Business
Exporting from the Vale... Finding new business and new markets is crucial in these difficult times. What could we be doing differently? Our maze business in Durweston is 80 per cent export, across 40 countries. Until recently, this has been
fee-based design services for visitor attractions open to the public, such as mirror mazes and landscape hedge mazes. With covid-19 and the resulting tourism shut-down, capital budgets for visitor attractions have collapsed for the foreseeable future,
REMOV ALS & STORAGE
ARMISHAWS SMALL MOVES Its not the size that matters it’s the way you move it! Armishaws operate a 昀eet of small removal vans throughout Dorset, Somerset and Wilshire catering for those clients who only need a small removal but still want the expertise provided by a larger removal company. With prices ranging from £300 for a local move our services are tailored to meet your needs. Blandford (01258) 453898
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Dorchester (01305) 783795
Shaftesbury (01747) 828680
Wincanton (01963) 34065
with Adrian Fisher MBE
certainly longer than our capital reserves can carry on ‘empty’. We have faced massive disruptions to our markets over the years, but never across all countries simultaneously. Before, global regions rose and fell, and we could switch focus; this year, they all moved together. Our fresh marketing strategy is to build on our strengths and unique selling points (USPs), identify specific markets with sniper-style precision, and devise a viable business plan. What to offer: things that can be provided either electronically or delivered direct to the customer’s home. We are expanding from what we have achieved in the past, to scale up rather than start from scratch. We have an acclaimed world class 50-challenge puzzle for the 2021 e-Toy Fairs, to be bought online globally and delivered to each customer’s address; it will also have an online games version. We are working with experienced marketers in the fashion, couture and high-end art markets, to bring our Geometrica range of geometric art designs to sophisticated international markets such as headscarves, tablecloths and interior
fabrics, as well as limitededition fine art prints and custom-made mosaic murals. For other companies in the Vale, I see a strong export future for many foods and beverages with high quality ingredients, great product design, a lively narrative and effective distribution in targeted export markets. Tasty and refreshing lowalcohol or no-alcohol drinks, from the Vale of Avalon (the vale of apples) could achieve exports of cider and ginger beer to countries that don’t want driving and alcohol to mix, or simply forbid alcohol. Our wonderful cheeses. And so much more. From Dorset electronically, the whole world is the same distance away. Email, Skype and Zoom involve no cost. English is the world’s language for business. I hope this conveys some of the experience, challenges and opportunities of Exporting from the Vale. Adrian Fisher was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the Queen’s 2020 Birthday Honours, for services to International Trade and the Creative Industries. Next issue: Which countries to target
