Book excerpt: Italian brands are known to create some of the most premium, sought-after products in the world. Learn to compete in the modern marketplace using the proven business principles that Italian brands have been employing for generations. While it is no secret that Italians create superior products that both withstand the threat of ongoing competition and stand the test of time, the specific business principles that have led to such tried and tested successes are shrouded in secrecy, until now. Businessman Riccard Illy details personal experiences using these Italian business standards to run his family’s world-renowned coffee company for generations. Through the age of intense competition from Starbucks and Coffee Bean, the Illy empire has remained at the top of the coffee industry simply by employing key Italian business principles and values. In The Art of Excellent Products, you will: Learn how to approach your research and development process to find ways to add quality to your products and brand. Understand how Italians have created so many brands that have stood the test of time. Learn how to approach the marketplace so that your product stands out as the go-to product. By applying those principles to your business, you will ensure your products meet or exceed the level of quality necessary to be ultra-competitive in today’s market, even in an industry in which new companies aggressively challenge your brand daily.