YOKOHAMA in Poland. Interview with Jarosław Krzempek, General Manager of Yokohama CEE sp. z o.o. in Poland
What goals does YOKOHAMA have in Poland?
Our goal for the upcoming years is to boost brand recognition in Poland and increase sales, especially in the premium car market. Needless to say, this is a huge professional challenge for me.
YOKOHAMA is best known for producing high-quality passenger car tires, but this is not the company's only area of activity. What are the others?
Yes, that's right. Besides passenger car tires, we also provide tires for trucks and industrial vehicles, as well as Agro tires. Notably, the LIM Center registered company focuses exclusively on passenger tires for now, but this will change in the future. We plan to start selling truck tires as well.
How long has YOKOHAMA been present on the Polish market?
YOKOHAMA CEE has been present on the Polish market for 6 months. Previously, distribution of YOKOHAMA brand tires was handled by a local reseller.
What was the factor behind the decision to choose a location in the LIM Center complex?
First of all, the prestige of the building and its location in the center of Warsaw. This provides us with excellent access to customers and conditions for business growth.
How would you rate the working conditions at LIM Center?
We are very satisfied. In particular, we appreciate the modern interior, good terms of cooperation, excellent relations with the administrator of the building and with the hotel where we hold meetings, dinners and conferences. In addition, our guests can also expect assistance in booking rooms. I rate the location and the service provided by LIM Center as nearly perfect. The combination of an office building of this class with a luxury hotel with restaurant facilities is of unimaginable added value to tenants, as it enables them to hold business meetings without the necessity to go elsewhere.
How does YOKOHAMA perceive the potential of Eastern European markets?
The potential of the region is considered very high. It is the fastest growing market in Europe. Western countries are developing, but they are already so ahead that their progress is now relatively modest. In Eastern Europe, on the other hand, year-on-year sales increases are very high. Poland, obviously, is the leader, but other countries in the region are also developing very rapidly. Consequently, these are very important markets for us.
Speaking of the Polish market, it is worth noting that it is also a very prestigious market, of great importance to every manufacturer.
Has the situation across our eastern border affected your company?
Unfortunately, it clearly has. We used to sell our tires to numerous customers in Ukraine. The sale was suspended due to the war, but the situation is slowly changing. Customers from Ukraine are starting to contact us again.
What does the future look like for YOKOHAMA in Poland and consequently for LIM Center?
In the next 3-5 years there will be a lot of positive changes, and the development of our company is expected to be much faster than in previous years. We are making a lot of plans. And if everything turns out according to our predictions, we will soon become one of the most important players on the Polish market.
