São Paulo – Shoe producer Masiero, from the city of Três Coroas, in the southernmost Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul, aims to sell to the Arab countries. The company shipped two orders to Saudi Arabia last year, with 1,200 pairs, and plans to seek new contacts to continue selling in the region. “It is a great market, we want to sell there, the country is very rich and has buying potential,” said the Marketing manager, Andrea Masiero, regarding the Saudis.
Masiero makes between 2,000 and 3,500 pairs of shoes a day and exports answer to 15% to 20% of this volume. Shipments abroad go mostly to the United States, Canada, Italy, Russia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Denmark, Turkey and Portugal. In total, according to Andrea, between 15 and 20 countries receive brand shoes. Saudi Arabia was the only Arab country to buy, and purchased some moccasins.
The Marketing manager believes that there are good perspectives for growth next year, as Europe has been giving signs of stronger consumption. “Little by little, the European market is recovering. Some clients are already planning to see the winter collection,” said Andrea. To sell abroad, the company or its agents usually participate in international fairs, like the Couromoda and Francal, in São Paulo, which receive significant numbers of importers.
Masiero produces female shoes in leather. Up to the release of the summer collection, the focus was on comfort shoes, more traditional. The products were designed by an outsourced office. In high summer, however, windows started receiving some models within the company’s new proposal, of investing more in fashion with exclusive characteristics. Masiero now has its own stylist, Rogério Mello, and apart from ballet shoes, sandals, gym shoes and slippers, the company will also produce high- and medium-heeled shoes.
The shoes are sold in all areas of Brazil, but the main consumers are in the interior of São Paulo state. According to Andrea, one of the company targets is to invest more in the Northeast, where the market has not yet been well explored. The shoes cost, on average, R$ 70 (US$ 35) to R$ 80 (US$ 40) to retailers. Masiero also makes handbags. The business is family-owned and was established 30 years ago. Production is fully concentrated in the Três Coroas unit, where 400 direct jobs are generated.
Contact
Masiero
Telephone: (+55 51) 3546 8700
Site: www.masiero.com.br
E-mail: andreamasiero@calcadosmasiero.com.br
*Translated by Mark Ament
