25th Fenavem warms up the furniture market and helps the closing of business deals
Visitors checked the industry’s releases and debated the main trends of the sector
The 25th edition of Fenavem, a traditional fair of the furniture sector, brought 40 thousand visitors together between the 6th and 10th of August, at the Anhembi Exhibition Pavilion, in São Paulo. Organized by Messe Frankfurt Fairs, one of the largest business fair organizers worldwide, the event solidified its position as a reference for the sector in Latin America, generated business opportunities, and presented the main market releases.
Among the positive points raised by the exhibitors, the quality of the visitors had a major highlight. “The fair was a success because the public was qualified. Those who participated were really interested in doing business or defining a line of work,” analyzed Fábio Cani, commercial manager of Rimo. Rudnick’s commercial director, Sandro Paulo Rudnick, followed the same line of thinking: “the number of contacts established was very good, especially with new clients in the multibrand segment. The fair is important as far as brand visibility and because there are clients from all over Brazil gathered in one single place.”
According to Rose Salvador, Carraro’s Sales manager, there was a 20% growth in the negotiations done in comparison with the previous year. “Our biggest clients visited us with expectations for good sales opportunities.” For Taedda, A Brazilian company that exports ecologically correct wood furniture to the European market, the event was also very positive. According to Mário Occhialini, company’s general director, “the results from this fair were as good as any of the most important fair we participated in Frankfurt, Cologne, Paris, and Valencia.”
In addition to the domestic market, the international scenario played an important role too. Francisco Antônio de Almeida Martines, director of Celmar, added: “throughout Fenavem we closed a few business deals on the spot and left many others on the way with international buyers. We established contacts in many different regions, including Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Our expectations were met and we are satisfied.”
Furniture Week
The Buyer’s Project, organized by Abimóvel (Brazilian Furniture Association) in partnership with Apex-Brazil (Brazilian Export Promotion Agency), received over 20 international buyers from 18 countries.
Last week, simultaneously to Fenavem, the 2nd National Congress of the Furniture Sector was also held, promoted by Abimóvel and Sebrae Nacional. The speeches had maximum attendance, with 672 registered people. ”This information shows how much companies are interested in increasing competitivity and in capacitating production personnel, in addition to the industry’s potential to expand its participation in the domestic and foreign markets,” said Fernando Gorbaran, CEO of Messe Frankfurt Fairs. The Congress relied on the presence of businessmen and professionals from the entire production chain and among the subjects discussed were different ways and strategies to increase the growth of the sector.
Micro and small companies were also present at the 25th edition of Fenavem. Sebraes from Acre, Espírito Santo, Goiás, Minas Gerais, Paraná, Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, and São Paulo participated with companies from their respective regions, aiming at introducing their products at an event that brings together the most important buyers in the country.
TechMóvel took place simultaneously to Fenavem, an event of companies that manufacture machines and equipment for the production of serialized furniture. “The Furniture Week fulfilled its objective and brought together in one single place almost all of the furniture industry, its releases, news, updates, and most importantly, provided a unique opportunity for the closing of business deals,” complemented Gorbaran.
The 2nd edition of Eletrolar Show, the only fair aimed at the household appliances and electronics industry and retail in Brazil, also took place in the same pavilion. Organized by Azul Play and Messe Frankfurt Fairs, the event gathered buyers, sellers, importers, suppliers, and direct sales companies.
Brazilian Business|
Data disclosed by Abimóvel indicate that Brazilian exports grew 4.29% in the first semester of 2007 compared to the same period last year. According to the association, even with an overvalued currency and the difficulties generated by the high prices of input and raw-material used by manufacturers, Brazilian furniture exports have been growing in these first six months. The registered data indicate that the total number of exports was approximately US$ 458 million.
According to José Luiz Fernandez, president of the Brazilian Furniture Industry, the positive results are occurring due to the favorable moment of the international market and, mainly, due to the strong action developed by the Brazilian Furniture project, an joint initiative of Abimóvel and the Brazilian Export Promotion Agency - (Apex-BR), which promotes Brazilian furniture in international fairs since 1998. "Our companies have been managing to keep the results in exports, but at the cost of a lower margin of profit. The government must take action to revert this valorization of the Brazilian currency, which is happening as a result of the current high interest policies that exist in Brazil," evaluated Fernandez.
Among the four Brazilin states that export more, São Paulo had the best performance: grew 17.48% (US$ 53 million in the 1st semester of 2007 compared to US$ 45 million in 2006). The second best performance came from Paraná, the fourth largest exporter in Brazil, which grew 10.83% (US$ 52 million compared to US$ 47 million 2006). Santa Catarina — the largest Brazilian exporter — registered a growth of 1.26% (US$ 174 million in 2007 compared to US$ 172 million in 2006). And Rio Grande do Sul, second largest exporting center, grew 5.51% (US$ 129 million compared to US$ 122 million in 2006).
About Fenavem
The International Fair of the Furniture Industry is the most traditional event of the sector in Latin America. Created in 1976, it completed 30 years of existence and is known as a great incentive to exports and the only event of the segment that brings together the main furniture centers of the country: Rio Grande do Sul, Minas Gerais, Espírito Santo, Santa Catarina, Paraná, São Paulo, among others.
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