Success Stories

WATCH: Tom Zawislak of B&W Tek (Newark, Delaware) shares his experience working with Export Delaware to launch products in South Korea. Instead of hiring an independent consultant to help connect B&W Tek with customers in South Korea, the company worked with Export Delaware. The Export Delaware team helped identify potential customers, and then set up meetings for Tom in South Korea. Through the process, he learned how to represent his product and business appropriately, and even made some good sales!

Program Stats

The STEP Grant Program, administered by Export Delaware, is designed to increase the number of Delaware small businesses that export, increasing sales, and ultimately generating jobs in Delaware. Here are some of our accomplishments as of 2020.

• 96 Delaware small businesses have participated in the STEP Program administered by Export Delaware

• $48 million in new export sales have been achieved

• $280 million in additional export sales are projected in the next two years

• 27 Delaware jobs have been created

Testimonials

“Excellent services provided by [Export Delaware] for qualifying and matching the right contacts in Ireland. The institutions we met in Ireland have the right institutional balance (city government, academia, industry, business, national agencies) and technological competencies (smart technology, innovation, research) for potential long term growth.”

Stephens The,
Rex Company

“The trade mission was well planned and executed. we look forward to rapid penetration of the safety/security, pharmaceutical and education markets and customers as a result.”

Tom Zawislak,
B&W Tek
Newark, Delaware

“We really feel that great value was gained from this program, and Beth Pomper was really helpful as our liaison.”

Kris Taylor,
Contribute Cloud
Wilmington, Delaware

With help from the Export Delaware and the STEP Grant, these Delaware businesses are growing their international sales.

• An environmental firm in Newark was awarded a contract in Mexico for $100 Million. This is a direct result of several business trips and assistance from the State of Delaware’s trade rep, Miguel de Regil.

• A manufacturing firm achieved $3.6 Million in new export sales as a result of participating in a trade show in France. Their booth and travel fees were covered in part by the STEP Grant, administered by Export Delaware.

• A bioscience firm in Newark achieved $100,000 in new sales and added one full time job in Delaware as a result of travel to China in 2017.

• In 2018, a laser company in Newark, Delaware achieved new sales in both the UAE ($30,000) and South Korea ($50,000) and added a part time job.

• A chemical engineering firm achieved $1,000,000 in new sales after participating in a business trip to Canada, and nearly $500,000 in new sales from a business trip to Mexico with Export Delaware.

• A woman-owned business in Wilmington, Delaware added 15 new job positions as a result of new sales activity in South Korea and Mexico from contacts made from business trips with Export Delaware.

Success Stories

Business trip with Export Delaware lands Solar Unlimited five new major contracts in Mexico

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George Chambers identifies himself as a “solar power ‘peddler’” in a recent interview with Delmarva Now. However, Chambers is much more than that—the 70-year-old businessman is the driving force behind Lewes-based Solar Unlimited, a provider of solar-powered energy systems.

Serious leads, new high-level connections made on recent business trip

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Sanjay Kapuria wasn’t sure what to expect when he agreed to join a Delaware trade mission to Mexico earlier this fall. He knew that Mexico held opportunities for Jaykal LED Solutions, his lighting business, but wondered whether the trip would be worth the travel costs.

Efforts to build business partnerships with produce buyers in Canada already yielding result

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Representatives from major Canadian retailers are in talks with Delaware farmers to add their produce to Canadian shelves, the first results in the wake of spring trade missions designed to increase Delaware exports to the north and a recent visit by Canadian buyers in Delaware.

How GS-Tek grew their exports nearly 33 percent

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Delaware’s GS-Tek is achieving international financial success by entering new markets. The Newark-based chromatographic products manufacturer has worked closely with the U.S. Commercial Service’s Philadelphia U.S. Export Assistance Center (USEAC) to identify key international trade shows and trusted business partners.