These four businesses, from Zaragoza, The Canary Islands, Barcelona and Asturias, respectively, have found exporting to be a key driver of growth. In these uncertain times of global pandemic, exports are fast becoming the key to economic recovery in Spain. Foreign sales are rising healthily in 2021: having risen in the first quarter by 23,3% compared to the previous year.
In this scramble to get exporting, small and medium sized businesses have much to say about their newfound opportunity. In the following we will talk about 10 exemplary businesses from all over Spain that have made exporting their raison d’être and are heading towards a bright future.
Featured in the first issue are Aiditec Systems from Valencia, Bornay and Sampol from Castalla (Alicante) and the Catalonian BCN3D. In the second issue, we will focus on Praxia Energy from Asturias, Ariño Duglass from Aragón, Canarian Elittoral and Facet hailing from Barcelona. In the third; Ibercisa from Pontevedra, Escumar Moda from Zamora and Quesos del Cesar based in Cáceres.
FACET: Large jewelers in Córdoba
The history of Córdoba has deep ties to jewellery, with the city being one of the nervecentres of a sector which has increasingly had to reinvent itself, with the Parque Joyero on its outskirts being a key piece in this evolution. The importance of jewelry to Córdoba was one of the main drawing factors for Facet, a key player in the industry with a long history, in moving part of its production to the city.
This was done, as Facet’s CEO José Miguel Serret tell us, in the midst of the Coronavirus pandemic. Near the end of September last year the Catalan firm opened its installations in Córdoba’s Parque Joyero or Jewellery Park, protecting its production which was at the time heavily concentrated in India and was seriously affected by COVID-19. You could say that Facet’s journey abroad has been a return ticket: first producing outside Spain, and subsequently moving a part of this production back to the country.
Códoba, Serret tells us, has always been in Facet’s view, “but we kept leaving it for tomorrow”. COVID brought this move forward, although it had always been on the roadmap, with the city becoming a key production centre.
The firm now occupies 1,500 square metres in the Parque Joyero, divided into two spaces, one dedicated to production and one to administration. “A huge part of our production has now been moved here” explains Serret, also announcing the start of a process which will see 15 more workers on board adding to the 70 workers Facet already employs in Córdoba.
You might think that in an economic crisis like the one stemming from Coronavirus, jewellery might be relegated to the back of the shopping list for most consumers. Facet, however, hopes to close 2021 beating its sales figures for 2019. Serret tells us that in the jewellery sector, or at least from Facet’s experience, is divided into two key areas: on one hand retail, and on the other large accounts. The average price point for large chains has fallen, but on the other side it has not.
Those with purchasing power had fewer spending options during the pandemic, but jewellery sales have been ticking over”, says Facet’s CEO, adding that the jewellery market lead by every-day pieces “is indeed suffering”.
Facet is also making interesting moves in traceability, consumers can find out where the materials in their jewelry were extracted and through which hands it has passed in the process, also discovering that worker’s rights have been upheld throughout production. This is key for a business of Facet’s size and long-term investment.
Read the full article on: