HBI

What HBI does

HBI S.r.l. Marketing ed Informatica is a privately held Italian limited liability company headquartered in Bassano del Grappa (Vicenza), Veneto, operating as a B2B marketing and IT services firm. The company runs two principal businesses: a portfolio of sector-specific B2B industry databases serving Italian industrial verticals (plastics/rubber/composites via Plastitaly, wood/furniture via Lignea, mechanical/machinery via Maccut, goldsmith/jewelry via Orafitaly, and international Italian companies via Italy Exports), and a suite of vertical SaaS applications for Italian small businesses (Bellinforma for beauty institutes, Atletasoft for fitness centers, Contabil for SME accounting). It also publishes Plastitaly Professional (5,000 print + 20,000 digital copies, distributed 50/50 between Italy and abroad) and rePlanet Magazine, and offers custom software development, web development, AdWords campaign management, flip book catalog creation, and commercial mailing services.

The company's largest data asset is the Plastitaly database covering approximately 11,200 Italian companies in the plastics, rubber, and composites sector. MonETization is diversified across four streams: subscription-based directory listings, print and online advertising (full-page print ads priced at EUR 1,000, full-year online banners at EUR 1,000, premium cover positions up to EUR 4,000, and portal home-page service listings at EUR 500-700/year), project-based custom software development, and commercial mailing services. Customer segments are fragmented Italian SMBs across multiple industrial verticals, with no disclosed enterprise customers or major logos. Internal scale metrics (headcount, revenue, growth) are not disclosed.

Name

HBI

Legal name

HBI S.r.l.

Website

https://hbiitaly.it

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

HBI S.r.l. is an Italian B2B marketing and IT services firm that operates sector-specific industry databases (plastics, wood, machinery, jewelry, exports) and vertical SaaS applications (beauty, fitness, SME accounting), serving Italian SMBs with directory listings, advertising, custom software, and digital marketing services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

B2B Industry Directories & Vertical Management Software

NAICS

Directory and Mailing List Publishers (51314), Software Publishers (51321), Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (541)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370), Services-Prepackaged Software (7372), Services-Advertising Agencies (7311)

akta.pro primary industry

Marketing Database & Contact Data Providers (B2B/B2C Lists) (BPAFAKAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

B2B / Industrial Market Research (MPAAALAA), B2B Marketplaces & Wholesale Platforms (BPAMAGAD)

Keywords

• Industry database directories
• Business management software
• B2B directory publishing
• Flip book catalog services
• Italian industry directories

Headquarters

HQ city

Bassano Del Grappa

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Industry Database Directories & Subscriptions: HBI operates subscription-based and advertising-funded industry database portals (Plastitaly, Italy Exports, Lignea, Orafitaly, Maccut). These generate revenue through annual directory listings, print and digital advertising, and website hosting fees for company home pages within the portals. The Plastitaly annual guide (print + digital + CD-ROM + web portal) is distributed in 25,000 copies and represents a key recurring revenue stream.
2. Advertising & Sponsorship: Plastitaly Professional guide and www.plastitaly.it portal sell advertising space including print ads (full page 4-color at EUR 1,000+IVA, half-page EUR 650, quarter-page EUR 450, cover positions up to EUR 4,000), online banners (half banner 4 months EUR 300 to 12 months EUR 800; full banner 4 months EUR 450 to 12 months EUR 1,000), and logo/link placements (EUR 250/year). Portal home page services with product showcases are sold at EUR 500-700/year.
3. Custom Software Development: HBI develops custom management software solutions (ERP-like systems) tailored to specific client business needs. Revenue is generated through one-time project-based engagements and potentially ongoing support/maintenance contracts.
4. IT Consulting & Services: Professional services including hardware/software installation, multi-platform system integration, cybersecurity consulting, web development, AdWords campaigns, domain registration and hosting, DPS consulting, organizational consulting, photo/video catalog production, mailing campaigns, and IT training courses.
5. Commercial Mailing / Database Services: HBI leverages its continuously updated databases to send commercial messages via fax or email to potential clients. This database-as-a-service offering targets businesses seeking to reach Italian industry operators.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

HBI S.r.l. publishes and maintains industry-specific B2B databases (Plastitaly, Italy Exports, Lignea, Orafitaly, Maccut) covering over 11,500 Italian companies across multiple manufacturing verticals, distributed through print annuals, digital flip books, CD-ROMs, and web portals. The company also develops vertical management software (Bellinforma for beauty institutes, Atletasoft for fitness centers, Contabil for SME accounting) and offers IT consulting, custom software development, web development, and AdWords campaign management services to Italian SMEs.

