Extenda organizes more than 200 meetings with Habitat professionals to promote Andalusian companies of the sector

From March 13 to 14, 2018, a total of 19 Andalusian companies from the habitat sector held more than 200 meetings with international operators of the sector in a business meeting organized by the Ministry of Economy and Knowledge, through Extenda-Agencia Andaluza of Foreign Promotion, in Seville. This trade mission connects the Andalusian firms of the sector with importers, distributors, prescribers, wholesalers and stores from the United States, Mexico, Morocco, Kazakhstan, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, the United Kingdom and Russia, to whom they presented their offer in home furniture and decoration, in order to generate business opportunities with these countries.

In this way, Extenda, in whose headquarters this meeting is held, organized several bilateral meetings between the Andalusian firms and foreign agents, to which they will publicize the Andalusian furniture and decoration offer. The organization of this action by Extenda was co-financed with funds from the European Union through the P.O. ERDF of Andalusia 2014-2020, endowed with a community contribution of 80%. In addition, international operators had the opportunity to visit some Andalusian companies, where they learned about the work they do and put common points to promote internationalization. The companies participating in this mission are dedicated to furniture and home textiles, upholstery, decoration and lighting.

Andalusian companies involved

The 19 Andalusian companies participating in this activity come mostly from Seville, specifically ten (Fábrica de Muebles Torres, Guadarte, Hispabaño, Tapizados Doñana, Elkfo, Ormos Sofás, Merkamueble, La Cartuja Distribución, Habitando Alcalá y Juan Manuel Calvente); five of Córdoba (Franco Furniture, Don Provenzal, Singular Textil, CJM Worldwide y Budia Decoración); three from Jaén (Mugali, Vestania y Auximarco); and one of Almería (Bronce Arquitectónico).

Habitat sector exports in 2017

The habitat sector is the second in importance in the export of consumer goods, with 24.3% of sales and 242 million euros in 2017. Seville leads sales, with 42% and 102 million in sales, a 1.5% more than in 2016; followed by Almería with 43 million, 21.1% of the total and an increase of 18.4%; and Malaga, with 27.2 million euros, 11.2% of the total. The regular exporting companies, which are the ones that have been exporting for more than four years in a row, grew by 7.6% in 2017, reaching 535 (38 more), which includes 88% of the sector's sales to the exterior. These represent 22.6% of the total of habitat companies that exported last year and that added 2,366.

This sector sells mainly kitchen furniture, with 72 million euros, 30% of the total and increase of 3.7% compared to 2016; household appliances of brown line, with 50 million (20.8% of the total), which increases by 4.6%; and household furniture, with 31 million (12.6%). Its first three markets in 2017 are European: France, with 76 million euros, 31% of the total; followed by Portugal, with 27.5 million (11.7%) and a rise of 2.6% compared to 2016; and Germany, with 21.6 million (8.9%), which grew by 28.7%.

Extenda Programming for 2018

Extenda has planned for this year, in addition to this reverse mission, numerous activities for the promotion of the habitat sector, among which the participation in the Maison & Objet fairs (already held in its January edition with the participation of 12 Andalusian firms, and September); HOMI Milano, to which Extenda has attended for the first time last January, with 11 Andalusian companies; Intergift (already held also in January with the participation of 30 Andalusian companies, and with another edition in September); and Feria Hábitat Valencia.

Likewise, the direct commercial missions for the Contract Canal to Latin America and the Furniture Fairs of Milan have been developed; international meetings such as the International Meeting of Decorative Ceramics, the V International Contract Meeting and the III International Meeting of Contract Operators; and the technical days on Amazon/Retail E-commerce Furniture and Decoration.