter for us, it could be summer for my customers. So you always have to keep in mind that you are designing collections that can be sold anywhere in the world and at any time. In addition, the way we work is sometimes different in certain parts of the world. Therefore, we have to adapt quickly and this means that you learn a lot about the different cultures and ways of working in the world in a short time. Luckily, our CEO, Jan van den Berg, has a lot of experience in exporting and is always there to help me.
How has the fact that Messi now plays for Miami affected Vingino’s global sales strategy?
When it was announced that Messi was moving to Miami, our design team immediately created a Miami collection. This is one of the examples of how quickly we can shift gears within the company. The transfer was worth it in every respect. Messi continues to deliver outstanding performances and reaffirms his status as the greatest footballer of all time.
The fashion industry is constantly evolving. What current market trends do you think are impacting Vingino’s product development and marketing strategies? How do you adapt to customer preferences, especially in the global market?
Above all, we notice that fashion trends are changing more and more quickly, which requires a quicker reaction with the collections in order to be able to react quickly to these trends. By always bringing fashionable and current collections onto the market, you stand out. And it is precisely this topicality that is important today in order to become visible online. And we all know that online visibility and social media have become important to our marketing strategies.
What is your vision for the future of Vingino and how do you see the brand developing in the coming years?
Vingino is known for always being innovative and responding to customers’ wishes and needs. In my opinion, this is the reason why we are still known everywhere after almost twenty-five years. Of course, this will not change in the future. Together with our customers, we will respond to opportunities and respond to their needs. Of course, always with the Vingino DNA, our quality and our service as a basis.