São Paulo – Female shoe factory Maruá, from Sapiranga, in Rio Grande do Sul, is investing in new clients abroad and the Arab nations are considered potential clients. Among the plans for further internationalisation of products in 2011 is probable participation in the Micam, the largest global shoe fair, which takes place in Milan, Italy, each year, whose edition this year brought together 1,597 exhibitors, as well as worldwide visitors, including Arabs.
"We have not yet made any contact with importers in the region, but are interested in promoting our brand on the Arab market," said the head of the foreign trade department at Maruá, Eduardo Bernardes. "They are rich countries with high buying power that certainly show interest in our products," said Bernardes, who was hired by the company to open new fronts on the international market.
According to him, Maruá was established in 1993 to produce female shoes turned exclusively to the foreign market, for famous brands like Cole Haan and Franco Sartro. In 2004, the company decided to enter the market with its own brand, creating sophisticated models that were also shipped abroad. Sales on the domestic market began around three years ago.
Today, of the 2,500 pairs produced a month, half go to the foreign market, mainly England and the Untied States. Maruá generates 300 direct jobs at the factory, which operates with three production lines. "There are clients that demand greater and more differentiated production," said Bernardes. Foreign sales are through agents and distributors. On the domestic market, sales go directly to retailers.
Currently, Maruá shoes are sold to several countries on all continents. Apart from that, the brand is still proceeding with production for brands like BCBGirls, Maxazria, Ralph Lauren, River Island, Faith and DKNY.
To guarantee sales of each new collection it presents to the market, the company usually participates in international fairs like Couromoda and Francal, both in São Paulo, and in the International Leather and Shoe Salon (SICC), in Gramado. "Fairs are usually excellent shop windows. In the last year alone, these three fairs generated contact with clients in Russia, Venezuela, Portugal, Nigeria, Romania, Italy and Paraguay," he explained.
Contact
Telephone: (+55 51) 3559.4000
Site: www.marua.com.br
E-mail: vendas@marua.com.br
*Translated by Mark Ament