FIRM SPREADS WINGS INTO THE GULF STATES
A Presteigne company is hoping to spread its wings still further on the international scene after a trade mission to the Middle East.
Mangar International's overseas division sales manager, Andrew Stevenson, will be flying the flag for their specialist healthcare products in Dubai over the weekend. The family-owned business has been involved in creating patient moving and handling products for 25 years.
But it is the first time that the company has exhibited in the Middle East although they have previously shown their wares in America, Japan and Germany and have dealers in Australia, New Zealand, Holland and Scandinavia. The exhibition, which will begin on Saturday and continues until Tuesday, should be a showcase for the firm which has already received some good feedback from its pre-show marketing.
Lifting cushion
Mr Stevenson will be taking with him a selection of the company's bathing products to help moving and handling people of all ages, an emergency lifting cushion used by ambulance services and care and retirement homes for lifting injured and non-injured people off the floor. He will also be taking a 'porter', a special wheelchair for use in x-ray and diagnostic departments.
"We already have a large number of people who want to come and see us, as a result of the pre-show marketing that we have been doing," said Mr Stevenson. "And we have a number of potential distributors that may be interested. The company began as a cottage industry and now employs about 50 people."
"I was employed in January 2004 to develop the international markets for us," he continued. "Last year we opened distribution networks in America and Canada and now we are hoping to do the same in the Middle East. The whole process is to grow the business and expand it. We would hope that it would create more jobs in Presteigne but it is a long term process".
The trade mission has been organised by Wales Trade International, the overseas trade arm of the Welsh Assembly.
Mid Wales Journal, Friday 11 February 2005.
11.2.2005