Gabriel 150 years - Flipbook - Page 54
Gabriel must be able to document that a pur-
In ±∫∫∏, in celebration of her ≤∂th Jubilee,
chase from Gabriel is the customer’s best buy.
Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II travelled
throughout Denmark, making Aalborg her first
Around ±∫∫≤, the design known as Gaja appear-
stop on ±≤ May. Queen Margrethe and Princess
ed. Today, this crepe upholstery fabric in a uni-
Alexandra visited Gabriel and were given a tour
que range of colours is Europe’s contract mar-
of the factory.
ket leader, and sales continue to increase.
In the picture, Managing Director Jørgen Kjær
While ±∫∫≤ got off to a fine start, in September,
Jacobsen is shown presenting rugs specially
the European exchange rate cooperation, the
designed for the Queen and the Princess by Jette
EMS, was shaken by speculation. Gabriel’s then
Gemzøe.
most important markets, Germany, Sweden,
Italy and England, were hard hit, and large de-
a modest profit was shown the following year
valuations followed.
as well as a slight increase in turnover.
The economic storm sent the contract fur-
When the crisis ended in ±∫∫µ, Gabriel in-
niture market into decline. Once again, Gabri-
vested in a CAD system that increased the effi-
el’s board of directors and management deci-
ciency and flexibility of design and product de-
ded to remain faithful to their belief that the
velopment.
foundation of the enterprise was sustainable,
in spite of the fact that all their primary mar-
Since ±∫∫≥-∫µ, Gabriel has benefited from re-
kets were showing a ≤∞-≥∞% decline.
latively stable markets for contract furniture.
They were right again. While in ±∫∫≤-∫≥, the
The sales organisation has been expanded, and
company did have to record a net turnover
the results are measurable: Turnover has in-
that was π.∂% lower than the previous year and
creased every year since ±∫∫≥-∫µ and has broken
a deficit before taxes of almost DKK π million,
previous records every year since ±∫∫∂-∫∑. The
1984-2001
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