The interview of the head of the project management department of VITAM company to Hit.az:

"We produce quality"

- While preparing for this interview, we got acquainted with the work you have delivered in recent months through social networks. It seems that most of your orders are made by foreign brands. How did you achieve this and how do global level collaborations affect you?

- Since 2004, we have taken it as our main priority to produce creative visual advertising solutions while maintaining all quality principles. Henry Ford has a great example: "Quality means doing everything right when no one is watching." You know, it is not only about the quality of the product or service, but also the quality of the processes. In each of the services we provide, we form certain feedback through various types of checks and evaluations. I think that this factor is one of the main reasons and the most important thing that gives us good references. Currently, we connect with most of the world brands we work with directly through their global offices and implement their projects in the region. It's no secret that the unique rules of world brands directly affect our production solutions, and thanks to this, we develop our production day by day, and carry out various types of processes to provide better service.

- What are the rules of world brands and what kind of projects do you implement in the region?

- Different companies have their own specific guidelines. Here, their demand is not only related to design, dimensions or color codes. If you look at this rulebook of many world brands, you will see that, in addition to production solutions, there are certain requirements regarding the characteristics, guarantees, and even the names of the materials there. Let me share such interesting information that once we were entrusted with the implementation of the project of one of the world-class famous hotel chains. Prior to the order, while conducting an audit of this rulebook, we witnessed certain errors and immediately informed them about it. In fact, there were incorrect proposals in the production solution, and in our turn, we explained all the details to the other party, presenting the technical solutions of the more correct one. After certain processes, they agreed with us and had to change their "guidelines". Can you think? As a local brand, influencing a world-class brand and bringing about a change in the rulebook. We carry out many projects of foreign brands in the region, including design, advertising solutions, furniture solutions, large format printing. The breadth of order volume and project complexity are key to us gaining new opportunities.

- Which brands do you work with?

- Among global brands, I can give you many names as the brands with which we have the closest cooperation. Our company also implements projects belonging to retail groups that include many world-famous clothing brands in our country. In fact, in shopping centers, malls, chain stores, our solutions are often used, for example, indoor advertising, light boxes, decor and ambient advertising, display stands, etc. you may encounter.

- We got acquainted with your interview about exhibition stands at one of your speeches. Is it about the installation of the stand? As far as we know, you have been nominated in many exhibitions, which ones are examples of these exhibitions?

• Of course, the exhibition stands actually form a concept that will generalize our solutions. We take steps aimed at being of maximum benefit to the companies we work with, to further increase their expectations of this exhibition. It is not a secret that nowadays most of the companies increase their sales volume through their participation in various exhibitions, and participate in order to appeal to a wider audience. The exhibition stands we prepared for SOCAR in 2019, Azersun in 2021, and Azershekar in 2022 were awarded prizes in their respective exhibitions and took first place. Exhibition stands are implemented by the VITAM team from the initial stage, that is, from the design and project stage, to production, installation, dismantling, and delivery to the company's warehouse. However, unfortunately, in certain cases, some local companies turn to foreign manufacturers, despite the provision of such services in our country. I, as Farid Nematzadeh, here through you, want to tell some local companies that there are companies in Azerbaijan that can handle such orders, and be sure that trusting local manufacturers will not mislead you.

• - What is the obstacle to the recognition of local producers in the foreign market, including your field? Why is the export share of local production small?

  - We have always tried to do our best to sell to the foreign market. I can even say that we are the first and only local advertising producer in Azerbaijan who exported to the other side of the ocean. The events led to the fact that in 2020, our production was established in the USA. Currently, VITAM, which has been operating for almost 2 years, is quite successful as a local brand in the American foreign market. One of our ambitions is to build our production factories in 5 different locations around the world within the next 5 years. As a result of this, we have planned the start of operations of VITAM Georgia and VlTAM Uzbekistan in 2023. Our main goal is to support the country's economy by increasing export-oriented sales. I don't think there are any obstacles to the recognition of our brands in the foreign market, and there are enough export-oriented companies in our country. However, in order to further increase their number, it is necessary to work harder, systematize, explore and discover foreign markets, and take steps to determine the necessary needs that may arise.