Product overview

HBI Srl operates as a marketing and information technology services company offering two main product lines: B2B industry databases and business management software. The database portfolio includes specialized directories for Italian industries (Plastitaly for plastics/rubber/composites, Lignea for wood, Maccut for machine tools, Orafitaly for goldsmith/silversmith, and Italy Exports for exporters) plus the editorial publication rePlanet Magazine on circular economy topics. The software portfolio includes vertical business solutions (Bellinforma for beauty institutes, Atletasoft for fitness centers, Contabil for SME accounting). Additional services include interactive Flip Book/Catalog digital publication creation, website development, IT consulting, hardware/software installation, web advertising campaigns, and domain/hosting services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• rePlanet Magazine: La rivista italiana sul riciclo della plastica e sull'economia circolare (The Italian magazine on plastic recycling and circular economy)
• Plastitaly
• Italy Exports
• Bellinforma
• Lignea
• Maccut
• Orafitaly
• Atletasoft
• Contabil

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Alibaba.com: Alibaba is the world's largest B2B cross-border marketplace connecting international buyers with manufacturers and exporters. It directly competes with HBI's Italy Exports directory for the attention of Italian SMEs seeking global buyers, and dwarfs HBI in scale and tooling.
• Mindbody: Mindbody is a leading global SaaS platform for fitness studios, gyms, and wellness centers. It directly competes with HBI's Atletasoft vertical for gym/fitness management software, but at significantly greater scale and with a broader international footprint.
• Pagine Gialle / Italiaonline: Pagine Gialle (now Italiaonline) is Italy's incumbent directory and digital marketing platform serving Italian SMEs across all verticals with listings, advertising, and lead-generation products. It overlaps with HBI's directory + AdWords + web hosting services as a much larger, broader competitor.
• QuickBooks (Intuit): QuickBooks is the dominant global accounting SaaS for SMEs. It competes with HBI's Contabil product on Italian SME accounting software, but with vastly superior product velocity, ecosystem integrations, and brand recognition.

Direct peers

• ThomasNet: ThomasNet is a leading North American industrial B2B directory covering manufacturers and suppliers across plastics, machine tools, and similar verticals. While geographically distinct, it is a comparable model (paid listings + digital portal + custom content) competing for the same industrial-SME advertising dollar.
• Europages: Europages is a pan-European B2B marketplace and directory covering manufacturers, suppliers, and service providers. It overlaps with HBI's Italy Exports directory and Plastitaly portals as a discovery channel for Italian SMEs seeking international visibility.
• Infoimprese (InfoCamere): Infoimprese is the official Italian business registry operated by the Chambers of Commerce, providing company information, financial data, and registered directories. It competes with HBI's databases as a comprehensive, authoritative source of Italian company records across sectors.
• Kompass Italia: Kompass is one of the largest global B2B directory and company database providers, with a strong Italian presence. It directly competes with HBI's Plastitaly, Lignea, Maccut and Orafitaly directories by offering multi-vertical company listings, advertising placements, and database access to Italian SMEs.

Emerging players

• Fresha: Fresha is a fast-growing beauty and wellness SaaS platform serving salons, spas, and aesthetic centers. It competes with HBI's Bellinforma vertical for beauty institute management software, and represents the modern, venture-backed direction of the same category HBI targets.

Regional players

• Italian Fair Trade Publishers Association (authors/editors trade press): Italian sectoral trade publishers and exhibition organizers (e.g., organizers of Plast, Simei, Vicenzaoro) operate comparable industry-specific directories and magazines serving HBI's plastics, goldsmithing, and machine-tools audiences. They compete for both advertising spend and editorial authority in the same verticals.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/HBISrl
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hbi-s-r-l-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about HBI