PRESENTED BY ARKPAD Founded in 2010 with the support of partner Sylvio de Barros, creator of the vehicle sales portals WebMotors and iCarros, the marketplace is visited by both professionals and individuals looking for ideas to renovate their own homes. The success of the last six years has paved the way for partnerships. Grupo Abril, which publishes CASA CLAUDIA, has just acquired part of the platform. On Arkpad, objects and materials are presented through photos of spaces decorated by professionals. On the website, images of objects, furniture and materials are organized into catalogs divided by type of space. By clicking on the image, the user identifies both the architect who designed the project and the suppliers used. It is a service for both end consumers and professionals who are looking for more than just a reference, a practical way to find and buy what they are looking for. The website also works as a network connecting professionals in the field, who can present their services and sell their products. “The agility is unmatched and this is reflected in the dynamics of consumption,” says Salomão. “Before, we had to go to the stores and do a real hunt. With a good product platform, you can select the best pieces for your project and, in half an hour of research, save a week of work,” he says. Also the owner of CASACOR, recognized as the largest and most comprehensive exhibition of architecture, interior design and landscaping in the Americas, Abril intends to launch joint initiatives between the two brands starting in 2017. “Arkpad brings the same principles of CASACOR to the digital world”, says Tiago Afonso, marketing director of Grupo Abril. For Salomão, the investment means an increasingly better product. “With this merger, we will increase our audience. We will be a mix of Pinterest and a catalog, all in an organized and democratic way,” says the architect. With so many new features, it has never been easier to put that dream home decoration project into practice.
