São Paulo – Itatiaia, a furniture and electrical kitchen appliance manufacturing company, wants to increase the share of its revenues that originate from foreign sales. Presently, exports represent less than 5% of the company’s proceeds. By 2014, Itatiaia intends for foreign sales to account for 15% of its gross revenues, says Aroldo Falkoni, the Export manager for the Arab Market.
The Arab countries are among the company’s targets. “The Arab market is one of the targets and we intend to reach it by constantly visiting the countries, developing specific products and portfolios, and investing in newspaper and magazine ads,” the executive says.
“They like colours with bright finishes and special measures. The Arabs enjoy huge kitchens with deeper furniture. They want special-size modules,” Falkoni explains regarding the Arabs’ preferences.
Currently, Itatiaia maintains a showroom in Sharjah, in the United Arab Emirates, and two in Sudan, and it is also resuming its business in Libya. Last month, the company attended the Index furniture and decoration fair, in Dubai. According to Falkoni, partnership deals were closed at the event for markets in Africa, India and Oman.
“We have been contacted to put together a showroom,” says the executive regarding a potential customer in Oman. He also said that at the fair, the company was contacted by small buyers interested in making direct purchases to pay better prices. The Arabs currently account for 25% of Itatiaia exports. The company, whose leading foreign market is Angola, sells to 13 different countries.
In 2010, Itatiaia posted more than 500 million Brazilian reais (US$ 283 million) in revenues. Based in the city of Ubá, in the state of Minas Gerais, the company is investing in a new plant, in the municipality of Sooretama, state of Espírito Santo, which will manufacture solely stoves and refrigerators. The company, which only exports its kitchen furniture, wants to start exporting its electrical appliances as well. The new plant should start operating in mid-2012. Presently, Itatiaia has 1,500 employees.
Contact
Itatiaia
Tel.: (+55 32) 3539-1244
Email: aroldo.falkoni@cozinhasitatiaia.com.br
Site: www.cozinhasitatiaia.com.br
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
