The reception area of Safilo North America’s new 55,000-square-foot headquarters in Secaucus, designed by Studio 1200. — Courtesy: Safilo North America
By Joshua Burd
An Italian eyewear company has moved its North American headquarters from Morris County to some 55,000 square feet of newly designed office space in Secaucus.
The company, Safilo, said it now occupies the second and fourth floors of 300 Lighting Way after completing its move from Parsippany. Designed by Studio 1200 in collaboration with the firm’s interior design department, the space offers an open space work environment and houses a fully stocked customer showroom, call center, product workrooms and conference rooms.
Safilo also touted its location about five miles from Manhattan, noting that the move is meant to help simplify and modernize its North American operations. The company over the past two years has consolidated operations such as logistics and returns into its Denver distribution center, moving them out of its Parsippany office at 801 Jefferson Road.
“The reinvention of our North American headquarters is of strategic importance for Safilo Group as we invest in product, customer partnerships, management skills and operational efficiency in North America,” said Luisa Delgado, CEO of Safilo Group. “We need an attractive HQ located to build synergies with our Fifth Avenue Showroom and its Global Design Studio, as well as with our New York based licensing partners and North America’s leading eyewear retailers.
“Here is where globally trend-setting design and innovation offer important inspiration for our Group worldwide.”
With a portfolio that includes brands such as Carrera, Polaroid, Dior and Fendi, Safilo has roots in North Jersey going back to 1977, when a predecessor company opened a factory in Fairfield. It had been in the Parsippany location since 1997.
Its new office in Secaucus also includes a large meeting space to house town hall sessions and other events, along with an employee cafeteria and pantry.
“We want a modern HQ work environment that is open to engage with our customers effectively, is designed to drive collaboration across functions, and is attractive also to millennial talent,” Delgado added. “Thus, our new HQ visually reflects Safilo’s 2020 strategic aspiration which is to play our unique product centric role as industry leader, leveraging on the combination of unparalleled historical strength and modernization with confidence forward.”
