For any business, it is vital to recognise the opportunities as well as the threats in a recession. In this new, fortnightly column Stroud District Council and the Federation of Small Businesses will examine the big issues from a local perspective, highlighting local successes and all the free help that is available. We begin by looking at exports. Could the weak pound open doors to new markets for your business?

by Andy Read FIRMS across the Stroud district are being advised to use the quieter summer months to think about how exports can help their business.

For small and medium-sized firms, exporting can seem daunting. However bosses at two local firms are enjoying significant benefits from overseas markets.

Tudor Rose International is an export market management company based in Thrupp and Dudbridge. Its turnover has almost doubled in the last six years. General manager Sarah Whiting said clients include companies which do have an export department but only dealt with Europe or English speaking countries.

In a recession they look at a map and see lots of other potential markets.

"Our 24 years of experience is vital in combating the minefield of different cultural, religious and legal demands," she explained.

"For example in the Middle East you require a production and an expiry date on all products, instead of just a ‘Best Before’ date."

As for the weak pound, Sarah explains the benefits. "We often sell in Euros. The current rates have generated funds which we invest in promotions to ensure we maximise sales."

There is a huge array of free, specialist advice to help companies take advantage of these markets.

Business Link in the South West is a free business advice and support service with advisors across Gloucestershire. It can be contacted on 0845 600 9966 or www.businesslink.gov.uk.

Its spokesperson advised: "Deciding how to enter an overseas market will be a crucial part of your export strategy. You should not assume that you can take the same approach in all cases."

The top ten UK export countries are: the USA, Germany, Netherlands, Ireland, France, Belgium-Luxembourg, Spain, Italy, Sweden and a new entry in 2008, China. The USA alone took £34.7 billion of UK goods last year, an annual increase of 8.3 per cent.

One of the first ports of call for Stroud-based Kitchen Garden when considering exporting its hand-made Cotswold jams and preserves, was the government-run UK Trade and Investment (UKTI).

Its Passport to Export programme offered invaluable advice and contacts, along with funding to attend trade fairs including one in New York.

Currently 15 per cent of the Kitchen Garden produce is destined to end up on foreign kitchen tables.

"In the last six months we’ve really begun to pursue every export lead much harder," explained co-owner Barbara Moinet, from Oakridge Lynch. "We’ve entered new markets in Germany and Denmark and we’re just about to begin exporting to Singapore."

"The beneficial currency rate does not mean we are making more money per product," explained Barbara’s husband and co-owner Robin Moinet. "However, as the products can be offered at more competitive prices in foreign shops, we are selling more of them."

According to UKTI, although the global downturn has affected businesses, over half (51 per cent) were experiencing increasing demand from abroad. From its regional base in Bristol, UKTI’s International Trade Adviser can provide professional advice to any business in the Stroud District.

Its online toolkit offers specialist advice at www.uktradeinvest.gov.uk, or you can telephone 0845 6060969.

UKTI chief executive Sir Andrew Cahn said: "Exporting can be the lifeline that pulls companies through the downturn. Yet many miss out because they don't know where to start."

Profile: Tudor Rose International – Kingfisher Business Park, Thrupp THE next time you are on holiday and are amazed to see a packet of Wagon Wheels in a Kuwaiti café, or a packet of Mr Kipling cakes on a Sydney shop shelf, it’s all thanks to 50 staff working at two factories in the Stroud valleys.

Tudor Rose International specialises in building popular British brands in global markets.

It started in Stroud 24 years ago exporting Cadbury biscuits to the Middle East.

An impressive array of blue chip clients now ensures leading brands such as Lucozade, Sure deodorant, Bisto and Cathedral City cheese can be found across 78 countries.

Although sales grew by 15 per cent for the first six months of 2009, general manager Sarah Whiting recognises the company has not been immune to the current economic climate.

"Much of our business is based on UK tourists and Brits living abroad. People have less money and are more careful with their expenditure. Consequently value-for-money products benefit," she said.

An important factor in this, is the company’s decision to invest heavily in its staff and facilities when markets were thriving. At its Dudbridge site there has been a major investment in developing a chilled and frozen facility.

"This is a people business. Our staff are our biggest resource," said Sarah. That is just one of the reasons why the company recently received the prestigious Queens Award for Enterprise.

Profile: Kitchen Garden, Salmon Springs, Stroud.

FROM making preserves in their country cottage kitchen, to employing 18 staff who produce 10,000 jars per week, Stroud-based Kitchen Garden really has discovered the recipe for success.

The artisan food company, run by husband and wife team Robin and Barbara Moinet, began life in 1989 when Barbara and a friend decided to continue their family traditions of ‘bottling and pickling everything’.

Their first customers were a local butcher and the former Mother Nature store in Stroud. Fed up with their home constantly smelling of vinegar, they moved to part of the former Stroud Brewery at Salmon Springs from where their jams, chutneys, marmalades and condiments can be found in kitchens from Dursley to Dubai.

And all of this has been achieved with a policy of not selling to any of the major supermarkets.

"You can certainly grow more quickly by going into supermarkets," admits Barbara, "but it makes you very vulnerable. The supermarket can then own you. It can completely dictate terms and methods and you can be de-listed at a moment’s notice."

"We believe in actively supporting the independent retailer in their mission of offering the consumer a personal service and a range of unique products."

Locally their products are available from Harvest Store in Wotton, the Kendrick Street Deli in Stroud and Williams in Nailsworth.