Story and Photos by Madison DeLine
Hordes of tourists flood the streets of Florence, causing many small shops to change their business models.
According to The Guardian, “The city attracts many different types of tourist – from the cultural visitor, to the cruise-ship holidaymaker rushing in for a few brief hours. Most move along just a few well-beaten paths.” This has caused many small businesses to struggle at the expense of these tourists. However, shops like Anichini, a family-owned boutique for more than a century, has been able to adapt by embracing tourism.
The store originally only had seasonal items that would rotate; now they stock for all seasons all year.
Francesca Anichini, one of the owners of Anichini, says, “Now, we have to have summer and winter altogether, because some people come from California in the winter and they want light things, while some came from Russia, and they want winter things also in the summer. So, we had to change it to accommodate them.”
Anichini sells hand-made clothing for everyday use, as well as for formal events such as christenings. The store opened in 1912 by Francesca and her sister Eugenia’s great-grandmother. The store originally was located along the Arno, but the family relocated to Via del Parione due to the foot traffic near Palazzo Medici Riccardi.
“The whole palace is very famous and old. My family is friends with Ricardo and we have stayed here for a long time,” said Anichini. “We are very small and we want to enlarge this shop, because we have many customers and international customers. But then, we like this place, and so, we remain here.”
While changing the business model has affected some of the shop’s traditions, Anichini said tourism has benefited the business overall.
“We are in a place where all the five-star hotels are, and there are a lot of them here,” Anichini said. “There are nine streets that connect here,” which Anichini said has helped her business tremendously.
Being adaptable has also brought some famous customers through the doors.
Anichini said musical legend Micheal Jackson bought three outfits for his kids at her shop. She was clearly proud to sell to him.
“He was a customer, so we took the measurements, and then he chose the fabric, the colors, and then we made it. After 15 days, he came to take it.”
Stocking “Jelly Bean,” popular worldwide, is among the ways the store has adapted to tourists.
