Secuiana to open more stores

Clothing manufacturer Secuiana, headquartered in Targu Secuiesc, is shifting to the domestic market after giving up some of its contracts for the foreign markets following the euro depreciation. The company plans to expand its own store network, has already signed contracts for three commercial spaces and is in talks for another 5-6 locations in major cities of the country.

“We will invest between 35,000 and 60,000 RON (100,000-200,000 euros) in each store to the end of developing our own commercial network,” Dobra Laszlo, general manager of the company, told Ziarul Financiar.

At present, the company has 8 stores of its own and two in a franchise system, in Bucharest, Brasov, Onesti, Ploiesti, Constanta, Targu Secuiesc, Ploiesti and Targoviste.

To promote the firm”s own brands, Secuiana officials say they would earmark 35,000 euros by the end of this year. “The sum is insufficient, but, because of the difficulties linked to the oscillating foreign exchange rate, we have not managed to allot higher funds,” the company”s manager also said.

He added that the depreciation of the euro also pushed the company to give up the foreign customers that did not agree with the price hikes, which led to over 350 layoffs. The plant switched to a single work shift in May.

“We ended H1 in the red, but, due to the decisions we made – downsizing, the elimination of unproductive activities, productivity boosting and cost cuts, we broke even again in July,” Dobra stated. transilvania@zf.ro