S\u00e3o Paulo \u2013 Until not long ago, whenever the topic was the leading shoe manufacturing regions in the state of S\u00e3o Paulo, the first cities to be named would have been Ja\u00fa, Franca and Birigui, located 300, 401 and 521 kilometres away from the capital, respectively. Now, a new hub for production of boots, sandals and shoes is gaining strength: Santa Cruz do Rio Pardo, 350 kilometres away from capital.<\/p>\n
A total of 28 companies, founded from 15 to 30 years ago, operate in the region. Together, they produce 2.6 million pairs a year, of which 535,000 are men\u2019s shoes and 2.1 million are women\u2019s. The hub\u2019s entrepreneurs are stronger, and are already considering gaining space in and out of the country.<\/p>\n
\u201cAside from selling in Brazil, I currently export to Bolivia and Paraguay,\u201d says Jos\u00e9 Roberto Alves de Campos, the owner of Mauber Cal\u00e7ados. \u201cBut I have already sold to Chile, Costa Rica and Greece,\u201d he claims. How about the Arab countries? could they be on the businessman\u2019s list of buyers? \u201cYes. When the time comes, I want to survey those markets,\u201d explains Campos.<\/p>\n
The entrepreneur explains that last year\u2019s crisis is already being overcome by the good outlook for 2010. \u201cWe are expecting to sell 10% more this year,\u201d he says. In order to grow, Mauber invests mainly in the comfort of the shoes that it produces. \u201cWe are very particular about using soft padding and insoles, for instance,\u201d explains Campos.<\/p>\n
Also enthused about the growth of business, the director of Claer Cal\u00e7ados, Danilo Ferrazzini Paulin, expects to sell 15% more pairs in 2010. The company has already exported to countries such as Paraguay, Uruguay, Bolivia, Puerto Rico and Spain, and plans to resume foreign sales in the future. \u201cWe are keeping an eye out for the export market, including that of the Arab countries,\u201d says Paulin.<\/p>\n
For such, the policy consists of increasing fashion research, in order to produce in tune with the latest trends. \u201cThis adds value to our shoes,\u201d he asserts. \u201cWe do research on what is being done in Europe, but we make a point of valuing our own creations,\u201d says Paulin.<\/p>\n
The manager of regional office of the Brazilian Micro and Small Business Support Service (Sebrae) in the city of Ourinhos, and in charge of a training project involving 14 companies in the Hub of Santa Cruz do Rio Pardo, Maria Beatriz Ximenes Zanata agrees with the two entrepreneurs. She explains that currently, the city\u2019s plants are investing in improving shoe design, training collaborators and businessmen, and promoting the hub. \u201cThe companies are producing shoes with much quality, productivity, and innovative design,\u201d says Maria Beatriz.<\/p>\n
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum<\/b><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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