Monica Richardson of Palladio Beauty Group realizes that there is a large market for her company’s personal care products outside of the U.S. “U.S. products have reached their all-time peak in international demand and we must not ignore this trend,” she said. The Hollywood, Florida company exported for four years before applying for Market Access Program (MAP) Branded funds from the Southern U.S. Trade Association (SUSTA) three years ago. The company’s export sales have increased from $1.5 million in 2004 to $2 million in 2005, going up to $2.8 million in 2006, for a 40% increase in one year.

Richardson first learned about MAP Branded from the U.S. Commercial Service in Ft. Lauderdale, which honored the company with its Exporter of the Year award in 2007. Palladio qualified MAP Branded under the pilot program for Diversified Agricultural Products (DAP), which included personal care items, alternative energy products, and building materials made from U.S. agricultural sources. Using matching funds from MAP Branded, Palladio has been able to increase their international visibility by exhibiting at trade shows, advertising and adding other promotional activities to their international marketing plans.

“We’ve been able to increase our export sales tremendously by entering unexplored markets and make our relations stronger with our current customers by allowing them to have a better budget to promote the line in their countries,” Richardson said. She points out that the additional marketing Palladio has done with MAP Branded funds has had a ripple effect on the company’s export capabilities. “By increasing export sales, our cash flow has become more constant. [Exports have been] our main source of inventory increase in our warehouse. We’re able to hold more stock and ship more efficiently and promptly.”