Mobexpert group, owned by businessman Dan Sucu, is set to invest 8m euros this year when it adds 4 new large stores to its national network, after last year it opened just one store in Sofia, Bulgaria.
"The Sofia store is similar to the one in Brasov. It hasn't quite reached the level of those in Bucharest, which are the network's strongest. In Romania, we became a brand after 15 years, whereas we've only been present for several months in Sofia," Sucu explained.
The Sofia store, which opened in September 2007, has registered very good results, with a 15% average monthly increase in sales, company data reveals.
Last year, the group generated turnover worth 168m euros, up 12% against 2006 and estimates turnover to increase 10% this year, in line with market growth, to 185m euros.
"We largely generated the growth we expected to post in 2008 in 2007. We are more restrained now, because we must leave room for manufacturing activities," added Sucu.
Mobexpert sales increased by average of 28% at a regional level compared with 2006. Group research shows the home furniture and d?cor segment generated 77% of sales, while from the office furniture segment accounted for 23%. On the Bucharest market, sales advanced by 25% against 2006.
"2007 brought higher-than-expected results for Mobexpert group. In retail, last year was a year when we opened several lines that we will continue to follow in 2008. Among them, the first Mobexpert hypermarket outside Romania, in Sofia, marked our consolidation as a regional player. On the manufacturing segment, we launched the Targu-Mures project, in order to meet the productivity and turnover increases we have outlined until 2012," Sucu added.
Mobexpert's exports fell by 11% last year compared with 2006, while the company's representatives anticipate the trend will continue this year as volumes are directed to the regional market amid Mobexpert's expansion. As a result, whereas in 2006 deliveries on foreign markets accounted for 38% in production, they reached 27% of the total last year, with the margin expected to reach 20% this year.
"(...) I am retaining export activities because this way we can monitor Western trends," said Dan Sucu.
The group will focus on the relocation of some plants to a new project located in Targu-Mures that will require investments worth 28m euros. In the wake of this move the production activity of ConfoMex, StudioMex, IleforMex and MuresMex plants will be relocated to new spaces. The group's most up-to-date logistics platform will be launched in the same location, as part of the same project, and become operational in the second quarter of 2008.
Mobexpert wants to see its turnover increase three times by 2012, a 50% increase in plant productivity compared with 2006, and also strengthen its position as a regional player in furniture retail.
Pentru alte știri, analize, articole și informații din business în timp real urmărește Ziarul Financiar pe WhatsApp Channels
