São Paulo – Couple Paulo Moraes and Laélia Aguiar entered the entrepreneurial world producing fine sandals for women. And it was all doing fine until the day a client ordered a pair of baby shoes. On supplying the product, the couple noticed that they were facing a market sector that was still very promising. And they decided to change their area of operation.
That is how, in 2000, Xick Baby was born in Recife, the capital of the state of Pernambuco, producing children’s shoes. The company has already sold to Angola, the United States and Switzerland, but Australia is where foreign sales are most consolidated, with plans for expansion to other countries.
"An Australian businesswoman discovered our shoes and got in contact," said Moraes. "We ended up signing contracts to supply our shoes, whereas before we exported more modestly, shall we say," explained the company owner.
With the measure, Xick Baby will have 20% of revenues coming from the foreign market, and the percentage may rise to 50% as contracts gain force. "The objective, in coming years, is to invest more and more abroad," said Moraes. In this line, contact with potential Arab importers is welcome. "We are interested in those nations," said the entrepreneur. For the time being, initial contact is being made with buyers in Nigeria, Africa.
On the national market, the company sells to all capitals and to some cities in the interior, mainly in the states of Bahia, Minas Gerais, Mato Grosso do Sul, Mato Grosso, São Paulo and Paraná.
According to Moraes, the shoes are for babies ranging from maternity wards to age three. All the products are made out of leather. "Our clients are higher end consumers," he explained. The businessman added that his brand gained space mainly due to production turned to customer needs. "We made many customized items, ordered to match clothes, to create sets," he said.
And among the most sold models are the doll model (rounded) for girls, and coloured sandals, open, for both genders. The models are designed by Moraes himself. "I am the brand stylist," explains the businessman, who graduated in Marketing. Comfort is another company concern, and the models are tested with the collaboration of the kids of employees. "We also have the supervision of paediatricians and we take care to use glue that is water based, and not solvent based, for example," explained Moraes, who is prepared to win more and more foreign feet in coming years.
Contact
Xick Baby
Tel.: (+55 81) 3478-1294
Site: www.xickbaby.com.br
*Translated by Mark Ament
