Operational Program Competitiveness and Internationalization

Incentive System for the Internationalization of SMEs - Individual Projects

Entity | NEPTUNE DEVOTION, FABRICAÇÃO, REABILITAÇÃO. REPARAÇÃO. MANUTENÇÃO DE BARCOS DE RECREIO, LDA.

Project title | Sustained Presence in International Markets

project Code | CENTRO-02-0752-FEDER-043837

Thematic Objective | QT 3 - Strengthen the competitiveness of SMEs

Investment Priority | PI 3.2 - The development and application of new business models for SMEs, especially with regard to internationalization

Type of Intervention | TI 52 - Internationalization of SMEs

Intervention region | CENTRO

Beneficiary | NEPTUNE DEVOTION

Approval date | 2019-06-13

Start date | 2019-02-11

Date of the conclusion | 2022-08-31

Total eligible cost | € 1,379,957.50

European Union financial support | € 500,000

Objectives, activities and expected results / to be achieved

Goals

This project aims to create conditions for Neptune to implement the internationalization strategy of its construction and rehabilitation activity, total or partial, of recreational or sport boats up to 24 meters, for luxury segments, developing the company's international notoriety and promoting a progressive and sustained growth of its business outside Portugal, correcting the weaknesses, namely the low knowledge of some target markets, the lack of notoriety in international markets and the underutilization of digital marketing and e-commerce platforms for doing business.

Activities

The investment to be made fits into several types of operations associated with internationalization:

1. Knowledge of foreign markets, to be obtained through participation in internationally renowned fairs;

2. Prospecting and presence in foreign markets through prospecting and promotion initiatives in order to enhance the attracting of new customers in foreign markets and carrying out market studies to acquire information about these markets;

3. Presence on the Web through the digital economy, through the implementation of a marketing strategy with strong use of new technologies of the digital economy, which will translate into the acquisition of an e-commerce portal with configurator, a Mobile Boat APP and email marketing, presence in the Marine Traffic Directory and the realization of digital marketing campaigns on web platforms for the realization of distance business on a regular basis and for the promotion and dissemination actions;

4. International marketing, through the acquisition of a marketing plan, of differentiated promotional materials that will include catalogs and films, in different languages, for the dissemination and promotion of the company and its various products and services in the international markets where it intends to operate and the advertising articles in prestigious international magazines in the sector;

5. Introduction of a new method of organization in commercial practices or in external relations with the hiring of two qualified human resources for the commercial / marketing area, one for the area of process management and prospection and promotion initiatives related to the internationalization strategy and attracting new international customers and another to lead the management of e-commerce and digital marketing, and with the acquisition of lead management software;

6. Development and international promotion of brands with international missions to promote Neptune and its brands and products.

Expected results / to be achieved

1. Affirmation as a company and brand of international reference in the recreational and sport boats segment up to 24 meters for the luxury segment.

2. Creation of conditions for an excellent positioning and high reputation of the company and for the sustained growth of its turnover and profitability, with an export ratio exceeding 65% as of 2022;

3. Obtaining knowledge about the international target markets and creating awareness in those markets;

4. Establishing partnerships and attracting customers with a view to operating in several international markets, namely in Spain, France, the Netherlands, Italy, Austria, Croatia, Poland, USA and UAE, selling their products and services;

5. Creation of a qualified staff dedicated to the management of the company's internationalization activities.