It is one thing for Lively Linseed Products to conquer Australia, but taking on the Asian market has the potential to elevate business to another level.
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The Mullaley-based, family enterprise run by owner-operators Jacqui and Chris Donoghue has grown exponentially since its launch in 2007. The linseed products are now exported around the world including an insatiable Asian market.
Their growing success was last week recognised with presentation of the Excellence in Export award at the New England North West Regional Business Awards. They will now compete at the NSW Business Chamber state finals in Sydney on November 25.
The award was on the back of much “perseverance” but a big sense of accomplishment.
“It took us two years to get our first contract in Asia,” Mrs Donoghue said. “But we’re now in a higher-end supermarket.
“We’re looking at getting more export into Vietnam, Singapore and mainland China. But [China] is such a big country, we’ve only got our toe in the water at the moment.”
The all-Aussie company has been relentless with its marketing. It has tapped into the hugely popular Weibo and Wechat Chinese social media platforms and Jacqui was learning Mandarin to help traverse the language barrier.
She said awards add integrity to their product overseas and reinforce the “clean, green” image which Australian produce was building in Asia. They were also a lucrative marketing opportunity and their success at last month’s Gunnedah business awards had already attracted buyer interest in Taiwan.
What makes good business great, was a good grounding and the domestic market was just as important to these international up-and-comers, as their foreign pursuits.
“We wouldn’t be where we are today without local business,” she said. “We do have a big support base here that is propelling our business. It doesn’t happen in isolation.”
Regional business chamber manager Joe Townsend said it was fantastic to see local business exporting to the world and succeeding.