São Paulo – The male shoes made by company Sândalo are present in 49 countries, among them Lebanon, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. To expand sales to the Middle East, the company is seeking a distributor or a local sales agent. "It is a market with great potential for the brand and we are already working on projects for penetration in the region," said the international markets director at the company, Guilherme Falleiros.
Exports to the Arab market were turned directly to local retailers. According to Falleiros, negotiations took place at international shoe fairs in São Paulo. "Some contacts with importers were by internet and telephone, obtained through research. After the contact, we sent invitations for them to visit us at fairs," said the manager.
Currently, of the total exported by Sândalo, around 15% is turned to the Arab market. According to Falleiros, there is much space for growth in the region, mainly in Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, where the company believes that there is greater potential. At the moment, the international markets manager at the company is seeking new contacts and prospecting fairs in the region.
With total production of 55,000 pairs a month, Sândalo currently exports 25% of the total. The main markets for the company are in South America, including Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, Colombia, Paraguay and Uruguay, and Central America, where it sells to the Dominican Republic, Panama, Costa Rica and Puerto Rico.
The company lines include sports, casual and dress shoes. The cash cow in exports to the Arab nations, according to the company, is dress shoes.
The company
Established in 1965 in the city of Franca, in the interior of the state of São Paulo, Calçados Sândalo is among the ten largest shoe factories in the country. Its first exports were in 1971, to the United States. The company has already exported to over 50 countries and at one time turned 60% of production to the foreign market.
Contact
Calçados Sândalo
Site: www.sandalo.com.br
*Translated by Mark Ament
