FROG.PRO in INTERVIEW: "We do not set ourselves any limits"

FROG.PRO is Gear with function and design from Italy. During our visit to Parma, we spoke with FROG.PRO founder Fabio Casali and delved into the world of gear with the classic questions: Where do you come from? Where are you going?

Happy Birthday, Fabio, FROG.PRO is 10 years old. Where does your equipment company stand today?

Fabio Casali: Time to celebrate! Ten years have passed very quickly. I started as a craftsman, offering repairs and customizations, and now I run a small gem. FROG.PRO is now a small business with less than 15 employees, organized and managed in a way that brings significant value to every equipment user and to those working in our company.

Value in terms of the product, as we are committed to offering alternative solutions to the rest of the market and with attention to the smallest details – that's why you gave us the nickname "Armani Gear" at SPARTANAT, right? When designing new gear, we don't limit ourselves: we use the best materials and integrate all functions that can enhance the product's usability. Cost-cutting measures are taken by limiting material waste during cutting, optimizing sewing processes, and taking care of delivery logistics, but never at the expense of the product.

"Delivering excellence, breathing beauty – 100% Made in Italy."

Value also in terms of the quality of life of the people working with us. We have always invested in introducing technologies to make all work easier and better; and in optimizing the workspace, as I believe that to deliver excellence, one must live in an excellent way to breathe and deeply feel beauty. That's why we've always kept production in-house, guaranteeing "100% Made in Italy."

Therefore, I cannot provide a judgment on our market positioning, as we are a unique entity in our field, catering only to those who share our values.

Ten years ago: How did it all start?

The idea to start a gear production company came to me during my military service in the 2nd RGT Alpini. Immediately after a vacation, I was looking for a temporary job to make some money, and in 2013, after overcoming much skepticism from relatives and acquaintances, I finally founded the company FROG.PRO. I was alone. I then rented a 70s workshop of about 80 square meters near my parents' house: It wasn't nice, but it was my laboratory where I could finally unleash my creativity. Although I had already learned how to sew, I immediately faced many problems related to managing a business. I had to learn to control sales through social media and the website, use a camera and photo editing programs, create administrative documents, maintain relationships with banks, and more. Luckily, I am a very resilient person, and I managed to use all the obstacles that came my way to gather positive experiences and enrich my cultural background.

What experiences have you had in these 10 years?

In these ten years, I have had wonderful experiences interspersed with really bad and stressful moments. In the company, I have celebrated the goals achieved with my team. I have also been angry with myself and with them because I had failed. I have exchanged satisfied looks with them after very intense phases where we have all done our best. I have laughed a lot. I have cried. I have met many people, and with some of them, I have formed friendships that continue to this day. I have had many different experiences. Looking back, I can say that I have enjoyed every single moment of this great journey.

So, what can we expect from FROG.PRO? What's coming up?

In the last two years, we have expanded our workshop to nearly 600 square meters and optimized and automated many internal processes to structure the company for future growth. All the products we produce today are the result of these organizational efforts combined with the passion we always put into our work. Recently, we completed the development of the new HAWK plate carrier, new cummerbunds, and fresh pouches, as well as patented a new quick-release system for modular plates called U.LOK. Are you curious to see them? Then just drop by today, February 28th. We will be exhibiting at ENFORCE TAC in Hall 10.0, Booth 10.0-127, with our German distribution partner Recon Company. Additionally, this year we want to focus on completing the offerings in our current catalog. The best is yet to come...

FROG.PRO on the internet

More FROG.PRO on SPARTANAT

– ON TOUR: VISIT TO THE FROG.PRO WORKSHOP

– GEAR GUIDE: THIS IS FROG-PRO