São Paulo – The São Paulo-based company Forusi has been exporting its metal sanitaryware to Saudi Arabia since 2001, but these are not ordinary metals; the items are hand-painted in gold.
“The taps bear floral designs painted in gold,” explains foreign trade coordinator Renato Franco. Apart from taps, he says, the company exports accessory items such as towel hangers, cloth hangers, soap holders, bathroom taps and toilet paper holders, “all featuring gold designs,” he says.
The company exports to the Arab country’s Al Omran store chain. “The chain specializes in luxury construction material, similar to a boutique shop,” says Franco. The products are resold to upscale hotels “and some people buy it for their homes. Arabs boast high purchasing power. Each tap sells for around US$ 250,” says the executive.
Aside from the products developed by the Forusi creative team, the company takes custom-made orders. “If a hotel chain in Saudi Arabia wants taps bearing the hotel’s logo, we will make them,” says Franco. Currently, the Saudi customer purchases 4,000 units per year.
In order to boost sales to Saudis, the company is counting on backing from the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce. “We are planning a trip to Saudi, and the Arab Brazilian Chamber will arrange a schedule for us to visit old customers,” he says.
In addition to the Saudi market, Forusi is keeping an eye out for other countries in the region. “We are going to work hard to break into Kuwait and Qatar, whose construction markets are growing rapidly,” he says. In these countries, however, the focus will be on selling traditional taps instead.
Presently, Forusi exports to 15 different countries, and the bulk of sales goes to Ecuador, Peru and other South and Central America countries. The company posts R$ 13 million (US$ 5.3 million) in revenues per month, of which R$ 200,000 (US$ 83,000) originate from exports. This year, the goal is to increase both revenues and exports by 20%.
Forusi is based in the city of São Paulo, was founded in 1975 and has 1,200 employees.
Contact
Forusi
Tel.: +55 11 2523-0107
Email: comercial@forexim.com.br
Website: www.forusi.com.br
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
