São Paulo – Antigua, a Brazilian ceramic tile manufacturer, is going to take part in the next Big 5 Show, a construction industry trade fair held in Dubai, in November, to try and conquer the market that European companies have left behind. “As a result of the crisis, several European ceramics companies have shut their doors,” explains the director of Antigua, Frederico Chrestesen. The director believes that competition in the Arab market is less intense due to the obstacles that European companies faced recently.
Antigua participated in the Big 5 Show approximately four years ago, and now will return to the fair as an exhibitor. “If there were only two or three companies similar to ours in the fair then, I imagine that there will be even less now,” says Chrestesen. The main differential of Antigua is that its ceramic tiles are handcrafted. The products, for walls and floors, are made with a manual touch, which enables many creations in terms of textures, mosaics and designs. Nevertheless, the company has capacity for manufacturing large quantities.
The enterprise does not export to the Arab world yet, but should ship 1,300 square metres of round-shaped enamel tiles soon to a showroom in the United Arab Emirates. The person in charge of the sale is the company’s agent in the Arab market, which has offices in Dubai and Qatar. According to Chrestesen, ever since the company’s last participation in the Big 5, many contacts have been made with the Arab world, and many samples have been shipped. “But what was really worth it was making contact with two or three agents,” he claims, adding that having an agent in the region is crucial.
For the Big 5 due November this year, the company’s agent is helping select the products that will be on display. The items should include products featuring abstract and more geometrical designs. Another big bet that Chrestesen will take to the fair is the Ecotile, which is made from 75% recycled material using glass bottles, PET bottles, and tyres. The remaining 25% consists of resin. The product is suited to places with heavy passenger traffic, and the Antigua director believes that it should sell well for shopping centres, banks, stores. Maintenance is easy as well.
Antigua has an industrial unit in the city of Araras, in the interior of São Paulo, with 86 employees. The company has capacity for manufacturing 15,000 square metres of ceramic tiles per month. The ceramics are sold on the domestic market, at 66 points of sale, and also exported to the United States, Japan, Canada and the Caribbean. The company was born geared toward exports to the United States, but due to the crisis in the country’s market, it increased its domestic distribution. In Brazil, the product is sold at multi-brand ceramic tile stores.
Brazil will have a 280-square metre area at the Big 5 Show, due from November 22nd to 25th. The participation is organized by the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce and the Brazilian Export and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex), with support from the National Association of Ceramic Tile Manufacturers (Anfacer). Registration for the Big 5 is open and can be made with the Commercial Department of the Arab Brazilian Chamber (view contacts below). Individual booths range from 8.75 square metres to 10.5 square metres.
Registration for Big 5 Show
Commercial Department – Arab Brazilian Chamber
Telephone: (+55 11) 3147-4030
E-mail: elias@ccab.org.br
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
