MILAN— Piero Agnetta, a well-known consultant, and specialist in the Russian market as well as an agent to the Italian textile industry says he has ended his 25 year representation agreement with Giber srl, a weaver of wide width sheer curtain fabric.

In the meantime, Agnetta has signed an agreement to represent a Turkish line of fabrics “with Italian know-how, machinery and technical ability,” he says. He said he took the opportunity to diversify his marketing activity in different sectors because of his problems with Giber. 

“Giber has decided to interrupt the relation because the economy is bad and they save money.” Agnetta said. Giber reportedly owes Agnetta sales commissions for 2013 and 2014 in the five figure range, Agnetta confirmed. He said he intends to take legal action against Giber to recover his overdue commissions.

Giber entered liquidation four years ago and has been operating under bankruptcy protection since then with the same exact management as before, but the turnover result appears in diminution year by year, with the exception of the Russian market, which is especially followed by Agnetta, he said. Giber reportedly hired his colleague, Oxana Luneva, on a direct basis and at a reduced cost, cutting out Agnetta. “Luneva handles the translations from Russian to Italian," Agnetta said. “The fee of Luneva is lower than Agnetta but we hope that the results will not be proportional,” he added.