USAID Helps Furniture Maker Market Product, Find Suppliers
Since beginning operations in 1999, a modern furniture maker in Bilesuvar, central Azerbaijan, has been specializing in the manufacture of furniture that comply with European standards and tastes. Its production lines are based on the latest models using machinery and technology imported from Germany, Italy and Poland. Two hundred and thirty highly skilled and experienced workers build a wide range of furniture products of exceptional design and comfort. Although the company has experienced considerable success, its management turned to USAID for help.
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| Thanks to USAID’s Rural Enterprises Competitiveness Project, this leading Azerbaijani furniture maker has recently invested $250,000 with a supplier discovered at a trade fair for raw materials to produce cupboards, dining room sets and other fine home furnishings |
Through USAID’s Rural Enterprises Competitiveness project, the Azerbaijan Agribusiness Center has been collaborating closely with the furniture manufacturer on developing quality marketing materials, including a catalogue, wall calendar, visit cards, and web site—and a printer to prepare the materials.
AAC also enlisted its Quality Management Specialist to perform a gap analysis at the company’s factory. Based on the analysis, AAC presented its recommendations for improvements in the company’s management system and recommended that they hire a quality-control specialist to oversee production, which it soon did.
To expand its marketing reach, AAC suggested that the company participate in trade furniture fairs in order to find new buyers, equipment and raw materials suppliers. Management agreed and the company took part in the Moscow and Ukraine Furniture Trade Fairs. During the fairs, they formed links with modern equipment and medium density fiberboard (MDF) suppliers. They also established a relationship with one of the biggest MDF suppliers, United Panel Group from Moscow. They agreed to purchase MDF materials worth $250,000 USD. In addition they developed a new collaboration with Georgian retailers to sell products in their stores.
Lastly, due to increasing sales the AAC proposed that the client hire new distributors in Lankaran, Astara, Lerik and Sabirabad to build regional market share.
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