Hello, Liliana. Let's break with tradition and start the interview with plans for the future. What is VERo Ceramica's development plan for the next two years?

As trivial as it may sound, we will continue to work on the quality of our products, and in terms of tangible changes, we will be "closer" to our customers. We intend to further expand our network and open a VERo Ceramica store in every sector of the capital.

How many stores do you have now?

We have four stores - three on Uzinelor Street and one in the Râșcani sector, at Decor Park. And in the next few days we will open a fifth shop on the Petricani Street.

Does VERo Ceramica specialise exclusively in tiles?

Ceramic tiles are, of course, our strong point. Our warehouse always stocks over 100,000 square metres of tiles and we have at least 1,000 references in stock. The majority of items are almost always in stock, even given the seasonality of construction activity. But in addition to tiles, we also offer sanitary ware, bathroom furniture, accessories and decorations.

Your market is very competitive. How do you choose your suppliers? Who are they?

I'd like to digress a bit. The policy of any company is determined by its owner. And although our company has been around for about 20 years, it has not always been active on the market. For most of that time, the owner of the company lived in Italy and Russia and was the representative of several Italian ceramics factories on the Russian market. But a few years ago he made the decision to return home and, in connection with this, to start a business in Moldova. It is clear that the size of the Moldovan market implies a boutique working format, so the choice of suppliers must also correspond to this format. You certainly won't be able to work with dozens of suppliers, as they won't be interested in your sales volume.

A useful digression. It's now clear what core experience VERo Ceramica has behind it. As for you, if I am not mistaken, you are not in your first year of activity.

Nor even in the first decade.  I've been selling tiles since the late 1990s. This was my first job after graduation and it turned out to be my lifelong specialty.

Well, now I'm already curious to know which suppliers you have chosen, being so familiar with the market?

In terms of ceramics, we gather our range from three countries. There are two Italian factories, and the Italian quality needs no introduction. There are also three other factories in Turkey. The international ceramic tile market has changed a lot in recent years. Many factories around the world have been built with the latest Italian equipment and use Italian technology. The cost of tiles is largely influenced by delivery logistics, especially now that the price of international transport has risen so much. In this respect, Turkey is very convenient logistically. And, due to our owner's former connections, we work with a Russian tile manufacturer in Noginsk. Again, this is the production of an Italian company in Russia.

What about sanitary ware?

The sanitary ware comes from Italy. German quality in sanitary ware is also excellent, but the Italians continue to be 'champions' in design. The Moldovan market appreciates good design and opts for it.

Do you sell tiles for both street and interior decoration?

The whole range. Interior, terraces, parking lots, garages, facades. For facades we supply tiles up to 1 x 3 metres.

Do you also handle installation?

No, not directly. But we work with several teams of craftsmen whom we are always ready to recommend. You have to understand that to lay a tile with a size of three metres by one metre and a thickness of 3-6 millimetres is a jeweller's job, for which you also need special equipment.

Do tile trends change often?

Rather, the options diversify from year to year. High-quality tiles can mimic wood or natural stone so much that the imitation can be more interesting than the stone itself. It is therefore not surprising that in Moldova ceramic tiles are traditionally in great demand.

Is VERo Ceramica geared towards private customers or do you also work with large orders?

The secret to success in a small market is to be prepared to meet any order. VERo Ceramica is a retailer, and we are happy with every customer. We also collaborate with designers and architects, not only from Moldova but also from abroad. Quite often we have customers from Romania, while some clients from Râmnicu-Vâlcea – for whom we did two luxury villas - have even become our friends. Nevertheless, individual work does not exclude collaboration with the largest construction companies in Moldova. Our clients include UrbanConstruct-TT, Lagmar-Impex, Dansicons, Ex Factor, INAMSTRO and many others. You have recently written about some big projects in the city, hence the new maib office, Infinity Tower and many residential buildings are our work. Thus, we are ready to fill orders of tens of thousands of square metres of tiles for any project when required.

What else haven't we asked about?

I've told you pretty much everything there is to present VERo Ceramica. The only important thing to add is our approach to customers. The Moldovan market is small, and one unhappy customer can drive away ten others who were about to come. That is why we have a policy of openness and honesty towards our customers. When you tell the customer the truth, and our price/quality ratio is one of the best on the market, then you can always count on the customer being satisfied and coming back to you. After all, construction and renovation is a local hobby in Moldova.

Pavel Zingan