Marina Sarruf*
São Paulo – Half of the exports of girls shoes made by company Dagatinha, a company based in the southeastern Brazilian state of São Paulo, go to the Arab market. "The Arab countries are large markets for the company. We are greatly interested in expanding sales to the region," stated Luis Antonio Carlos, export manager at Dagatinha. The Arab countries that most import brand products are Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
According to Carlos, the main Arab clients are two distributors in Kuwait. "We have been exporting to the region for five years. One of the clients is a retailer in the region," he said. The first company contracts were made at the Couromoda, the shoe sector fair that takes place in São Paulo every year. "They buy twice a year. In January and in July, during the Couromoda and Francal fairs," said Carlos.
According to the executive, the Arab importers place their orders during the fairs. "They buy at least 3,000 pairs, but there have been times when they ordered 12,000 pairs," he said. The company exports shoes and sandals to the region. "They like glossy shoes, with shiny colours, like golden, silver and bronze," stated Carlos. According to him, even with the devaluation of the Brazilian real against the American dollar, Arab clients have maintained the volume of their orders. "They are very important customers for the company," she said.
Dagatinha shoes are produced for girls and adolescents who wear from size 23 to 39 in the Brazilian sizing system. Collections of sandals and shoes made by the company vary from models for daily use to party shoes. Apart from shiny colours, like golden and silver, the shoes also include details like tapes, lace and stones.
Dagatinha has a daily production of 1,300 pairs of which it exports 20%. Apart from the Arabs, the company exports to Mexico, Greece and Central America. "Our target is to turn 30% of production to export by 2007. We also have strong demand on the domestic market," stated Carlos.
Apart from national fairs, the company has already participated in events in Chile and the United States. "We have always travelled after new markets," stated Carlos. Dagatinha was established in 1998, and is based in the city of Jaú, in the interior of the southeastern Brazilian state of São Paulo. The company employs 80 people.
Contact
Dagatinha
Tel. (+55 14) 2104-8000
Fax (+55 14) 2104-8001
Email: vendas@dagatinha.com.br
Site: www.dagatinha.com.br
*Translated by Mark Ament
