Investor Testimonial: United Colors of Benetton
United Colors of Benetton Lorenza and Franca De Bona and Claudio Bordin
United Colors of Benetton is a global name and T&T can boast of having one of the most successful Benetton stores in the region, owned and operated by an Italian family who have found a second home here in what they say is: “the only true rainbow country in the world.” The family first opened Colors TT Ltd and then got the Benetton franchise for Trinidad & Tobago, which was opened in October 1993 in Trinidad (Long Circular Mall) by Lorenza and Franca De Bona and Claudio Bordin. “No particular reason brought us to Trinidad beside some sort of new adventure in an unknown place. The uniqueness of Trinidad did the rest and from a sort of game became a reality that got bigger and transformed into one of the most successful Benetton Stores in all the Central/South America Continent. We stayed because we enjoyed our new way of living, a chance to try something different. What helped our business was, and is, our vision from a different perspective. We are Italian, still going and living part of the year in Europe, and understanding the Caribbean/ Trinidadian taste for fashion we also try to combine it with our view and give a more trendy and forward look when we choose our collections. Living between Trinidad and Italy gives us a chance to get the best of the two worlds and, above all, never get tired of staying in one of the two places. The uniqueness of Trinidad is in her people. Different races, different religions, different cultures blending together. A concentrate of everything in a small island, probably the only true rainbow country in the world.” United Colors of Benetton (U.C.O.B.) Italian Clothing Company is present all over the world with more than 6,000 stores. U.C.O.B. sells fashion clothes for men, women and children with two main collections every year. Business Trinidad & Tobago • 37