Excellent revenue growth, expanding distribution, a new store in the pipeline, and solid financial data for Pelletteria Charlotte of Manerba del Garda (BS), which operates with the bag and accessory brands Charlotte (named after the Danish ex-wife of founder Luca Marchetti, with whom he has three daughters, all active in the company) and Marchetti, after the owner's surname.
“Seeing that so many German, Dutch, and Danish tourists came on vacation to Lake Garda, I thought of giving my bags the name Charlotte, which was very popular at the time in Northern Europe. We achieved notable sales success, then when we separated, I decided to keep my wife’s name, because we were together for 25 years…”. Very romantic. Just like the fact that the brand features the Lake Garda heron as its symbol. “All our collections are inspired by the colors of our lake and the nature that surrounds it—not just the water and its waves, but also the typical stones, the green of the trees, and so on,” assures Luca Marchetti, who has been selling bags since he was 19, while his company celebrates 35 years of business in 2026.
The Marchetti brand was born several years later to capture the business bag market, work bags dedicated almost primarily to men. “Production for both Charlotte and Marchetti is concentrated entirely in Italy, being carried out in the Corridonia area of the Marche region, while we buy our leathers mainly in Arzignano, in Veneto, and the accessories between Florence and Alba Adriatica,” points out the founder, who also handles private label production.
Charlotte-Marchetti can boast 15 flagship stores, scattered between Lake Garda and South Tyrol, while another 15 stores are franchised and deal exclusively with the Manerba-based company’s products. They are also located in South Tyrol and around Lake Garda, but one is active in Sicily, in Ortigia, right in front of the Temple of Apollo.
“My entrepreneurial vision focuses on concentrating on what is working, rather than dwelling too much on what isn't and getting depressed,” Luca Marchetti concludes. “It’s a bit the opposite of what many advise doing or think is necessary. I have this vision. I see that it’s working, because this way I manage to keep the group always fired up and full of energy. If something isn't working, let's leave it be, and move forward with what is working.” An excellent strategy for the company's 60 direct employees (at its headquarters in Manerba del Garda, the company not only houses its offices, distribution, and design departments, but also centralizes its logistics), given that its 2025 turnover grew by 15%. The primary market remains Italy, which accounts for 50% of the figure, thanks above all to the activity of the retail outlets.
Moreover, among the new projects for Charlotte and Marchetti, retail remains a focus, with plans for the opening of two new stores in Chioggia, in the pedestrian area under the porticoes of the Venetian city, which will be inaugurated in March 2027.
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