N.S. Products Boston-Bound

Cheesecakes and fluorescent lightbulb eaters are among Nova Scotia's newest exports, thanks to a three-day trade mission to Boston.

Seven black Nova Scotia manufacturers set off to New England last week and returned with some major deals and several solid leads.

Dana Emmerson, president of Environmental Disposal Concepts Inc. of Dartmouth, returned from the mission having gained some great exposure and sale for 20 of his fluorescent bulb-eaters. Mr. Emmerson, who has patented technology for crushing fluorescent tubes, said the trade mission was beneficial.

"Without trade missions like this one, it's hard for businesses to set up in bigger markets like Boston," he said. "All of my meetings were very successful, and right now I'm going through the purchasing process with some new customers."

Brad Miller, owner of Classic Cheesecakes in Sydney, said the trade mission went better than he expected.

"I was able to reach agreements at all three of my meetings," he said. "Two distributors and the Market Basket (a chain of 57 grocery stores) will be carrying four of my products. Right now, I'm setting up a freight forwarder and a customs broker, and preparing the packaging for sale in the U.S."

Participants in the trade mission covered a range of manufacturers with products from hot sauces to pewter pins: Scorpio Sauces, Sydney; Pro-Pins, Halifax; Environmental Disposal Concepts Inc., Dartmouth; Addison Distributors, Halifax; TW Pultrusions, Dartmouth; United Dental Lab, Halifax; and Classic Cheesecakes, Sydney.

Bryan Darrell, Investment and Trade officer with Nova Scotia Economic Development and Tourism, said all the businesses needed was an opportunity to bring their products to new markets.

"All the companies did very well. It was a very successful mission," said Mr. Darrell. "Agreements are now being hammered out for direct franchises, distributors and other contracts. It really opened some doors for these businesses."

In addition to the good deals that were struck, a return trade mission to Nova Scotia scheduled for May looks promising, said Mr. Darrell.

"Since returning from Boston I have already had calls from businesses looking at investing in Nova Scotia. We'll still be seeing the effects of this mission six months from now."

Gary MacPherson, the director of the Office of Nova Scotia in New England, said the planning and attention to detail involved in trade missions paid off. "We had great companies with excellent products on this mission."

The three-day trade mission was organized by the Investment and Trade division of Economic Development and Tourism, the Black Business Initiative, and the Office of Nova Scotia in New England.

Businesses interested in taking part in the return visit in May can contact Bryan Darrell at 902-424-5921.