São Paulo – Qatar-based retailer company 2point intends to close deals with up to four Brazilian footwear companies during footwear and fashion accessories trade show Francal, which started this Monday (3) at Expo Center Norte in São Paulo. The idea is to buy 1,000 pairs from each.
2point purchasing manager Elsa Dionisio (pictured above) talked to ANBA at the show. The Portuguese living in Doha has worked for two years with the 2point group that, besides retail, owns furniture, real state and beauty spas company. Dionisio is the only buyer from the Arab world invited by the Importer Program, promoted by Francal in partnership with Brazilian Footwear Industries Association (Abicalçados), which subsidizes plane tickets and lodging for selected international buyers. This is her first time in Brazil.
“I’ve had two meetings and I’m schedule to talk with ten companies until Wednesday, and then decide to close deals. The Brazilian market has many opportunities because we have similar climates, and Brazilian fashion, aesthetics has much in common with the Arab world, we have so much to explore. Despite the distance, we can make good deals,” said Dionisio.
The manager travels often to shows in Europe, and Qatari footwear market is supplied with products from France, Italy, and the United Kingdom. “We have a specific project of a multi-brand store in a shopping mall in Doha and I came to discover new brands here, we would prefer brands that are not present in the Arab world,” she said.
According to Dionisio, 2point footwear are more commercial, with final prices ranging from USD 50 to 100. “There’s a great potential in seeking brands outside Europe, there are so much to discover in the world, we want to diversify,” she said.
Dionisio hopes to buy around 1,000 pairs per brand. “Since this is the first order from brands I do not know, I plan to buy up to 1,000 pairs from three to four companies, 90% of which would be women’s shoes, our largest demand, and the remaining 10% would be man’s and children’s shoes.
Elsa Dionisio has lived in Qatar for twelve years with her husband, who is also Portuguese. “There are many expatriates in Doha, since skilled workforce is needed and Europeans have an advantage when the job requires traveling; if I have to go to a show anywhere in Europe, I don’t need a visa for example,” she said.
She was impressed with the fair organization. “It started very well, we had meetings with shopkeepers and buyers earlier today and I received a portfolio according to my price range and models, and we’ve already scheduled the meetings; the follow-up is amazing, I don’t see that in other shows,” she said.
Usaflex
At the Brazilian company Usaflex stand, exports manager Jefferson Berz told ANBA that the Arab market is its second largest international market, after Latin America. “Sales to the Arab market are stable, we’ve already sold to approximately seven countries in the region, mainly Kuwait, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia; we are just beginning with Libya, Morocco and Egypt; and we want to expand, we are set to travel to some Arab countries in the next months,” Berz said.
He declared Usaflex’s exports grew 80% last year, especially for the Latin American countries. “Last year, despite being an economically difficult year, with the truckers strike and other factors, we grew in the domestic and the foreign market, and our footwear category is projected to have some growth in foreign sales this year,” he said.
Arab women like high heels, glossy finishes and platform shoes, according to him. “We produce more comfortable shoes, but we can make a product more adequate for the Arab world,” he said, pondering over an export line for the Middle East and North Africa market.
Figures
Year through April, the Arab countries purchased over USD 15 million in Brazilian footwear, a year-on-year 48% increase. In volume, it was a 64% hike year-on-year, surpassing the mark of 2 million pairs sold. The Arab purchasers are the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait. Figures are from Abicalçados.
The 51st edition of Francal runs until Wednesday (5) at Expo Center Norte. The footwear trade fair features 350 exhibitors, 25 of which are international, in an area of 30,000 square meter.
Quick Facts
Francal 2019
June 3-5
From 10 am to 7 pm
Expo Center Norte
Rua José Bernardo Pinto, 333
São Paulo, SP
http://www.francal.com.br/en
Translated by Guilherme Miranda
