The shoes manufacturer Sandálias Giovanna, from the southeastern Brazilian state of Minas Gerais, is going to ship 25,000 pairs of shoes to Saudi Arabia this week. This is the company’s first export to an Arab country.
Eyeing this new market, the company will participate at Motexha Autumn, sector trade fair to take place in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, between the 12th and 15th of September.
According to the exports manager at Giovanna, Rogério Souza Moraes, contact with Saudi importers was made during the fairs Francal and Couromoda, which took place in São Paulo. Among the shoes to be shipped to Saudi Arabia are football shoes and men’s, women’s and children’s tennis shoes.
He believes the Arab countries are a strategic market. “Our idea now is to change markets,” stated Moraes. The company is after alternative destinations from the traditional ones due to the Brazilian real appreciation in relation to the American dollar, which caused a drop in shipments. He has already exported to Portugal, United States, Spain, Panama, France and Argentina.
According to the company’s owner, Ivo Maia, the Saudi importers liked the products a lot and have already ordered another three containers with 14,000 pair of feminine, masculine and children’s shoes for the following month.
There are 4,000 pairs of feminine shoes, 6,000 pairs of children’s tennis shoes and 4,000 pairs of masculine shoes. “They have already visited our factory twice,” he said.
Trade Fair
Motexha will also be the company’s first participation in a trade fair abroad. “I am very enthusiastic,” stated Maia. According to him, this is about an opportunity to open new markets.
The participation of Brazilian companies at the event will be organized by the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce (CCAB).
“We expect to sell from 150,000 to 200,000 pairs at the fair,” added Maia, who plans on directing 10% of his production to the Arab market.
According to him, the government of Minas Gerais is also motivating the companies in the state to export to the Arab countries. “It is a market with potential, since they import finished products,” he said.
The company’s exports started three years ago. However, only 5% of the production is currently directed to the foreign market. “External sales dropped a lot,” highlights Maia. All international contacts are made in the main sector fairs in the country.
The Giovanna factory is located in São Paulo, but the company’s headquarters are located in the city of Nova Serrana, in Minas Gerais, third greatest national shoes hub. Founded in October 2000, the company has a production capacity of 10,000 to 15,000 pairs per day and counts on 30 employees.
As well as shoes and tennis shoes, the company manufactures sandals and clogs. Giovanna shoes are distributed throughout Brazil.
Contact
Sandálias Giovanna
Tel +55 (37) 3225-0179
www.sandaliasgiovanna.com
Anba – www.anba.com.br