Flanco took the first step abroad last year. The retailer started selling in Hungary in October through marketplace-type platforms and in December reached Bulgaria.
Dragos Sirbu believes expansion abroad through marketplace-type platforms is the best way to test new markets. As things progress and the company is able to secure an efficient logistic system, Flanco plans to expand on these markets with own stores, physical or online ones.
Sirbu says a major investment in the company’s online store is underway, so that it may allow for more product categories to be included on the platform. The investment is part of a broader development plan with a focus on online expansion in the following years.
Offline expansion is set to continue in parallel, but at a slower pace.
Flanco has an extensive RON100 million investment plan, started in 2020, with the money set to be spent over a period of around seven years.
The Romanian executive is looking at 2022 with mixed feelings. The first three months of the year were challenging, but April was the best month of the last eight.
While 2022 is shaping up as a difficult year, Dragos Sirbu expects rising sales for Flanco.
In 2020, the last year for which there’s public data, the retailer generated almost RON1.1 billion in turnover.
(English version by Catalina Apostoiu)