Eight ceramics distributors to help you enter the Russian market
Published on 28/11/2014
For Europe’s producers of ceramic tiles looking for fresh markets, Russia is a good choice. 40% of all tiles used in the country are imported, and while domestic Russian production has improved, European ceramics are still a watchword for quality, style and reliability.
As always when entering a brand new territory, finding a reliable distributor to get your products on the shelves and in the stores is vital. Here are profiles of eight Russian distributors that specialise in bringing European ceramics to Russian customers:
Rosstile
Russia’s largest supplier of high-quality finishing materials, Rosstile distributes and sells 5,000 brands, including several international lines exclusively promoted through the company. It is an official distributor of tiles from Roberto Cavalli, Valentino and Versace, and other tile manufacturers from Italy, Spain, Germany, Russia, Portugal, Turkey and China.
Rosstile sells its tiles through its 13 Moscow stores and 15 regional outlets across the whole of Russia. It also uses a network of partners in Russia and Ukraine to fill the gaps where it lacks premises of its own.
Absolut Keramika
Represented in Moscow, St. Petersburg and Krasnodar, Absolut Keramika specialises in representing Spanish companies across the former Soviet Union. Incoazul, Azuliber, Azulejos Mallol, Realonda, Azulejos Benadresa, Hispania Ceramica, Ceramica Vilar Albaro, Anjasora, Moneli Decor and Sanindusa are all among the brands sold in Russia by the company.
Ceramir
Mainly offering Italian bathroom tiles and Spanish ceramic granite, Keramir boasts a network of 150 business partners in Russia and abroad. It has been supplying construction companies and architecture firms in Moscow and elsewhere in Russia for over 15 years.
Akvana
Although a bathroom company by definition, Akvana is also a major Russian retailer and distributor of foreign-made ceramic tiles. Based in St. Petersburg and with five additional branches in other major Russian cities, Akvana distributes tiles from Jacob Delafon, Roca, Geberit, GROHE, Laufen, Jika, Azzurra, ArtCeram, Klud and other brands to DIY stores, retailers, design studios and building companies around Russia.
Akvana also runs its own chain of retail stores, where end consumers as well as trade customers can choose from the 10,000+ brands the company offers.
Artisan Project
A veteran of Russia’s ceramics distribution sector, Artisan was founded in 1995 and calls itself one of Russia’s leading ceramics distributors. Its main area of activity is Moscow and the surrounding region, but it also sells Spanish, Italian and Portuguese products to dealers, builders and architects across Russia. The company regularly visits Russian and international exhibitions to ensure it offers exactly what its clients want.
Mnogo Plitki
Mnogo Plitki translates to English as ‘Lots of tiles’, and this online ceramics retailer lives up to its name – it is an official Russian distributor for Crassaro, Cersanit, Coliseumgres, Atlas Concorde, Europa Ceramica and around 100 other international brands.
Olen Ceramic
Olen Ceramic is an online company that specialises in supplying Spanish ceramics to wholesale and retail companies around Russia. Ceramicalcora, Aparici, Venatto and Codicer 95 are among the brands sold by the company, which boasts a network of sub-distributors.
Plitka Moskvy
‘Spanish production is, with no exaggeration, an example to follow, perfect in terms of product and design’. So says Moscow-based ceramics importer Plitka Moskvy on its website, and it is well qualified to make this claim – the company is an official distributor for Spanish and Italian producers such as Porcelanosa, Venis, Aparici, Keraben and Gardenia Orchidea. For any producer choosing the company, its two Moscow stores give excellent access to the Russian capital and its 10 million inhabitants.
Visiting international building and interiors shows is central to how these companies find new suppliers and foreign partners. The WorldBuild Moscow/MosBuild building and interiors show is Russia’s main forum for connecting Russian distributors like these to international producers. The next edition will take place in April 2015 – talk to us today about how exhibiting at MosBuild can help you break into the Russian ceramics market.