“In some countries, it is better for our business to have a local partner, because he or she understands and is more familiar with the local consumer, taxes, and legal aspects in that country. We are an international company used to the business environment,” Dodds said.
The company opened a unit in Bucharest at the beginning of 2008, following a €3.7 mln investment. The Bucharest unit registered €2.7 mln in net sales last year, and estimates a slight drop in 2009, considering the crisis.
“We budgeted net sales worth €2.4 mln for 2009. The first quarter was rather difficult. We are at the same level as last year, but this is not necessarily a good thing, because our initial estimates targeted a €20 percent increase,” said Sebesanu, the company’s General Manager on the local market.
