Paulo Abrantes continues to embrace the General Management of DECISÕES E SOLUÇÕES Group with his usual excellence. A market leader in Portugal, the company currently has a network of 600 shops and more than 6,000 employees, split between 12 brands. Two decades on and with his sights set on the horizon, care and concern for others continues to be his driving force.
Does seeing DECISÕES E SOLUÇÕES Group celebrate its 21st anniversary hold any special meaning for you?
Marking two decades of existence always has a special meaning, particularly because over the last 21 years we have been establishing our presence in the market in the areas of credit brokerage, insurance brokerage, real estate consultancy, real estate investment, the automotive sector, as well as travel and tourism. We operate in sectors of great importance for the population and we are market leadersin the areas of creditbrokerage, insurance brokerage and real estate consultancy. I’m very proud to be able to say that we have been meeting our commitments and continue to achieve the ambitious goals we have set ourselves, always with the future on the horizon.
In the first half of the year, the group’s turnover grew by 50%, its revenue rose to more than 1300 millions Euros, it did business with 46,000 new customers and opened 50 new shops. Was being a giant always in your plans?
Our strategy has always been fuelled by ambition. We want to reach 800 shops, have 12,000 employees by the end of 2025 and increase the number of customers satisfied with our advisory service, which currently exceeds 600,000 at a national level. If that’s wanting to be a giant, then yes, it’s always been part of our DNA and of our plans.
In such a competitive market, what is the key to continuing to stand out from the crowd?
Despite being a competitive market, we have been carving out our own path. I’m not aware of any other consultancy group that has 600 shops in our country and operates in as many areas of activity as the Grupo DS. I would go so far as to say that we have no competition and we have never been concerned about that. The holistic way in which we work, the care with which we attend to the needs of our customers and meet their expectations are differentiating aspects of our operations in the various areas in which we are involved.
Portugal is a country that is increasingly attractive for the luxury market. From your point of view, is this a trend that will continue over the years to come?
The luxury real estate market in Portugal is indeed in good health and continues to grow above average, with the value of properties in this premium segment on the rise. And anyone who wants to buy or invest in this real estate segment in Portugal also wants to benefit from everything the country has to offer. New working models have allowed many qualified professionals of various nationalities to come to Portugal to take up residence and continue working for their companies of origin, which has had a direct impact on the development of new investor profiles in the luxury market. I believe this is a trend that is likely to continue in the near future.
