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A tribute to the companies and people who have made Barche a Motore great over these 35 years allowing it to be born, grow, and become great up to this historic anniversary. In these articles the great excellences of boating tell their stories and reveal their projects, making an important contribution to the knowledge of this world, which allows us all to go to sea, in all forms and contexts.
Founded in 1998, NSS Group is now a true “colossus,” between charters, ecomarines and the sale of catamarans and power and sailboats. Its founder Simone Morelli reveals the secrets of success.
That of NSS Group is a unique reality in the Italian (and not only) boating scene that expresses an innovative and highly appreciated vision in three absolutely strategic sectors of this industry. Indeed, the company operates as a dealer of motor and sailing boats with NSS Yachting, in tourism with NSS Charter, and in berth management with the splendid Marina Cala dei Sardi. A family business born in 1998, somewhat by chance, and carried on by its founder and administrator, Simone Morelli, 56, from Pontedera, a former Navy officer who one day decided to give up the “fixed job” and bet on himself, as well as on his passion for the sea and boats. Winning choice. To date NSS Group employs, in fact, about 100 people including many women, has a fleet of more than 130 boats, nautical bases in Italy and abroad, and often records record sales with international recognition. Telling us about all this is Simone Morelli himself, who makes no secret of his enthusiasm.
Simone, what prompted you to create NSS Group in 1998?
“After the Naval Academy in Livorno, a brilliant career as a naval officer awaited me. One evening, however, by chance I discovered the existence in Sardinia, my wife’s homeland, of subsidized funding for entrepreneurship related to nautical tourism. It clicked in my head and, as a sea and boat enthusiast, I set out to study the feasibility of a project related to boating in North Sardinia, hence the name “North Sardinia Sail.” In fact, I left the certain for the uncertain, but I banged my head on it believing it all the way.”
The charter was your “stepping stone,” how did it go?
“Yes, I started with a small fleet of five charter sailboats in the Portisco base. I was afraid, since it was a new profession for me. At that time I had not yet left the Navy because I thought I could manage it remotely. That was not the case and with great regret I left my job. However, the first few seasons of NSS went well, and with a philosophy that has always accompanied me to this day I decided to reinvest all profits in the business. In 2004 I opened the second base in Cala de’ Medici, Tuscany, where I used to go to the sea as a child with my grandfather to fish for octopus. From there on, every year we grew as the number of boats (130, to date, between monohulls and sailing catamarans: the first charter company in Italy by number of boats) and new bases were added.”
Where are your bases today?
“NSS Charter has five bases in the Mediterranean: in Sardinia in Marina di Cala dei Sardi, in Tuscany in Marina di Cala de’ Medici, in Campania in Marina d’Arechi, in Sicily in Portorosa, and in the Balearic Islands in Palma de Mallorca. Another base, dedicated to vacations in the months that are winter in Europe, is then in the Caribbean in Grenada.”
How was Cala dei Sardi born?
“It came about in response to administrative problems we had with the marina in Portisco, which quadrupled the cost of berths from one year to the next. We wanted to move with the charter fleet to a base nearby, but there wasn’t one and we decided to make it our own. So, through a thousand difficulties, in 2012 finally Cala dei Sardi was born in the Gulf of Cugnana. At first it was just a pier in the middle of nowhere, then slowly with a lot of good will and love for beautiful things we transformed it with a precise vision: not the usual port, but an oasis of peace in which to relax and find a unique and exclusive contact with nature. Guests can enjoy large green spaces with a lawn, relaxation areas and a floating solarium from which to dive into the crystal clear waters. Today Cala dei Sardi is an efficient, environmentally sustainable marina open to all.”
When did you start to get involved in boat sales as well?
“In 2012 we became Lagoon dealers. I had started to believe in multihulls back in 2005 when I bought the first model. At that time, multihulls were thought to be ugly, slow and expensive boats. Instead, in my opinion, the idea of comfort and safety they offered was a winner. And so it was. Already during the 2008- 2009 crisis, many boat owners who were selling their motor boats but did not want to give up their boating vacations chose catamarans. From there on, these boats exploded and our sales took off as well: for 5 years in a row we won the Lagoon “Best European Dealer” award. In the meantime we became Bénéteau dealers, for sail and power boats, and importers for Italy of Highfield inflatable boats.”
How do you see the future of NSS Group?
“The goal is to grow and improve. It may make you smile: I have the myth of McDonald’s as a business model: standardized procedures, a young, interchangeable team, efficient service. I would like to apply that to boating. The yachtsman is in fact a tourist, and the boating vacation is really accessible to everyone. Italy with its scenery, services, and supply of berths is second to none.”
NSS Charter: visit site
NSS Yachting: visit site
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