MONTREAL – July 11, 2024 – Highly encouraged by the fact that its 15th sales mission to Quebec last May will generate $2.5 million in economic spin-offs, RDÉE Prince Edward Island is recruiting a dozen Island businesses – manufacturers, processors and others – to participate in its 16th sales mission to the Montreal region this fall. The registration deadline is Aug. 15, 2024.

Coordinator Robert Maddix, who is RDