the code of ethics
To join and participate in the activities of the Consortium for the Protection of Furniture of Verona it is necessary to adhere to the following code of ethics also available in PDF format.
1. The companies participating in the Verona Furniture Protection Consortium must be “commercially correct”, that is, they must behave positively with respect to the following points:
- respect payment deadlines towards suppliers and service providers.
- meet the promised service standards: delivery times, quality of work.
- show transparency regarding any difficulties in payment or service level deficits, demonstrating openness and willingness to find a solution.
For all these points it is specified that the evaluation yardstick is represented by the contracts and commercial agreements between the entities in question.
As regards product quality, the consortium will promote a “quality committee” that will establish evaluation criteria and procedures.
2. Commitment to confidentiality about strategic information relating to the initiatives (commercial and purchasing synergy) carried out within the group.
What information should not be disclosed?
- Those that may create an advantage for third parties to the detriment of the Consortium or some of its members
- Those relating to commercial and marketing initiatives
- Those that concern advantages at the purchasing marketing level
- Those concerning information relating to investigations by the Mobile Observatory;
What information can be disclosed?
All information that constitutes a form of advertising for the group and information regarding ways to join the group. Members are even encouraged to involve additional companies linked to them by collaborative relationships. Those that serve to create a culture of sharing and a change of mentality in the territory.
3. Commitment not to copy a furniture series or model: it constitutes a violation of the idea of sharing and transparency, the fact of copying series and models not only of the members of the Consortium but in general of all the companies in the area.
The issue of the reproduction of “fashion” models by custom manufacturers may constitute an exception given the particular nature of their work: in any case, this exception must be communicated and addressed by the group.
Who decides whether there has been copying? The board and the organizing group based on the evidence provided by the person reporting plagiarism.
4. Damage to image: companies that adopt a line of communication and behavior that is clearly counter to that shared in the mission and in the charter of values of the Consortium constitute damage to the image of the group.
The damage can be twofold:
to) Behavioral: the company promotes values that can generate damage to its image (it makes open political propaganda, promotes discriminatory and offensive messages on its institutional spaces ...)
b) of communication: the company promotes messages in its communication spaces that go against the Consortium's policy (such as creating a campaign against the use of wood or against the territorial identity of Verona furniture)
5. Correct use of the logo and your membership to the Consortium: use the logo and reference to the Consortium and all the commercial brands developed by it only in contexts approved by the group and for purposes in line with the group's communication idea. In the case of joining contexts different from those addressed during the organizational meetings, it will be essential to ask the group itself for an evaluation. Vice versa, the companies adhering to the Consortium agree to insert the group's logo on their website and, within the limits that do not entail excessive additional costs, in the various forms of coordinated image and corporate advertising. As regards participation in trade fairs, the company can and must promote its individual identity, reserving a space and a reference to the “Verona furniture” brand following the methods, from time to time decided, by the working group that will dedicate itself to the commercial theme.
6. Enhancement of the supply chain: the companies adhering to the Consortium are committed to valorising the entire supply chain within it, creating an open and exchange environment.
a) With particular reference to any orders received thanks to the consortium's activity, the company undertakes to evaluate possible support suppliers within the group of associated companies. Difficulties and impossibilities in doing so are foreseen, which must however be justified to the group.
b) With reference to the normal activities of the company, the latter undertakes to offer the possibility to the members of the consortium to present their own estimates and/or offers of collaboration.
The real competitiveness of the supplier's proposal constitutes the evaluation criterion and, if it is evidently unfavourable, it cannot constitute any form of obligation towards the potential buyer.
7. Active participation: each company undertakes to participate in the life and activities of the consortium first by attending institutional meetings with a percentage equal to at least 70% of the total of the latter. Secondly, it undertakes to actively collaborate in the success of the promoted actions.
8. Quarterly illustrates to the consortium members the economic and financial results of the management. The Manager may always be asked to view the data at any time of the year.