The U.S. Small Business Administration has named the owner of ImmunoReagents Inc. in Raleigh the N.C. Exporter of the Year for 2013. Dr. Ann Black was nominated for the award by the N.C. Department of Commerce’s Director of International Trade Jean Davis and Briles Johnson, director of Women’s Business Center of North Carolina at the N.C. Institute for Minority Enterprise Development. The criteria for the award include: increased sales, profits and/or employment due to exporting, creative overseas marketing strategies and introduction of unique trading relationships, products or services.
ImmunoReagents has been boosting its overseas sales in recent years by establishing relationships with new distributors in new markets. In a seven-month span beginning in May 2012, ImmunoReagents, an antibody manufacturer, brought on eight new international distributors in markets like China, France and Germany. The company experienced a 240% increase in export sales growth during 2012.
Knowing that there is no substitute for face-to-face meetings, ImmunoReagents CEO Ann Black used a SBA State Trade and Export Promotion (STEP) grant to join John Loyack with Commerce’s International Trade Division at two major international tradeshows, including BioSpain in Bilbao, Spain and MEDICA in Dusseldorf, Germany. Not only did Black meet with several new prospective partners, but she was also able to meet with four existing European distributors that she had not previously met in person. These meetings helped further strengthen relationships aimed at increasing international sales for the company.
“We are proud to be honored with this award,” said Black. “Our export success is direct result of working the excellent export resources from the federal government and the State of North Carolina.”
On June 13, N.C. Commerce Secretary Sharon Decker gave the keynote address at the The Support Center Small Business Week awards luncheon, where ImmunoReagents’ award was presented. Read more.