GUIDO FERRO
The Entrepreneur and Developer
Guido started his career in 1957 in his father’s factory – working in all the different levels of the industrial process. With much enthusiasm – he speaks of him as his promoter. He was learning fast and understood the way to develop new areas of the business.
He starts talking about his approach to the basics of his apprenticeship and recounts the formation and further development of the glass factory - the group - with his two brothers Ivano and Mario. They invested lots of money and effort - supported mainly by the core operation on Murano - until the businesses could become independent operations.
In the 1960’s together with his brothers they opened a new operation, “Effetre” and in the 1970’s they acquired properties outside Murano on the mainland. Finally, in 1976 there was enough capital for the three brothers to separate and engage in their own businesses. By then the operations counted some 420 employees. Orders came in swiftly so investments could be made and first robots were installed.
Guido is renowned for his way of forward thinking and using innovation to support his ideas. Not tired of the bureaucratic obstacles he was able to move education forward with the necessary support of the mayor of Venice. L’Abate Zanetti got funds to provide courses like design, crafting or lamp-working techniques. Lectures feature literature, chemistry and mathematics and finally also glass working techniques.
Out of the five years of education Guido teaches the students in their final three. He also stresses the participation of female students. Guido is convinced that the developments for the glass industry on Murano will get resolved. As in the past when firms were absorbed by other’s businesses and reconstructed successfully.
Guido works on developing new chemical substances to replace the toxic ones used in coloration of glass – he wants these materials to be available to all producing entities on Murano. Saying that those who have the skills will succeed especially when working on a smaller-scale with a well-defined culture.
Nowadays profitability can only be achieved with a maximum of 15 employees. As far as his own production is concerned, he employs new technologies and machinery and advanced engineering to compete successfully.
According to Guido the way forward could be structured in several ways either – as his son Diego is suggesting – possible new ways of commercial organizational structures and combining more different businesses on Murano to save cost. Or his own idea would be to have specialized glass production supplying all requests of Muranese factories.
Guido maintains that the factory is a vocation and that Murano’s potential is enormous. He is optimistic that Murano will be able to protect the origin of its products and never die. One major objective is to provide a solid foundation for the label of Murano glass.
THE VENICE GLASS WEEK 2023
Guido Ferro is one of the winners of THE GLASS IN VENICE PRIZE 2023:
