One small business owner is not overly concerned about a slumping U.S. economy or slower domestic sales. Mrs. Kathy Green, owner of Creative Concepts in Irondale, Alabama, says export sales are helping them weather the current economic storm in the U.S.
Creative Concepts, which produces “Pucker Powder” brand candy in 13 sour and 5 sweet flavors, also manufactures a unique interactive dispensing machine that lets kids of all ages design their own tasty concoctions. These machines have been installed in candy stores, movie theatres, convenience stores, water parks, video stores and even a few zoos. Given the broad appeal of this creative candy concept, it was only a matter of time before foreign companies took notice.
In 2007, Kathy began receiving several foreign inquiries for her “Pucker Powder” candy and dispensing system, but she was unsure how to respond, and skeptical about some of the inquiries that arrived via their website. That’s when Creative Concepts turned to the Alabama International Trade Center, a partnership program between the U.S. Small Business Administration and the University of Alabama, for help.
Kathy, her husband Scott, and marketing guru Mark Cline have taken the initiative to travel overseas, attend confectionery trade shows, and meet with prospective customers. To date Creative Concepts has signed up six foreign distributors, and sells to a dozen different countries throughout Europe, Asia/Pacific, and the Middle East. They are in the process of evaluating markets in Africa and Latin America.
Their research and tenacity have paid off. “Labeling and import requirements for food and agricultural products can vary greatly by country, even within the European Union. Creative Concept’s ability to comply with these regulations was crucial to successfully entering these markets,” according to Michael Brooks of the Alabama International Trade Center.
Setting up distributors overseas has been another key to their success. The International Trade Center helped by providing financial background checks on potential distributors and training on how to respond to and evaluate foreign distributors.
“Our products have been very well-received in the U.S., but right now our company’s growth depends on the expanding youth demographic found in many foreign markets,” said Kathy. That’s a sweet deal and one that continues to propel this firm’s unique position in overseas markets. Creative Concepts has a workforce of 35 individuals.
Creative Concepts, Inc.
Kathy Green, Owner
1500 Georgia Road, Building A
Irondale, AL 35210
(205) 838-0570
Company Website: www.puckerpowder.com