Christophe Weller, managing partner with Corporate Office Solutions (COS), says the furniture importer will focus on providing interior design consulting services over the following years.
"In 1997 (the year the company was set up i.e.), there was little demand for consulting services in the domain of interior design. At present, companies are seeking not only office furniture, but also consulting services in this domain," says Christophe Weller.
Under the circumstances, the company's turnover has witnessed accelerated growth in recent years.
"In 2004, we posted sales worth 5.3 million euros and last year hit 8.4 million euros. At the end of this September we had already gone beyond 8.5 million euros and for the entire year we are targeting 14 million euros. This growth rate will be maintained over the following years," Weller believes.
In 1997, he founded Corporate Office Solutions in Romania, but the company was officially registered in January 1998. At present, COS shareholder structure includes three foreign individuals.
"I came to Romania with 200,000 dollars in my pocket. This was the first investment I made from outside. The rest of the investments came from profit," says Weller.
He believes the "secret" behind the witnessed growth was the diversification of the provided services.
"We've managed to expand COS' business by developing several activities. Diversification was the key. We are not providing office furniture only, but office furnishings, carpets and curtains, too. We've gradually succeeded in developing all these activities," adds Weller.
"We found our clients by 'knocking on doors'. One must be very well informed; create a very solid information network. People that have businesses linked to yours or people that know market movements, real estate agents. You try to know them better and since they want to offer additional solutions to their customers, they recommend us," says Weller.
Profit came after four years in business.
In 1997, he added, the office furniture market was small and Romanians' purchasing habits were quite limited. Gradually, as more foreign companies entered the market, Romanians, too, have started to see the acquisition of furniture as a means to improve employees' productivity. Another feature of the domestic market is the fact that customers' "tastes" change even during a single year.
The company's customers include Orange, Vodafone, Cosmote, IBM, Oracle, Microsoft, HP.
The company now has 35 full-time employees. The segment it operates on is set to become a highly competitive one in the future as an increasing number of players have voiced their intention to enter Romania.
The company owns a market share of around 20% on the segment it operates on, according to its own estimates.
Corporate Office Solutions
Its core business is import of office furniture imports
Plans to focus on providing interior design consulting services over the following years
Has witnessed fast turnover growth in recent years, from 5.3m-euro sales in 2004, to 8.4m euros in 2005; expects it to reach 14m euros in 2006
Its customers include Orange, Vodafone, Cosmote, IBM, Oracle, Microsoft, HP
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