Marco Olivieri

Managing Director

Marco Olivieri set up La Mercanti in 1997, and the idea behind it has not shifted since: a room makes its case for a company long before anyone in it opens their mouth. Nowhere is that clearer than with the executive desk, a piece of furniture still largely made in Italy. Marketing is both his discipline and his instinct; he did his national service as an artillery officer, has four children and keeps three mornings a week for calisthenics. Mediocrity he simply will not put up with, least of all at the office. In this Magazine he writes about why beautiful, well-made offices raise both standing and output.

Teenagers and adults sitting in a circle on the floor of a bright classroom, in front of a whiteboard

One figure for the designer and the finance director There is a page on our site that compares two real products from our catalogue over the years you will keep them, keeps certain cost apart… 04/09/2026 Workplace Productivity

Facing Las Mobili Sigma workstations with mesh task chairs, yellow seats and a cork pinboard wall

The honest maths of a meeting table The table bought for eight that never seats more than six: nobody measured wrong — the brochure just counted elbows out. The space per pers… 01/09/2026 Workplace Productivity

Frezza Mux70 executive desk with a tan leather chair in an office of concrete and wood

Modern, design, contemporary or classic: choosing an Italian executive desk Before a word is spoken, the desk has introduced its owner. The four families of Italian executive desks — modern, design, contemporary, cl… 20/08/2026 Design & Trends

Reception desk with a backlit frosted-glass front, light oak cabinets and open shelving

Government Buying Standards for furniture, a field guide The first rule of the UK government's furniture standard is surprising: don't buy new furniture. Re-use and refurbishment come first; new p… 06/08/2026 Regulations & Standards

Luciano Guglielmini of Humanscale speaking into a microphone at an event

Anatomy of a six-year client file, from first email to fifth order Most supplier case studies show the photograph and hide the paperwork. This one does the opposite. Five orders over six years for MarineMax… 31/07/2026 Projects & Case Studies

Six signals from Web Summit that will reshape every serious office by 2026 Six concrete signals from Web Summit in Lisbon — translated into practical implications for architects, interior designers and workplace le… 26/11/2025 Trade Shows & Events