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KERN BUSINESS JOURNAL
Februar y/March 2014
Export Tech University comes to Kern County
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By Glen Roberts
alifornia exports are booming, with volumes reaching pre-recession levels. California produce, such as Kern County’s bumper crops of almonds and pistachios, are capturing world markets. But doing business overseas can be complex and challenging. The California Manufacturing and Technology Center, along with the Bakersfield Export Assistance Center, Fed EX, banks and other service providers are pulling their resources together to offer Kern County firms a chance to learn and to do business overseas. ExporTech provides executives and business owners strategic focus and a structured process through which they create and implement export growth plans for achieving accelerated export sales growth. It takes tremendous competitive advantage and considerable resources to stay ahead in today’s domestic marketplace. While it’s a good market, it’s worthwhile to consider expanding across global markets. Demand for U.S. products is positive and the competition can be less daunting. In fact, 95 percent of the world’s market exists beyond the United States. The “Made in USA” label and U.S. quality are highly regarded throughout much the world. And, more often than not, the “Made in California” label garners even more interest. Consider the case of Louroe Electronics, the leading U.S. manufacturer of audio monitoring systems, microphones and base stations. A long-standing business in the San Fernando Valley, Louroe recently lifted to another level of performance with the help of the California Manufacturing and Technology Center. Louroe CEO Richard Brent noted that “CMTC and its program of teaching an innovative technology development methodology has propelled Louroe to faster time to market with new products that exceed the customers’ expectations.” Already exporting to 22 countries, Louroe took advantage of CMTC’s ExporTech program, which is a series of three one-day sessions over 12 weeks. Through the program, Brent developed a strategic plan to increase sales through exporting. The export assistance program “gave Louroe the package of information and training that allowed us to develop a sure-footed international trade strategy for export. We are poised and focused for growth, where we are convinced that new jobs and stability in financial performance will flourish,” said Brent. Since completing ExporTech, Louroe sales have increased 46 percent. Export sales account for nearly 25 percent of its total sales. For information about CMTC and the ExporTech program, contact CMTC’s Elizabeth Glynn at (310) 984-0728, eglynn@cmtc.com; or Glen Roberts at the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bakersfield Export Assistance Center at (661) 637-0136 or glen.roberts@trade.gov.
Glen Roberts is the director of global markets for the Fresno and Bakersfield offices of the U.S. Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration.
Bakersfield Californian file photo
A child eats ice cream during last summer’s inaugural Kern County Nut Festival, which was held at the Kern County Museum.
2014 Nut Festival will build on its first year’s success
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he first Kern County Nut Festival in June 2013 drew almost 10,000 people from in and outside of Kern County. They came to enjoy wonderful nutty food, lots of music and entertainment, cooking demonstrations, games, agricultural exhibits and even a “running of the nuts” to kick off the festival. The stars of the festival were almonds, pistachios and walnuts – all products grown in Kern County. And festival organizers are doing it all over again on June 7, 2014. Sponsored by the Kern County Museum Foundation and a host of top notch corporate, non-profit and individual sponsors and participants, the 2013 festival earned $165,000 for educational programs and historical exhibits at the Kern County Museum. Sponsorships for the 2014 festival are now being recruited. Already many of the 2013 sponsors are jumping back on board. “The response from the community was so overwhelmingly positive and the event was so successful. People had a really great time and enjoyed the fun, foodfocused atmosphere, plus they learned some things about our amazing agricultural industry,” said Beth Pandol, one of the “head nuts” for the 2014 event. Other head nuts include Sheryl Barbich, Linda Hartman and Tracy Walker Kiser. Roger Perez, the museum’s executive director, is the “top nut” in charge of the festival. Organizers are hoping to beat the 2013 attendance
and earnings figures with the goal of enabling many organizations and businesses to earn dollars at this regional festival. The 2014 festival marketing team plans to advertise out of county to draw attendees, much like the Gilroy Garlic Festival does each year. The festival is currently looking for vendors and exhibitors. Local restaurants, caterers, non-profit groups, merchants and crafts vendors are invited to submit an application. Since the focus is on locally grown nuts, food vendors are required to serve foods made with nuts. Pecans have been added to the mix for 2014, since pecans are also grown in Kern. Exhibitors must also have some nut connection – either through healthy eating/living, agriculture, or other related industry. In 2013, there were 46 exhibitors, 25 merchandise vendors and 32 food vendors. Some 51 non-profit organizations participated in the festival. This year, a new area will be created called the “Nut Mercantile.” Vendors of packaged nuts, nut candies, cookies or other nut products can sell in this central area. Nut Mercantile applications are available with the general festival applications. Also new in the 2014 will be food tents featuring vendors of nutty foods. Last year, food booths were scattered throughout the museum grounds. By placing all food booths in one or two main areas this year, attendees can easily browse and sample products. Applications for sponsorship or vending can be found at the Kern County Museum website or at kcnutfest.com. — Kern County Museum Foundation