Turkish Company, ‘We are No. 1 in Armenia, US is Next’
Journal of Turkish Daily
Aug 14 2005
The Akdas Group, owner of the Crispino label is targeting
international markets.
With success in Armenia, the group plans to enter the US and Chinese
markets with 2010 as its target.
Ready-Made Manager Fatih Akdas says that as long as you train younger
generations, there is no need to worry about the Chinese threat,
adding that they started the business with the dream: “Make all men
wear Crispino”.
Established as a family company in Malatya 30 years ago, the Akdas
Group is now in second place in suit sales in Turkey. They plan to
increase the number of stores in Turkey to 50 by the end of this
year, to 70 in 2007 and along with plans to open 250 new stores in
several countries around the world.
Crispino is currently sold in 210 sale-points in Turkey and 17 stores
abroad.
Akdas notes they will use the factory built in Catalca as a base and
are preparing infrastructure to become a worldwide trademark.
“We have recovered from the 1999 earthquake and 2001 economic crisis.
We now create four new collections annually. We realized $5 million
in exports in 2004. We expect $60 million turnover this year,” said
Akdas, enumerating the achievements of the group.
After Crispino, which is the first Turkish brand to enter Armenia,
four new Turkish stores have also opened in this country. The Akdas
Group, determined to grow in Turkey, does not export apart from their
own brand.
Despite serious offers from abroad, Akdas does not want custom
manufacturing. “We do not give credit to them.” The company produces
Crispino itself in the institutions that it hires abroad. Giving a
message of “Turkey first”, Akdas has called for support from the
government: “If the government supports us we want to establish
factories in eastern and southeastern parts of Turkey.”
When sales of Crispino increased dramatically, the Akdas group
increased number of its dealers to 200. The Akdas Group is looking
for a second trademark in order not to harm Crispino as they grow
bigger.
“Sometimes we have two dealers in one city and while one of them
sells a lot the other may not. We designed Suess and sent it to our
stores. Crispino will be sold in retail sector.”
The price of Suess will be less than Crispino. Suess will have
similar lines to Crispino. The company will include sports models in
its 2006 collection.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress