Cross Border Stores!

In recent years Turkish entrepreneurs have proved their global success in exports. Now a major store offensive has begun… Each year Turkish companies are opening tens of new stores everywhere from South Africa to Latvia, London and Japan.

Turkish companies which have opened stores in many places throughout the world today have tens of countries in their sights. In the short term their action plans are concentrating  on cities which are fashion centers, European countries and Turkey’s neighbors. In the medium- and long-term they are looking all over the world from Japan to China and from the US to Australia.

Where are they going most?

Producers which have opened their own stores in foreign markets have spread nearly all over the world. But there are some regions where there are higher concentrations. Of course, priority has been given to developed countries. The leading ones are Western countries such as Italy, Spain, Holland, Austria, the UK and France. When it comes to Western European countries one needs to mention Germany separately.

Another country in which Turkish brands have opened their own stores is Russia… The Migros Ramstores have achieved significant success in this country. Others who have discovered the Russian market include Sarar, Goldaş, Ayyıldız, Çilek, Koton and Step Halı. Russia has an important potential in terms of consumption and growth. The fact that it is close to Turkey and that producers know this market well also plays a role. Other favorite countries in this region are Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan.

Increasing interest in the Middle East

Another region where more stores are being opened is the Middle East… It should be said that this region has only recently been discovered by producers. This is borne out by the number of stores there. Stores are being opened in the Middle East in Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon and Syria in particular.

The place which is attracting most attention in this region is Dubai. Goldaş Kuyumculuk General Manager Sedat Yalınkaya says that Dubai is an important shopping center not just in the Middle East and Arab world but on a global scale. As a result, having a presence there has a positive impact on a brand’s image and recognizability. Dubai is well on the way to becoming an important trading center. For this reason it has become one of the target cities for Altınyıldız, Sarar, Vakko, Koton and Step Halı.

In the Balkans the favorite countries in which to open stores are Bulgaria and Romania.

In 2005 Linens will expand into neighboring countries

Company Where will it open a store?(in 2004-2005)
ALTINYILDIZ Dubai
AY-YILDIZ TEKSTİL Greece, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan
ÇİLEK MOBİLYA Tokyo, Iran, Cologne
DOĞTAŞ MOBİLYA Greece, Bulgaria
GOLDAŞ Russia, China
KELEBEK MOBİLYA Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan
KOTON Germany, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Latvia, Poland, United Arab Emirates
LİNENS Bucharest, Arad, Krivoyrog, Jeddah, Kazan, Ferzaj, Egypt, United Arab Emirates, Georgia, Albania, Greece and the Baltic countries
MAVİ JEANS New York, Sidney
MİGROS Skopje, Kazakhstan, Russia
SARAR Switzerland, India, Israel, Dubai, Spain, France
STEP HALI Beirut, Dubai

Ebru Firat
efirat@capital.com.tr