Central Valley Business Times:
The Rossiter family’s business has been making shoes and boots since 1910 in Australia but is gaining a foothold in the U.S. thanks in part to an aggressive marketing effort by the Australian government.
This week, for the third year in a row, the family firm’s U.S. arm was part of the Australian Pavilion at the World Ag Expo in Tulare.
“We’re looking to try to increase our export presence,” says Neville Hayward, who was staffing the booth of Rossiter’s Pty Ltd in the pavilion.
“We’re 100 percent Australia-made and that’s quite unusual in Australia now. A lot of products have been manufactured off-shore,” says Mr. Hayward. “We do everything in Australia.”
But stacks of uniquely designed boots took up only a portion of the Down Under tent. Mr. Hayward shared the space with 17 other Australian companies seeking U.S. dollars for their goods and services.
“This sort of show and the U.S. market gives our companies, our regional companies in particular, an opportunity to diversify and to export,” says Mr. Smith. “International business is about partnerships so the Australian government and Australian companies aren’t just about coming over here and flogging their products … we’re actually here to partner with U.S. companies.”
It’s always good to see products made in country. It’s a great way to give back to their own community and their own country, even if the alternative out of country might be cheaper. When it comes to his business, as they try to export to the US as well, the fact that what they sell is 100% Australian made is also another great selling point.
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