Pictured left to right: Congressman Mike McIntyre with Michael Brodeur, Vice President, son of President/Founder Dale Brodeur, and Phil Minard, Director, Charleston U.S. Export Assistance Center

Bradford Products Recognized for Sales to Europe, Caribbean

On Monday, May 22, Congressman Mike McIntyre presented the U.S. Commerce Department’s Export Achievement Certificate to Bradford Products LLC of Wilmington, NC. The award recognizes companies that have used the services of the Commerce Department’s U.S. Commercial Service to make their first export sale or open a new fexport market.

Bradford Products manufactures spas, therapy tanks, and pools. Sixty percent of their business (and growing) is to commercial end-users (hospitality, fitness centers, professional sports teams, etc. The remainder is to residential end-users. The company's sales have grown steadily over the past few years and they now have reps in Florida and Toronto, Canada. Their exports represent about 10-20% of total sales (mostly to Caribbean Islands/Barbados, Mexico, Canada).

According to Mr. Mark Miller, Bradford's Comptroller, the company began building its export sales starting with the successful signing of a Licensing Agreement with an Irish partner in 2003. Bradford Products signed a 5-year agreement to share their manufacturing technology in return for royalties on the sales of stainless steel spas in Ireland and throughout Europe. The companies have established website links to one another and share in marketing costs such as participation in trade shows, etc. Phil Minard, Director of the U.S. Commercial Service office in Charleston, SC, met with Bradford Products on a visit to the Wilmington area and subsequently provided background information on IPR Protection in Europe. In addition, he gave officials at Bradford background reports on Ireland which informed the company on issues with licensing in Ireland, and further guidance from the Basic Guide on Exporting related to Licensing and Joint Ventures. The US Commercial Service is pleased to recognize Bradford Products LLC with this Export Achievement Certificate for their success in Ireland.

The Charleston 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-size U.S. businesses sell their products and services globally. The agency's worldwide network includes 105 U.S. Export Assistance Centers throughout the United States and more than 150 international offices. In 2005, the U.S. Commercial Service helped U.S. businesses generate export sales worth more than $23 billion.

For more information on the U.S. Commercial Service, call the U.S. Export Assistance Center in Charleston at (843) 746-3404 or visit www.export.gov/cs.