Talk 2 Brazil Business Podcast

Joao Conrado, CEO Ghetz Footware, London

Listen to the Talk 2 Brazil interview by Tom Reaoch with Joao Conrado, Monday May 5, 2014

Ghetz Footware was set up by Moema Pimentel, Managing Director, and Joao Conrado, CEO, both from Brazil. They identified a gap in the market for high quality yet sustainably made shoes at competitive prices.

Joao and Moema met in 1998 and formed a business partnership close to their roots as well as their hearts. Born in Franca, one of the shoe capitals of Brazil, they both have shoemaking in their blood. As natural entrepreneurs, they both have a very organic style of management and are open, friendly and flexible in business.

They established an office in London with a Ghetz team that is hands on and truly international, with people from South America, Europe, Asia and the UK. Such a multicultural melting pot brings diversity and a depth of experience resulting in a vibrant office culture.

Moema and her partner Joao started Ghetz Footwear in 2004. After just three years, their Anatomic & Co brand had become one of the top 10 brands selling men’s shoes to independent stores in the UK. It was shortlisted as ‘Brand of the year’ for the Drapers Footwear Awards in 2009 and 2010.

Moema is also a member of Vistage, UK .

ACIC Campinas Regional Retail Forum

On Tuesday April,19 2014 I was one of over 500 participants in the second annual Regional Retail Forum in Campinas, organized by ACIC Associação Comercial e Industrial de Campinas and CDL Campinas the Camara de Dirigentes Lojistas de Campinas.

Adriana Flosi, President of ACIC and CDL opened the ceremony, welcomed the participants, guest speakers and authorities including the Mayor of Campinas Jonas Donizette and Brazilian Congress Member Guilherme Campos.

The guest speakers covered a wide variety of topics relating to retail industry, entrepreneurs and business owners with focus on challenges and opportunities for growth in the retail sector of Brazil.

In the morning session Mauricio Morgado, professor FGV and Gustavo Carrer of SEBRAE, SP showed tendencies and exaples from their visits to the United States and participation in the NRF Retail Show in New York.

Claudio Bobrow, founder of Puket offered a very colorful and invigorating presentation on the growth of his company.

Luiza Helena Trajano of Magazine Luiza talked of the great potential for growth in the consumer market in Brazil, the need for unity among members of the retail sector mentioning the gains made through the IDV Instituto para Desenvolvimento do Varejo.

At the lunch break I had the pleasure of sharing a table with two of the afternoon speakers, Dorival Dourado CEO of Boa Vista Servicos and Dr. Marcelo Schulman, President of Vita Derm Cosmetics

Other presentations in the afternoon session regarding challenges in family business and opportunities for growth were conducted by Mauricio Morlan, Santander Global Banking, Romeu Zema, Grupo Zema, Roberto Longo, Grupo Sonda and Isabel Medeiros Grupo Trigo / Spoleto.

Easy to see the Forum was both a great learning and networking experience.