Pavilions for seasonal trade of souvenirs are planned to be organized in Kazan

(Kazan City KZN.RU, May 13, Kseniya Shvetsova). In Kazan in the near future it is planned to organize pavilions for seasonal trade of souvenirs. This will greatly support local producers and will create new markets. Participants of a meeting in the prefecture of "Old Town", which was chaired by the Mayor of Kazan Ilsur Metshin, came to this decision. The Mayor listened to comments and suggestions of entrepreneurs and acquainted with the production of souvenirs of one of the companies.

I. Metshin noted that the tourism industry in Kazan is developing at an unprecedented rate, and noted that it  impossible to maintain such growth without the participation of players in the market of souvenirs. "In every city we first of all pay attention to souvenirs. Besides Kazan regularly hosts major events, the football World Cup, the championship «WorldSkills» are ahead for us. Therefore, we strive to support the industry and brought it to a high priority for our city", - I. Metshin said and recalled that the Program of support for small and medium businesses provide unique conditions of concessional lending to high-priority sectors.

The Mayor visited the workshops of the group "Boheme" companies, which includes a network of shops of souvenirs. Company is engaged in own production of gifts since 2009. Group brings together production companies, design studios and showrooms selling souvenirs. "We are working very mobile, constantly expanding range of products, - the director of the group Marina Abdullina said to Mayor. - We produce souvenirs with the help of printing, laser equipment, working with plywood, wood, leather, plastic, metal, try to use new technologies constantly ". I. Metshin talked to the employees of the company and got acquainted with almost all the production cycle: from a sketch on which designers are working to creating a packaging for the finished product. All the souvenirs are made with handmade - after machines souvenirs come to the artists who paint and decorate them. At the same time they are trying to use Tatar motives - the company initially repelled by the idea of ​​creating products with national symbols.

I. Metshin asked how often souvenirs are taken for sale outside of the city and the republic. According to the director, Kazan souvenirs quite often get on the shelves of other cities, including Moscow. But for such trade you must first examine the demand of the consumer, since it is depending on the place of residence.

After touring of production the Mayor held a meeting with representatives of the souvenirs market in the walls of the Prefecture "Old Town". He stressed that the meeting should be the impetus for the development of the entire industry. "I would like you to give an assessment of the program, which we adopted, and expressed your opinion what is necessary to be added, - I. Metshin addressed to entrepreneurs. - It is necessary to understand that we need to do in order to become leaders in this field. Our masters have to be known in the whole of Russia at least".

The fact that the adopted amendments to the program to support the development of small and medium businesses have been successfully implemented was reported at a meeting of the Executive Committee by the deputy head of the Economic Development Ivan Kuznetsov. He noted that fot today conditions of the program have no analogues in Russia - entrepreneurs can get a loan at an unprecedented 2.3%. "To date we received more than 300 calls, about 100 online applications", - I.Kuznetsov said.

Despite these measures to support entrepreneurs noted the disadvantages that prevent development of the market. For example, according to M.Abdullina, there are no suitable conditions for trade in Kazan. In response to this issue I. Metshin proposed to market players a simple solution: to design and organize the city mobile pavilions for seasonal sales of souvenirs. All employers participating in the meeting agreed that the network of non-stationary pavilions for seasonal trade is the best option for the development of souvenirs. So far, the city has about 380 sales outlets of souvenir production.

Another tangible problem of the market of souvenirs in Kazan is that the city has a weak brand and strong fragmentation of manufacturers. One of the businessmen proposed to create a portal where you can upload all major brand books and leave the design of new souvenirs. There you would get expert advice how to improve it. This, according to market players, will preserve the unity of the brand. The fact that companies need to work more closely and work under a common brand was accepted by all participants. The Mayor supported the idea of ​​creating a portal and noted that this initiative may indeed affect the branding of the city.

One of the iconic brand of the capital of Tatarstan is Kazan Cat. An unusual request was received from entrepreneurs - to create a year-round residence of Kazan Cat in the city. All those present liked this idea and it is planned to find a suitable building, which will be the seat of this important inhabitant of Kazan, in the near future. There souvenir sales points and hostel for guests of the republic's capital may be organized. "We are pleased to support your every endeavor, more importantly, you had ambitions, - I. Metshin said. - Production of souvenirs is a tough business, and you and your masters for us, too, are a kind of piece of goods. We will help you, but you should continue to grow for in a few years no apartment, no office was left without a gift of local production".

The Mayor instructed the entrepreneurs to come up with and develop new and unique, exclusive souvenirs that visitors can purchase at the upcoming major events.

The meeting was also attended by the deputy head of the municipal formation of Kazan Evgeniya Lodvigova, Deputy Head of the Executive Committee Ivan Kuznetsov, Head of the Executive Committee Igor Sivov, chairman of the Committee for Economic Development Ildar Shakirov, Chairman of the Development Assistance Committee of Tourism Mikhail Zotov, representatives of Chamber of Commerce of RT.