How to buy furniture in Italy: a furniture tour and direct deliveries through Mebeltour
The idea of travelling to Italy for furniture is nothing new. It would seem there is nothing complicated about it: find the factory’s contact details, call, arrange a meeting — and combine business with pleasure: visit welcoming Italy and furnish your home directly at the source, at factory prices.
In reality, however, the situation is far from straightforward. They are not expecting you at the factory. Each manufacturer works with trusted dealers and design studios — partners they have relied on for years and whose financial standing they know. A private client without professional support always means unnecessary complications for both sides.
Why independent travel is a risk
Most managers and technicians at family-run manufactories speak neither Russian nor English. And every bespoke project — kitchens, doors, wall panels — involves a vast number of engineering nuances that, without proper supervision, come to light during installation.
The factory’s legal liability ends as soon as the order is handed over to the transport company at its warehouse (EXW). Anything not stipulated in the technical specification is not the manufacturer’s responsibility. Add the risks of claims — and the saying «the miser pays twice» becomes reality.
The factory is not obliged to offer private individuals dealer-level prices — this would instantly undermine its own distribution network. The final cost for an independent buyer at the factory is often higher than when purchasing through a professional buyer.
How we work
Remotely or in person — the choice is yours
Remote order processing format
An efficient, well-established format. We select product codes and prepare specifications using electronic catalogues. We then arrange a direct video conference with the factory’s technical specialists: together, we approve finish, stone or textile samples in real time. Before production begins, we send a parcel of actual finishing material samples by courier to your site, so that you can personally assess their tactile qualities.
Furniture tour of the factories
We pre-select a pool of manufacturers to match your interior design project, budget and timeframe. We meet you in Italy and personally accompany you to production facilities not open to regular visitors: you explore the displays, assess the ergonomics of the sofas and put questions to workshop managers. Depending on the dates, the itinerary may include a visit Milan furniture fair Salone del Mobile or flagship showrooms in Milan. View an example route →
If you already know the exact item codes and brands
We handle direct procurement from the factory on the most favourable terms and provide a full concierge service: production coordination, cargo consolidation at our warehouse in Italy, logistics, insurance and supervised installation by trusted certified specialists anywhere in Europe, Russia or the UAE.
Ready to discuss your project?
Share your project requirements or send us a completed specification — we will select a pool of manufacturers and propose the most effective form of collaboration.