Idaho Export Council Honors Four Idaho Companies for Export Achievement

5/5/2009

Kirk Adams, President of Idaho Export Council Talks Trade, Will Honor Idaho Companies For Export Achievement

PCS Edventures, AERO Specialties, Ground Force Manufacturing and Meyer Industries Recognized for International Sales

Boise, ID: Exports are big business for small and midsized Idaho companies. That was the message from Kirk Adams, President of the Idaho Export Council, who will present the U.S. Commerce Department’s Export Achievement Certificate to local companies at the World Trade Day to be held at the Grove Hotel on May 6, 2009. Those companies being recognized are PCS Edventures, AERO Specialties and Ground Force Manufacturing. The award recognized companies that are business clients of the Commerce Department’s U.S. Commercial Service, and that have used their services to make their first export sale or open new foreign markets.

“Most jobs in America are created by small companies. Small and midsized companies like PCS Edventures, AERO Specialties and Ground Force Manufacturing comprise almost 97 percent of U.S. exporters,” said Kirk Adams, President Idaho Export Council.

PCS Edventures based in Boise has been selling curriculum development products for K-12 science and technology education internationally for a number of years. In 2005, they enlisted Amy Benson of the Boise Export Assistance Center to help with expanding their international business. The company has relied on the Export Assistance Center to provide them with research for potential international markets as well as taken advantage of the Gold Key Service which matches companies with potential distributors. With the help of the U.S Commercial Service, PCS Edventures has experienced significant international growth and today boasts programs in 15 different countries. Since PCS has been working with the Commercial Service, international sales have increased from about 2-4% of their business in 2006 to an estimated 18% in 2009. Approximately 25% of PCS’s current staff is employed today as a direct result of their international expansion.

Ground Force Manufacturing located in Post Falls began working with the US Commercial Service for assistance in increasing their international sales in 2004. To accomplish their goal, Ground Force participated in trade shows in China and Chile with the Idaho Department of Commerce, participated in trade missions with the Governor to Mexico and Asia, as well as personally met with distributors in various markets to ensure maximum visibility. As a direct result of exporting, Ground Force Manufacturing has created approximately 30 new jobs for their company. With help from the State of Idaho and the U.S. Commercial Service, Ground Force has increased their export sales from approximately 25% in 2001 to 50% of their total sales today.

AERO Specialties located in Boise was established 20 years ago and began exporting in the mid-90s. In 2004, they teamed up with Amy Benson of the Boise Export Assistance Center for help with their exporting efforts. AERO Specialties has credited Amy for becoming more proactive and organized in their exporting efforts, as well as providing a tremendous amount of international resources for the company to utilize. AERO Specialties has experience significant success in the EU due to all of their products being CE certified. This success has also increased their visibility to countries outside the EU, who see the CE Mark as an indication of quality and safety, as well. By improving their marketing efforts with the help of the Commercial Service, AERO Specialties has increased their export sales from approximately 2% of its sales in 2004 to 21% today.

PCS Edventures, AERO Specialties and Ground Force Manufacturing are a few exceptional examples of Idaho companies who have experienced success in foreign markets with the help of the U.S. Commercial Service. Additionally, Meyer Industries was recognized as a recipient of the nationwide Commercial News USA Exporter of the Year Award. The Commercial News is the official export promotion magazine of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Meyer Industries manufactures The Rodenator and markets the device as a ‘green’ and humane alternative to pesticides in eliminating burrowing rodents such as gophers, groundhogs, prairie dogs, ground moles, and voles. The propane/oxygen-fueled device is used by farmers, ranchers, pest-control companies, nurseries, golf courses, orchards, vineyards, and municipalities to prevent the destruction of commercial and private crops, plants, flowers, fields, and yards. Founded in 2003, Meyer Industries began exporting in 2005. Currently, 44% of the company’s total revenue is generated from international sales to the United Kingdom, Canada, Mexico, Australia, and New Zealand.

PCS Edventures, AERO Specialties, Ground Force Manufacturing and Meyer Industries are a few exceptional examples of Idaho companies who have experienced success in foreign markets with the help of the U.S. Commercial Service. Last year, the U.S. Export Assistance Center in Boise, Idaho helped local companies make over $25 million in export sales. The Boise U.S. Export Assistance Center is part of the global network of the U.S. Commercial Service, a Commerce Department agency that helps small and medium-sized U.S. businesses sell their products and services globally. The agency’s worldwide network includes 108 U.S. Export Assistance Centers throughout the United States and more than 150 international offices.

For more information on the World Trade Day event visit www.exportidaho.com or the U.S. Commercial Service, call the U.S. Export Assistance Center in Boise at 208-364-7791 or visit www.export.gov.

News tag(s): Business Technology Exports