Batteries Direct wins export award
By ROGER ADKINS, radkins@newsandsentinel.comArticle Photos
CHARLESTON - A Parkersburg business has been commended for its presence in the international market.
Batteries Direct Inc. of Parkersburg was one of several West Virginia businesses to receive the Governor's Commendation for International Market Entry. Gov. Joe Manchin, the West Virginia Export Council and the U.S. Department of Commerce gave awards to 42 West Virginia companies that export their products to more than 50 countries across the globe.
"Our exporters are a source of pride for West Virginians," Manchin said. "For the first half of 2008, West Virginia's exports have grown 43 percent, outpacing the national rate of 18 percent. We are on track to surpass $5 billion in exports this year. I thank our exporting companies for their efforts and congratulate them on their success in proving West Virginia can compete in the global marketplace."
Lynn Fuller, owner of Batteries Direct, said he was honored to receive the commendation. He said this is the third consecutive year his business has received the award. He said the West Virginia Development Office has been a big help in pushing Batteries Direct into the international market.
"We've worked with the West Virginia Development Office, especially Debra Martin. They are responsible for doing trade missions with foreign countries. What they'll do is they'll put together everything from the air fare, meeting with delegations and setting up appointments with people interested in doing business in the state of West Virginia," Fuller said. "We feel it's an honor to be a small business in the state and to be able to do things in a very big way."
Fuller and his business ships batteries of all kinds across the country and to several international markets, including the United Kingdom, Kenya, Thailand, Canada and Australia.
In 2007, West Virginia companies exports amounted to almost $4 billion in plastics, chemicals, coal, automotive components, machinery and other industrial consumer goods. This was an increase of nearly 23 percent over 2006. Exporting companies contribute about 12,000 jobs to the state's economy, according to the United States Department of Commerce.
Manchin presented company officials the Governor's Commendation for International Market Entry, an award plaque that, in the tradition of displaying the first dollar a business earns, instead includes currency from each of the countries to which the companies export.
Other area businesses receiving the award were J & M Industrial, Inc. of Millwood for doing business in Australia, China, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, and Troy LLC of Harrisville for doing business in Cambodia.
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WVCommissioner
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10-16-08 5:51 AM
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Way to go Battery King!
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Boazian
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10-15-08 7:13 AM
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Congratulations, Lynn. Keep up the good work.
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