Ohio Company Named Exporter of the Year by U.S. Export Promotion Magazine

Hartzell Hardwoods of Piqua, Oh., has been awarded a 2008 ThinkGlobal/ Commercial News USA Exporter of the Year award from ThinkGlobal Inc., publisher of Commercial News USA, the official export promotion magazine of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Commercial News USA is a catalog-style magazine distributed to an estimated 400,000 readers in 176 countries worldwide. Awards are given to one U.S. company in each of 15 industry categories. Privately-held Hartzell Hardwoods was named Exporter of the Year in the Agriculture category.

Winners were chosen based on the total number of documented export deals completed in 2006, total percentage increase in sales in 2006 compared to 2005, exports as percentage of total sales, the company’s commitment to exporting, the company’s commitment to customer service, and the company’s innovation and originality in marketing products or services. To be eligible for the award, a company must currently be exporting from the United States.

Hartzell Hardwoods is a producer of kiln-dried hardwood lumber. The company is known throughout the world for its top quality walnut and thick stock white oak, and red oak lumber. The company reported a 24% increase in export sales from 2005 to 2006 followed up by an additional 34% increase last year. Exports now represent 70% of the company’s total sales.

Founded in 1875, Hartzell Hardwoods began exporting in the early 1900s. “Hartzell Hardwoods has taken an aggressive approach to marketing and exporting their products to over 35 countries around the world,” said Kelly Hostetter, sales manager of Hartzell Hardwoods. “We have grown our international business by more than 250% in the last five years alone. Our philosophy has been to be diverse enough around the world so that when one market is down there are always others to fill the gap. With 70% of our current business on the export market, we are not content to be idle as we are constantly looking for new markets and opportunities around the world.”

Gregory Sandler, publisher of Commercial News USA, said that Hartzell Hardwoods’ success is indicative of how American companies can benefit from exporting. “With 95% of the world’s market outside the U.S., there is significant growth opportunity for American manufacturers and service providers. Current economic conditions—particularly the low value of the dollar—have made American products very appealing to foreign buyers. There is no better time than now for U.S. companies to export their goods and services.”

More information about the Exporter of the Year awards is available online at www.exporteroftheyear.com.