UPS has awarded its first-ever Growth through Global Trade Award to a US steel company that hasexpanded its international orders to 15% of revenues within just four years.
In collaboration with World Trade 100 magazine, UPS announced SteelMaster Buildings as thewinner of the new award. Based in Virginia Beach, Virginia, the company manufactures, designs andsupplies pre-fabricated arched steel structures. It began exporting in 2006, and internationalorders are now 15% of its revenues.
The new Growth through Global Trade Award is awarded to a US small- or medium-sized businessthat is effectively exporting to better thrive and compete in today’s ever-changing global businessenvironment, UPS stated.
“SteelMaster’s motivation to pursue sales abroad came as a result of heavy domesticcompetition,” said Emma Granada, International Business Development Manager for SteelMasterBuildings. “We recognized that high quality products from US companies like ours were in greatdemand in markets where they could be sold at competitive prices. By optimizing our logisticschain, we have been successful at lowering our landed costs and driving up demand for ourstructures.”
Currently, SteelMaster exports to 40 countries spanning the Caribbean, Central and SouthAmerica, Africa, Europe and Asia and also has distributor relationships in 50 internationalmarkets. The company plans to increase exporting in coming years by expanding efforts in LatinAmerican and African countries, as well as other emerging markets that need steel structures in thewake of natural disasters, such as earthquakes, flooding or hurricanes.
“SteelMaster Buildings was a clear stand-out for the Growth through Global Trade Award,” saidDale Hayes, vice president, UPS small business and retail marketing. “SteelMaster understands thetrue economic impact of exporting, and has smartly grown its business overseas through sellingdirectly to customers and by developing a robust network of distributors.”
UPS launched the Growth through Global Trade Award in August 2010 and eligible businessesincluded those with fewer than 500 employees that are already exporting to at least oneinternational area. Applicants were required to submit an online nomination form and a 200-wordessay explaining how exporting has been their competitive advantage in a world of change.
UPS stressed that it is a longtime advocate of the benefits of international commerce. CEO ScottDavis serves on the President’s Export Council which advises President Obama ongovernment policies and programmes that affect US trade performance, and discussestrade-related issues.
