Gabriel 150 years - Flipbook - Page 50
and the first orders were placed the following
A special Gabriel exhibition at the ±∫∫≤ Bella
year. At the Orgatec fair in ≤∞∞∞, the Gabriel
Center Furniture Fair. This prominent area will also
≤
stand measured ±≥∂ m .
be made available to Gabriel in celebration of its
±∂∞th anniversary.
Although the amount of goods exported
was not yet impressive, exports were on the increase and grew from ±∂% in ±∫πµ-π∂ to ≤∑% in
ed popular throughout Europe and was an im-
±∫π∏-ππ. The first export salesmen were hired
portant feature in the export market break-
in ±∫π∑, and increasing sales to the big, leading
through in ±∫ππ and ±∫π∫ where the percentage
contract furniture manufacturers in Germany,
of goods exported increased from ≤∑% to ≥µ% in
Norway and Sweden quickly followed.
just one year.
The enterprise was on the right track and
The future looked bright, and the balance
was competitive. This was illustrated by, among
sheet showed record sales in ±∫π∑-π∏. But sus-
other things, the fact that exports to, in parti-
tainability was stretched to the limit when an
cular, the difficult German market increased
international stock market crisis broke out in
year by year despite a significant market slow
October ±∫π∏. Sales in the European contract
down. These were troublesome years, however,
furniture sector fell by ≥∞-µ∞% the following
with a constant need to trim costs to make
year. Most furniture manufacturers had to cut
room for future activities.
back, and a number declared bankruptcy.
Gabriel’s niche market faced considerable
Trimming production facilities
pressure, but management continued to see
the contract furniture sector as the company’s
It was one thing to experience success by de-
best potential market and felt that by remain-
veloping new furniture fabrics that could fill
ing faithful to it, success would be achieved in
the order books and quite another to gear fac-
the long run. The board of directors and man-
tory output so that Gabriel could make on-
agement realised that a reduction of activity in
time delivery of the agreed quality. Many key
the niche market could mean the road ahead
employees retired in the early ±∫π∞s, and as
would be long and difficult.
they left, the factory lost valuable knowledge
In ±∫ππ, Gabriel won a contract in Norway
and experience. The company was particularly
with a new design called Novo. The design prov-
vulnerable because the individual routines
1984-2001
51
