Decorações Gina

Gina Decoração is a family business that carries a passion for what it does in its essence, combining tradition, care, and good taste in every detail. With a history built on family work and a commitment to quality, the company stands out for transforming environments and creating welcoming experiences for its customers. In this interview, we talk to Gina Decoração to learn more about its history, its values, and how the company keeps its family identity alive while keeping up with trends in the decoration market.

MN: Decorações Gina is celebrating its 45th anniversary this year. How did this story begin and what were the company’s first steps?
It all started with a dream in 1981, an embroidery and linen shop. Over time, requests for curtains began to come in. The volume of orders increased and, from then on, there was a need to deepen our knowledge and keep up with market developments and trends in order to successfully respond to the demands of increasingly discerning
customers.

MN: What values were at the origin of the brand and how have they remained alive over these four and a half decades?
The variety, quality, and loyalty of our customers have contributed to the expansion and success of Decorações Gina. With 45 years of experience, you can now count on the immense variety of models on display, always with the originality, exclusivity, and quality that are its trademark.

MN: What were the most memorable or challenging moments in Decorações Gina’s history?
The growth of the stores was always the most challenging. We went from a 60m2 store in Paredes to an entire building in 1998, then in 2009 we added a new building to the Paredes store, giving us an exhibition area of over 2000m2. In Lisbon, we started in 2011 with a 45m2 store and then in 2020 we moved to a 150m2 store. These investments in larger exhibition areas were constant challenges and led us to the growth and visibility that the brand has today. All the training we do is always very memorable and challenging, helping us and giving us the tools to better serve our customers. In particular, I would highlight my training, Sara Rego, in Interior Design in London after graduating with a degree in Economics.

MN: How have design, materials, and production processes evolved from the beginning to today?
In 45 years, the changes have been drastic at all levels. In terms of production processes, we started with a small, very artisanal workshop and grew with the evolution of the best machinery available in Europe, making our manufacturing very sophisticated and technological without ever neglecting customization. In terms of design and materials used, the changes are no less significant. We have always adapted to design trends and new materials to offer our customers the best and latest solutions and to be at the forefront of our sector.

MN: How has Decorações Gina adapted to changes in the furniture and decoration sector in Portugal?
We have always kept up to date at national and, above all, international trade fairs in order to follow the evolution of products and trends so that we can always offer our customers the best, most up-to-date products at the best market prices.

MN: What impact have new trends and digitaltechnology (social media, e-commerce, 3Dvisualization) had on your business?
New business trends in the digital world have significantly changed the way we operate in the market and reach our customers. It has opened up a whole new world, allowing us to showcase and promote our products and services much more widely. We always try to keep up with trends, from the emergence of websites to our current
presence on social media. The public likes to search the internet to find out about offers and trends, and we can’t help but keep up with our customers’ wishes.

MN: Where does the brand’s main creative inspiration come from?
Our inspiration comes from a little bit of everything around us. Being attentive to our surroundings helps immensely with inspiration. Internationa fairs and travel play a fundamental role in this inspiration because they open doors to a whole new world of inspiration and allow us to offer the best to our customers.

MN: What kind of customer is Decoraçõe Gina looking for today?
We have all kinds of customers looking for us, and we serve them all equally well. We have customers who are just looking for a touch for their home, whether it’s some cushions, a blanket, or a decorative piece. We have customers whose homes are already decorated and who want to remodel and refresh their space. customers who are
decorating their homes and get lost along the way and need help bringing harmony to their homes, and customers who come to us with a blank page (empty house) and want us to present them with a home ready to move into. All customers have their own challenges, and all can count on our special attention as specialists and our professional and personalized service.

MN: Is there any project that you consider particularly symbolic of these 45 years?
There are several projects that have marked us over these 45 years, both in terms of private homes and hotels. In terms of recent private home projects, we really enjoyed working on one in Cascais, and there are also some in the Paredes and Greater Porto areas that were equally satisfying. In terms of hotels, we can’t leave out the Hotel da
Boavista in Foz do Porto, which we are constantly renovating, thePremium Hotels, and the Hotel Ships of the Douro Azul group.

MN: What can we expect from Decorações Gina in the coming years?
In the coming years, Decorações Gina promises to continue to keep up with market developments, always bringing its customers the best trends and products. We also aim to reach even more customers by launching a new online store so that we can bring our products to more and more people and further afield. We will certainly keep curtains as our brand image, but we will continue to offer everything for your home, from lighting, carpets, blinds, wallpaper, decorative pieces, furniture, and everything else you could dream of.

MN: What does reaching the 45-year milestone mean for the company?
It is an honor and a huge responsibility to reach 45 years of existence. All the experience we have acquired means that our customers demand much more from us, and rightly so, and it means that we always strive to be at the forefront and satisfy our customers in the best way possible.

MN: What message would you like to leave to customers and partners who have been with Decorações Gina since the beginning—and to those who are yet to discover the brand?
To all our customers and partners, we would like to say a big thank you for the trust you have placed in us over these 45 years and for being part of our history and contributing to our growth. Our success is also theirs. For those who are not yet familiar with the brand, I would like to invite you to come and visit us. We offer professional and personalized service, we have the latest market trends to make your home a place where you enjoy being and feel comfortable, and all this at the best prices. Come and visit us, you won’t regret it and you will certainly be as happy as our current customers already are.