Project Sheet

Project title | DKT Internationalization Plan

Project code | NORTE-02-0752-FEDER-020926

Main objective | OT 3 – Strengthening the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises

Intervention region | North

Beneficiary | D.K.T. – Representações, Lda

Approval date | 16-02-2017

Start date | 01-06-2016

Completion date | 30/11/2018

Total eligible cost | € 388 232.50

European Union financial support | ERDF – 174 704,63 €

Objectives, activities and expected results

DKT is a reference company in the school market, which is directed, strategically organized and oriented towards its customers, enhancing interaction with them in the search for a timely and quick response to the needs of consumers, seeking to highlight the differentiation and the ability to reinvent in the development of each of its collections. Currently, he is responsible for the design and production of backpacks, notebooks, brand cases, as well as their launch in the national and international markets.

Within the scope of this project, the company aims to develop products of excellence, which exceed customer expectations, ensure its sustainability, expand business areas to emerging markets and, thus, grow significantly and develop internationally.

In order to be recognized internationally as an innovative company in the ‘Back to School’ market, as well as to become a reference in the development of collections of school products and fashion accessories, DKT intends to enter new markets as well as expand the portfolio customers in the markets where it already operates. In this way, the growth direction of the promoter goes through the extension of the market, launching the current products in new markets. To implement the mentioned strategy, the following innovative activities are proposed:

Marketing activities
(i) Knowledge of foreign markets: participation in international fairs in the sector (with the aim of strengthening its notoriety in the markets, through the presentation of its products and trends;

(ii) Presence on the web, through the digital economy: website development, available in several languages, where information related to the products marketed by the company, such as prices, colors and sizes, will be presented, in order to make them accessible to any party. of the world;

(iii) International brand development and promotion (promotion actions): extension of trademark registration with the objective of identifying products with foreign markets and differentiating them from the competition;

(iv) Prospecting and presence in international markets in order to attract new customers, as well as enhancing visibility and notoriety in international markets;

(v) International Marketing: development of catalogs and samples, which will be used in fairs and prospecting actions, allowing the company to demonstrate the products it sells.

Organizational activities
(i) Introduction of a new method of organization in commercial practices or in external relations: hiring two qualified technicians, for the Commercial / Marketing area, whose functions will be to support the internationalization strategy, boost the promoter’s presence in new markets, raise new customers in the markets where the company already operates, gain new customers through prospecting actions and presence at fairs, among others.

Objectives, activities and results achieved:
The project presented a certified degree of execution of eligible expenditure of 72.70%.
DKT proposed a set of several complementary actions in order to implement a strategy of geographic customer diversification, strengthening the network of contacts and increasing brand awareness.
DKT carried out the planned activities of Organisational Innovation and Marketing, namely:
1. Marketing Innovation:
a. Participation in Fairs: made an investment in the total amount of € 147,619.27;
B. Website: made an investment in the total amount of € 4,500.80;
c. Trademark registration: made an investment in the total amount of € 2,350;
d. Prospecting actions: made an investment in the total amount of € 26,406.25;
e. Catalogs and Samples: made an investment in the total amount of € 39,262.76;
2. Organizational Innovation: the company created two jobs under this project, with the hiring of two senior technicians.

New Customers: Since June 2016, DKT has attracted several new customers and strategic partners due to the Internationalisation project in different markets, thus substantially expanding its commercial portfolio.

New Markets: DKT was able to successfully access 21 new markets: Spain, Greece, Dubai, Belgium, Italy, India, Cyprus, Kuwait, Turkey, Gabon, Burkina Faso, Morocco, Canada, China, Hong Kong, Croatia, Netherlands, Iceland, Lithuania, Serbia and Lebanon.
In 2019, these contributed a Turnover that represented 29.03% of the company’s revenues.

Increased Exports: In 2015, DKT dedicated only 30.23% of its business to international markets. Through the project, the company ascended to a primarily international vocation. External markets together account for 65.34% of turnover.

Jobs: Within the project, two jobs were created: Commercial Technician and Sales Director.

Indicators:
– No. of target markets, community and third party, targeted by the project: Actions were carried out specifically for 9 markets: Germany, United Arab Emirates, Italy, Angola, Spain, France, Greece, United States of America and China. These activities had an impact on doing business in 25 markets.
– No. of prospecting actions and attracting new customers in foreign markets: 13 prospecting trips were made to 8 countries: Angola: 2, Spain: 2, France: 1, Greece: 2, Germany: 2, United States of America: 1, Italy: 1, China: 2.
– No. of attendees at international fairs and exhibitions: Insights (twice), Paperworld (twice), ISPO (once), Insights Middle East (once), Big Buyer (once).

Catalogues

Web site - www.dkt.pt