Charm, strength, expertise and sacrifices dedicated to the world of footwear and leather, sure to sell a lot of advertising, which you can also find in this issue, but above all to increase the value of ARSUTORIA, to which he dedicated his whole life, and the companies of customers, or better of friends, with whom he has travelled, laughed and “argued” for more than 60 years.
To be a good seller you need to be a bit of a pirate, a bit of a poet and a bit of a gentleman. how many of us, in all these years, have had the good fortune of hearing him utter the golden rule that has always guided him. Oscar passed away on June the 22nd after a difficult illness borne with strength, anguish (because he loved life and was angry that he had to give it away) and great courage.
He continued to be an example even in this final chapter of his life. He was always strong and came to work until the very end (because he loved it, and also because I think he wanted to help us, his colleagues, right to the end), he shared his suffering and fatigue with ease, never giving up or wallowing in self-pity.
During his 60-year career, he was a teacher for many, especially for me. Professionalism, honesty, dedication, attention to detail, customer focus, the desire to invent something different in order to sell more and better, the ability to always motivate his choices and his claims: these are only some of the things he taught me and for which i will always be grateful. Alongside this unrivalled professionalism, Oscar also knew how to have fun and how to love without too much fuss. he showed this by telling me, and others, to go to hell.
“I will now show you how to renew contracts without even talking to the client”
When i was still a “rookie” and he took me around the halls of Micam, he said to me: “I will now show you how to renew contracts without even talking to the client.” I thought he was joking, and that he wanted to make himself look good in the eyes of a newcomer, or that he was just making fun of me. We passed a stand and he didn’t even make a move to enter. He waved to the client and in the air made a “signing” gesture. The other person replied seriously by raising a thumb. The contract was signed and I couldn’t believe it. A bit of a pirate.
“I don’t believe a word of it, but I love the way you tell a story”
On the last day when he came to see us in the editorial office, we asked him to tell us about how he began his career. «I was very young, still wearing short pants, as they say in Milan. I worked in ARSUTORIA as a storeman when my uncle decided to bring me with him on a weekend getaway. The weekend extended to Monday and i didn’t have the courage to notify the company. When I arrived at work the following day, my boss said, “What are you doing here? you’re fired”. I excused myself by telling a very complicated story about a fictitious illness that had hit my uncle unexpectedly. my boss said, “I don’t believe a word of it, but I love the way you tell a story.” I was rehired as a sales representative and began travelling around Italy, then Europe and then the World. I remember that in those days I used to load my scooter on the train and then visit all the shoe factories in the Marche». A little bit of a poet.
I remember the car trips to Riva del Garda, for example, when he asked me about my daughter and he would tell me about his children, and about his wife and how much they would upset him. As usual, he exaggerated to make me laugh, but I could see the smile on his face, the smile of someone who loves his family and would do anything for them. A little bit of a gentleman.
Finally, I remember the special hug that a businesswoman, an old-time friend, gave him during a party celebrating the history of the company. and I remember the tears that appeared in the eyes of a “client” who asked about him, knowing that he wasn’t well.
He was loved by many, even outside the advertising world, who considered him a true friend. How many can actually say that they put so much of themselves into their work to achieve such recognition?!
Thank you, Oscar, for what you have done for ARSUTORIA, and for the entire footwear and leather industry, but above all thanks for the precious memories that will stay with us for always, joyful and bright.
Now enjoy your prosecco, sitting at the helm of your boat, floating on a lake of clouds