We, and the market in general, had a first quarter with drops of 60% and 70% in some lines,” said Scipioni, beginning the analysis of 2024. “In mid-April we noticed a leveling off of that drop and until October we had a good sales volume. Despite this, in units we are going to end up between 15% and 20% below 2023, because the heating season was bad as there was stock left over from last year. However, in small terms we are 20% above 2023. What changed the panorama for us was the appearance of interest-free installments, or with a low rate, and the promotions of the banks.”

Scipioni described 2024 as a pivotal year, especially because there are fewer obstacles to importing, although it still cannot be paid in advance. “With credit from foreign suppliers and good commercial conduct we can work, although for the external supplier the cycle takes about 150 days from when we send the purchase order,” he explained. “To have continuity and not run out of stock, this means that when the supplier takes three orders from me I am only paying him for one.”

“We are all very concerned about the merchandise that enters what we call the informal market,” Scipioni continued. "It is one thing to import on equal terms and another to compete with brands that sell without technical service or guarantee. Beyond this, we increased imports, launched new products and made a significant investment in the assembly of new assembly lines for electric kettles and mixers. As there are anti-dumping restrictions, producing kettles locally is 20% to 25% cheaper than importing them. We hope that these policies will be sustained, because unrestricted imports have already been experienced and ended with high unemployment.”

In addition to the kettle and mixer assembly plant that it is setting up, Eiffel maintains the production of heaters, edgers and fans in parallel with imports, always looking for better products and lower costs. “We began to discuss with the Chinese to have better prices, something that last year we could not do, because with limitations on paying them it was impossible to demand conditions or change a supplier, something that we now do if we find similar products with a significant price reduction,” said Scipioni.

In addition to the 4 digital air fryers already launched, Eiffel is presenting the 2-in-1 product, with a fryer and convection oven, which adds to the recent launches of the multi-capsule coffee maker and the espresso machine, products that Scipioni described as having a very good design and a very good price, which determined their sales success. “In reality, the entire segment of small products sold very well, including those that are not new, such as kettles and mixers, where our prices, very competitive, are going to be even more so based on local production,” he concluded. "We are going to continue manufacturing everything that is cheaper locally produced here as a competitive strategy for 2025, which is going to be better than 2024 but it is going to force us to be very creative as there is a lot of competition. Inflation has to maintain the downward trend, but it must be accompanied by a recovery in the income of the population, because both retail, factories and importers, we live off the domestic market."