São Paulo – Shoe producer Stefanello is seeking new clients abroad. The factory is headquartered in Franca, and produces some 20,000 pairs of shoes a day, of which 20% to 30% are exported. Now, the company aims to increase the number of pairs sold on the international market.
“We want to export more. For this, we have stipulated a person dedicated to the foreign market. There are times at which sales on the domestic market fall significantly, and we want to supply this with new markets,” said Jaime Borges, director at Stefanello. The company’s foreign sales have represented as much as 90% of production. Dollar fluctuation, however, has caused an expressive reduction in exports.
Currently, the company sells to the countries of South America, the main market abroad, and to Germany, Spain, Greece and Saudi Arabia. To the Arabs, sales started some ten years ago, through contracts at fairs like Couromoda and Francal, the main fairs in the shoe sector in Brazil.
Today, Stefanello has a client in Jeddah, who has just closed a new deal, for 3,000 pairs. “This is the second time we sell to this client. Sales are always at fairs. They buy once and then, at the next fair, come after new models. It is rare for them to repeat models,” said Borges.
The company produces male and female shoes, sandals and boots. To the Saudis, according to Borges, sales are always of male shoes. “We sell our comfort line of shoes. They only asked for us to change the lining, which was synthetic, and they wanted leather,” explained the executive.
Despite never having participated in international fairs, events abroad are in the company’s plans. “We have this project for the second half,” said Borges. Regarding the Arab countries, he stated that “it is a promising market for the shoe sector. The Arabs greatly respect Brazilians and that helps much. I believe that the tendency is for much improvement.” To him, Saudi Arabia should continue as the company focus in the region.
Established in 1994, Stefanello has 120 employees and monthly revenues of R$ 1.2 million (US$ 700,000).
Contact
Stefanello
Tel.: (+55 16) 3701-2147
E-mail: stefanello@stefanello-cal.com.br
Site: www.stefanello-cal.com.br
*Translated by Mark Ament
