The Business Exchange Swindon & Wiltshire Edition 30: April/May 2017 | Page 25

EXPORTING
By Fiona Scott, Features Editor
EXPORTING -
Do your research and seek advice.
Exporting can be a fantastic way to grow and develop a strong,
sustainable business and Wiltshire has many examples of
companies trying to do just that.
With much uncertainty in the
business community as the UK enters
negotiations to leave the EU, any
positive news around exporting (or
anything else in business) is to be
welcomed.
Currently in Europe our most
successful market is Germany which
is second only to the USA on a
global scale. In a recent speech at
a conference in Berlin (March) the
Secretary of State for International
Trade Dr Liam Fox said:
“The United Kingdom may have
voted to leave the European Union,
but we will never leave Europe. Our
partners across the continent will
remain among our closest friends and
allies in commerce and in security.
We want to realise a new relationship
with Europe based upon open trade
and mutual prosperity.”
A vision we must all hope for –
whatever we personally feel about
Brexit.
Another highlight around
exporting and trade in March was the
inaugural meeting between the trade
ministers of The Commonwealth in
London to explore ways in which
there can be increased collaboration
on trade.
This could be good news as latest
figures show intra-Commonwealth
trade has grown faster than the
global average over the past decade.
and is projected to be worth around
$1 trillion a year by 2020.
According to the International
Monetary Fund (IMF),
Commonwealth countries whose
imports of goods and services
are likely to grow fastest over the
next five years are Mozambique,
Bangladesh, India, Brunei, Ghana and
Sierra Leone.
But how are companies that export
from Wiltshire doing against a climate
of uncertainty and change?
ELEMENTS FOR LIFE
Founded by Dan and Paula Knowlson,
Elements for Life specialises in raw chocolate products.
The business was created in 2010 after a
chance remark by Paula about creating
a raw chocolate kit – raw choc olate had
been important in their lives as both of
them believe in good nutrition. These
products are free from dairy, gluten,
soya and refined sugars.
Within a few years the business had outgrown their home
and they moved into a purpose-built facility just outside
Bradford on Avon. Their products are available to order
online and through wholesale stockists in the UK.
In the last year, they have started exporting to Europe,
mainly Germany and France.
Dan said: “We’d been thinking about exporting for some
time. We were part of the Entrepreneurial Spark initiative in
Bristol – an accelerator programme. Someone came from the
Department of International Trade to give a talk and we had
a chat afterwards. Then we were contacted by a company in
Germany, got our first order and it started there.”
Dan says the DTI has appointed a trade adviser who
has visited their Wiltshire premises more than once and
is on hand to offer advice around intellectual property,
e-commerce and many other aspects of trading overseas.
As for Brexit: “I’m not bothered,” Dan said. “Businesses
in this country are going to do business with countries inside
and outside of the EU whatever happens. I’m just doing
what I do and I’m going to continue to do that. If tariffs
come along later, I will have to take that into account at
the time.”
For more info:
www.elementsforlife.co.uk
@MakeRawChoc
GripIT Fixings
Founded by entrepreneur Jordan
Daykin, it’s a product known as ‘The
World’s Ultimate Plasterboard Fixing’
and can hold extreme weights up to
330kg from a small picture frame to
large kitchen cabinets. The company has
its HQ near Trowbridge.
GripIt Fixings are now available in more than 3,000 UK
stores and in 32 countries in Europe, including Poland and
Germany. The products have recently moved into countries
outside the EU including South Africa, Dubai, Australia and
New Zealand and will be moving into Home Depot in the
USA in June.
Jordan said: “Some of our challenges have been
gaining the correct shipping locations or ports as well as
making sure we have correct costings before any deal is
made. Another challenge many businesses will face is the
potential communication barrier – as a company we need
to make sure they receive the correct information and we
are also receiving it back.”
Jordan’s Top Tips:
• Make sure you research the market -
is there a need for your product?
• Consider shipping costs, logistics and
overseas taxes
• Adjust your marketing strategies and
POS accordingly
• Ensure your product is protected with a
patent overseas
• Create an exporting plan to set your goals
and routes out
• Test the water, you can always sell online
overseas at first, to fact find the best market for
your product
For more info:
www.gripitfixings.co.uk
@gripitfixings
THE BUSINESS EXCHANGE 2017
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