Operating without an agent in Turkey, GROSSE proved the accuracy of its decision with the successful sales figures. The work conducted by the firm with Tuncar Çelikbaş started to yield successful results in 2013. At the first quarter of 2013, GROSSE recorded a sales figure exceeding the whole sales amount of 2012. The year-end target of the firm is to have a sales increase of 45-50 %.
GROSSE has been operating in the sector of jacquard weaving machines for more than 130 years and its activities in Turkey are carried out by Tuncar Çelikbaş, the Regional Sales Director experienced in the general and technical textile fields. Answering the questions of Textile World Group at ITM Hightex Texpo Eurasia fair, Tuncar Çelikbaş shared important information about the works and sales of the company.
Stating that it is an important step to establish direct communication with Turkish clients on behalf of GROSSE firm, Çelikbaş explained that they are satisfied with the interest shown by the manufacturers. Reporting that they have an important share in Turkish market as Grosse, Çelikbaş stated that they recorded a significant sales increase in the recent period. Çelikbaş added that: “Quota imposed by Turkey on China in particular made the market vivid. We established direct contacts with our customers by taking the right steps at the right time. As a result, we won some companies back which we had lost. And, this reflected to our sales directly.”
“I am Directly Interested in the Turkish Market”
Emphasizing that activities which have been carried out in Turkey without an agent since last year increased the confidence in the company, Çelikbaş stated that they have established important business ties with manufacturers from Denizli in the recent period. Saying that they expect the manufacturers from Bursa and Çerkezköy to start making purchases, Çelikbaş continued by saying: “I hope, our expectations will be met in this period. New demands are coming from such sectors as upholstery and net curtain. We target to grow in these sectors. In 2012, our sales amount increased by 20-30 %. In 2013, we expect an increase of 40-45 %. We made a strong thrust in the market. As a result of incentives, firms continue taking investment decisions. Thus, we caught a successful period. We will do our best to continue this period.”
We Can Work With A Successful Representative
Reporting that he tries to make all the markets to feel the strength of the GROSSE brand, Çelikbaş stated that the prominent markets are currently Turkey and India. Explaining that they establish partnerships at the Far East in particular, Çelikbaş expressed that: “In many regions, we operate with representatives. However, I carry out special works in person for only Turkish market. This preference with which we yielded successful results met the expectations and led to a highly intensive period for us. Therefore, provided that a partner who is self-confident enough to comply with our efforts and attempts to become successful wants to work with us, we don’t miss this opportunity. Having a representative in Turkey may facilitate our business.”
Stating that they had important sales rates in the global arena except for Turkey, Çelikbaş mentioned that GROSSE made a breakthrough in the world this year. Pointing out to the fact that they received numerous feedbacks from global clients, Çelikbaş continued by saying: “Our success in such countries as India, Indonesia and Pakistan apart from Turkey is indisputable. In these regions, we mainly sold high hook machines. I think that these sales will continue without cease in the ensuing periods. I am of the conviction that the achievements in India and Pakistan will reflect to the Chinese market.”
Not the New Product But the Right Product
Making explanations about ITM Texpo Eurasia Fair, Çelikbaş stated that they held successful business negotiations with their clients from the Middle East in particular. Expressing that they found the opportunity to conclude the business ties that they esyablished before the fair, Çelikbaş emphasized that they received a great amount of demand from Syria, Iran and Egypt. Çelikbaş continued by saying: “Due to certain difficulties in Syria, firms switch their investments to either Turkey or Egypt. There are companies intending to make investments at the western parts of Turkey. New investment plans for such cities as Denizli and Bursa are in question. In this respect, as manufacturers follow us closely and use our technologies, our sales amount increases significantly.”
Expressing that they focused on the machinery used in the production of towels, which receive a great demand in Turkey, at ITM fair, Çelikbaş stated that they prefer taking part in the fair with the useful products rather than the high tech products. Çelikbaş added that: “The only way of becoming successful in the market is to meet the expectations. Thus, we, as a firm, preferred taking part in the fair with our most popular machine. I am satisfied to see that our decision was correct. Manufacturers showed a great interest. It is an important fact that Unished machine series of our company is used in successful applications. It would be wrong to bring a product not in demand in the market to the fair. We did not make this mistake.”
Concluding his remarks with their targets for the Turkish market in the ensuing period, Çelikbaş said that: “ITM enabled us to improve our partnerships with the clients in Turkey. As Turkish market is very big, such organisations enable us to establish close contacts with clients from many regions. Different from customer visits made at limited times outside the fairs, such organisations strengthen our ties with buyers. In a short time, we can host numerous clients. Therefore, they contribute to the sales figures and projects of the firm.”
