Local brewery looks to grow business through export sales

December 18, 2018

Big Storm Brewery, a favorite local craft brewery, recently ventured into the world of exporting after participating in Global Tampa Bay’s export sales mission to Chile.

In this Business Observer article, Mike Bishop, founder of Big Storm, shares his experience from the trip and the Gold Key Service Matchmaker program, which facilitates face-to-face meetings between U.S. exporters and importers.

“They went out and set up some fantastic meetings,” Bishop said. “They set me up with three or four different grocery chains that represent 80% of the grocery market in the country. It was a whirlwind — meeting after meeting after meeting. I was exhausted afterward.”

The Chile mission resulted in more than $3 million in projected sales with Big Storm contributing $200,000 – 250,000 once Bishop’s deals go through.

Even though it takes some legwork, Bishop encourages local businesses to consider exporting. “I would recommend that people don’t get overwhelmed by it… just take it one step at a time and focus on trying to find an importer who wants to work with you, adds value to your product and can sell your product the way you want it to be sold.”

Read the full Business Observer article.

And if your company is interested in exporting, Global Tampa Bay is hosting an export sales mission to Panama in March. Download the Gold Key Company questionnaire or contact Madison Lawson at mlawson@tampabayedc.com.