Yalinkaya > Corporate >
Dear Esteemed Shareholders,
We enjoy the deserved pride of leaving another year of success in the jewelry industry of Turkey, holding the second rank in the world among jewelry exporting countries, which has been rapidly improving and is, by now, running to become the global leader.
In the early years of Goldas, we observed that introduction of the rich knowledge and backlog of jewelry infrastructure in our country to the international markets requires investment in technology, human capital and design in order to be combined with a modern and innovative perspective.
We, being a company, which is a major actor in the global markets for its operations in the precious metal and jewelry markets both at home and in abroad and which carries out its commercial activities in 45 countries in 5 continents, have always been aware of the importance of our step. Also in the forthcoming periods, we will continue attempting to take even more important steps by the same determination in order to maintain our position as a major player in global precious metal trade and jewelry market. Enjoying the pride of having our market share in the exportation of Turkish Jewelry Industry, which was realized approximately as 1.2 billion US Dollars, doubled to 10 % in the year 2006, we believe that 2007 will bring along positive developments both for the industry and for our company. In respect of gold importation; we performed approximately 62 % of the gold importation of total 193 tones in Istanbul Gold Exchange (IAB).
Goldas, having the structure of a growth – oriented company, which aims at being effectively present especially in abroad markets as well as its location network at home, has primarily determined the target position of its brand, then has gone to implement the requirements of such target in order to be able to manage the long and stringent process of becoming a brand. Following the establishment of a reputation in the industry, our main goal has become to increase the brand recognition by the end consumer. For this purpose, we, as well as the advertisement and PR activities, established the chain of stores bearing our brand. Goldas stores, which have a different concept, increased the recognition of our brand. Our stores draw attention in Russian and Chinese markets, which are notable for their growth potentials, as well as Turkey. In China, where we first stepped in 2005, preferred to grow on store basis and we initiated the necessary works to open new stores in regions outside Shanghai, in Beijing and Guangzhou at the first place, in addition to the existing 7 stores. We increased the number of our retail stores in Russia to 21 in 2006, and we aim at enhancing our share from Russian market through new retail stores to be opened. We will continue attaching importance to store business in 2007 as well; we intend to increase the number of Goldas and Assortie stores, the number of which were 45 at home and 28 in abroad as of the end of 2006, and plan our stores to serve in the major fashion centers in the world in the forthcoming years.
Goldas, which currently has representation offices in 10 countries on 4 continents, increases its exportation volume and progressively strengthens its position in the related markets through the agency of its representation offices. Exportation target countries include USA, United Kingdom, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Russia, South Africa, Thailand and China.
We have position Goldas as a brand, which is innovative, modern, civic, which keeps track with the actuality and trends and which adopts a line combining traditional art with modern technology. This brand standing was and is being reflected to many fields from our products to the advertisement and publicity strategy. Besides, we adopted creating topical, contemporary, researching, modern, conceptual designs, which employ the state – of – the – art technology as our priority. We have taken and keep taking steps to create a strong company and brand both at home and in abroad.
Hereinafter, we will continue our activities to become a global brand. Being aware of the fact that obtainment of market advantage through the growth, having a global competitive power, maintaining a stable sales performance require a brand establishment especially in the international arena, we will continue creating new brands to reach to new audiences. Our participation as a member of Turkish Jewelry Industry to the Turquality project, which provides a major support for efforts of recognition of Turkish brands in abroad and which was registered for the name of Under secretariat of Foreign Trade as a combination of the concepts "Turkish" and "Quality", will contribute even more to our activities of brand creation and recognition.
Our capability in design is the primary condition precedent of becoming a global brand in jewelry business. Our design and store concepts are among the topics we attach crucial importance in view of being able to set global trends and to introduce original designs. Therefore, Goldas continuously invests in technology and R&D activities, which improve the production infrastructure and ensure the creation of new products and brands, and continues its budgeting activities for new investment plans.
Goldas, being a member of the world's most prestigious entities such as Istanbul Gold Exchange (IAB), International Precious Metal Institute (IPMI) and the Silver Institute, also maintains social responsibility projects, to which attach a huge importance. Among such projects are the books published on ornamental art and culture, Goldas Magazine, which is delivered to thousands of senior businessmen and which publicizes Turkey and the jewelry industry, and Ornamental Design Summer School. On the other hand, Goldas was the first Turkish jewelry company participating to UN Global Compact in 2006, which was a volunteer initiative of Mr. Kofi Annan, the former Secretary General of United Nations. Our company, which continuously increases the number of countries of operation, by its participation to the compact, covenanted to adopt and implement the principles therein through its entire organizational structure.
Goldas, being a global company with its brand, products and organizational structure, is the first and the only Turkish company listed to Tokyo Gold Exchange. Our aim for being listed to Tokyo Gold Exchange in view of strengthening our position in the Far East market, which has become a center of attraction for all industries and where we already have a store presence, is to ensure and to maintain our presence other leading exchange markets in the world.
In our 13th year, our licensed product portfolio was broadly expanded to a unique scope in the world, and new collections were added under the Goldas brand. Besides, Wedding D'sign, which offers alternative wedding ring choices addressing to every taste, and Assortie, our ornament and accessory brand combining different styles, were introduced. We will continue to further improve and enhance licensed products portfolio, which include numerous brands with fans and supporters in all over the world such as Walt Disney, Warner Bros., Garfield, Barbie, Liverpool, Germany National Football Team, Arsenal, FB, GS and BJK. Expansion to a broader field of Chip Gold, our bullion gold brand, and Silver D'sign, our silver ornament brand, are among our projections for 2007. We continue our works to increase number of sales of Chip Gold and Silver D'sign products, which are offered for sales through numerous channels including large department store chains.
Our growth – oriented strategy brings along new decisions as well. We will move our production plants in Merter, Istanbul, which hosted the establishment of Goldas, to our new center soon. We are aware that we are passing through a very important stage of Goldas' evolution.
We, relying on the strength of having left an efficient year behind, are determinant to maintain our position as the leader of the industry, to increase our strength of our markets of presence and to continue our works on creating new and profitable business opportunities.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank our investors and all fellowmen of Goldas for their trust and faith in Goldas, and I hope them to accompany us along the way to realize our targets.
Best regards,
Hasan Yalinkaya
Chairman of the Board of Directors
