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TheBuzz Erika Engle |
Hawaii kine stuffs
to make a splash in Taiwan
Hawaii manufacturers can get a foot in a door 10,000 miles away. Nearly 3,500 doors, actually.
7-Eleven Taiwan, owned by Taiwan-based President Chain Store Corp., is planning a "Hawaii Products Month" and is looking for made-in-Hawaii products to feature.
The state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism is acting as an initial point of contact, but will not handle product selection.
"For the first go-round we're just trying to identify who the manufacturers are, get more contact with them and make them aware of what's going on," said Richard Bahar, business development manager for DBEDT. It has sent out e-mail alerts to subscribers of its Trade Invest Monthly publication as well as to county economic development organiza- tions.
"7-Eleven has such a very extensive presence in Taiwan ... that if you are able to meet their criteria it means you'll get a lot of exposure in a very short time," he said.
The company is going to do additional things to promote Hawaii, including round-trip giveaways. It is looking for candies, snack items, health and beauty products, "anything that's uniquely from Hawaii, with a real strong Hawaii identity."
The items must be made in Hawaii.
Hawaii Food Industry Association Executive Director Ed Thompson, who learned of the promotion when contacted by TheBuzz, called the opportunity "spectacular."
The overseas 7-Eleven promotion is "a great opportunity for Hawaii-based businesses. Access to new markets, Taiwan would be an excellent market." The organization stages the annual Made in Hawaii Festival, which features local goods and grinds from all islands.
Many HFIA members are also members of the Hawaii Food Manufacturers Association, but one needn't be a member of any organization to apply.
"It's really exciting," Bahar said. "We're hoping our manufacturers will be able to meet the stringent requirements 7-Eleven has in quantities and price."
Specifications and application information is available from DBEDT Economic Development Specialist Alex Ho at 587-2760 or via e-mail at alexho@dbedt.hawaii.gov .
DBEDT officials expect a 7-Eleven buyer to arrive at the end of the month, "provided we can round up enough product for him to take a look at," Bahar said.
The deadline for contacting DBEDT and hooking them up with samples is "ASAP, within the next week, ideally," he said.
The 7-Eleven Taiwan promotion is tentatively scheduled for June, but there will be others opportunities, such as an upcoming home shopping network promotion in China.
"If you make an impact on 7-Eleven in Taiwan, we could be looking at 7-Eleven in other parts of the region, too," said Bahar.
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Erika Engle is a reporter with the Star-Bulletin. Call 529-4302, fax 529-4750 or write to Erika Engle, Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., No. 7-210, Honolulu, HI 96813. She can also be reached at: eengle@starbulletin.com