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Salis is entering a new phase of its development. The Portuguese swimwear brand, launched in April last year by Vânia Reis, builds on the more than 50 years of manufacturing know-how of Silsa. One year on, the focus is now on its crinkle line, designed to adapt to different body types, from XS to XL. The founder describes the aim as delivering an “intuitive and uncomplicated swimwear proposal.”
Vânia Reis expresses satisfaction at having built a loyal customer base over this first year. Salis is currently present in several points of sale in Portugal and also has an international retail location in Menorca, in addition to its online store, which remains the main customer touchpoint.
“We ended up going a long way this year. We discontinued the lycra line and focused on the crinkle line, which was a big surprise in terms of market acceptance. We realized there was nothing like it in the Portuguese market, with this capacity to adapt to the body. Often, bikinis fit on top but not on the bottom. We used to sell separate sizes, but that created constraints in terms of quantities,” she explains.
At present, Salis is present in 19 stores. In Portugal, customers are mainly concentrated in the Lisbon and Cascais areas. “The Fitting Room was the first store we worked with. We are also trying to enter luxury hotels. We have a team in the Algarve visiting hotel units and the response has been very positive,” she reveals.
The opportunity to enter Menorca came through a direct contact made by Vânia Reis with a local store. “It’s going very well,” she notes. Regarding internationalization, the brand is initially expanding into Spain, as a proximity market. “We have a showroom we are working with in Barcelona. We are also in meetings in Italy,” she adds.
Despite its expansion, Salis’s strategy remains unchanged: in-house production and small batches. “We are developing a second fabric with stripes,” she reveals in advance.
Rather than following trends, the founder emphasizes that the priority is listening to retailers and customers. “The brand has positioned itself as a continuity product. We believe it should be like that, and we are working on reusing waste and transforming it into hair scrunchies, which could become a new product for the next collection. The fact that we have a one-size-fits-all model also reduces returns,” she explains, highlighting its sustainable approach.
Focused on a close and purpose-driven strategy, Vânia Reis says she is motivated by “bringing confidence and comfort to women.” Customer care is one of Salis’s core pillars. “We aim for delight to be present at every touchpoint. Data does not replace connecting with the customer,” she concludes, optimistic about the future.