Three Atlanta area businesses, Ashton International Co., B&D Industrial Enterprises and Nioxin Research Laboratories, Inc., received new export achievement certificates from the U.S. Export Assistance Center on Sept. 9.
Center director Thomas Strauss said that these small- to medium-sized businesses are being recognized for having “successfully entered the international market.”
David Bohigian, an assistant secretary in the Department of Commerce visiting Atlanta to speak on free trade issues, presented the export achievement certificates.
All three companies are taking advantage of the center’s resources and services in establishing their export business.
Ashton International, a consulting firm with three employees in Atlanta, has utilized counseling, market research, and new customer screening resources at the export center.
The company’s consultations solve problems in importing and exporting for several companies in Chile and Brazil.
B&D Industrial, a Macon-based supplier to mining and manufacturing companies, is receiving training from the export center and the University of Georgia Small Business Development Center to implement their exporting strategies.
These courses helped the company to develop software that can be adapted to fit the documentation requirements of various countries, to add multi-lingual staff to its 350 employees, and to address the credit needs of foreign customers, according to the company’s nomination.
Nioxin took advantage of the export center’s Gold Key Service, a program that sets appointments with foreign business agents and provides market research information to maximize the productivity of meetings.
The program helped the company of 149 employees in Lithia Springs to solve issues such as managing visas and setting up distribution channels for their fine and thinning hair care products.
Companies interested in exporting their products or services should contact the export assistance center, Atlanta via their Web site, http://www.buyusa.gov/georgia/ or by phone, (404) 897-6090.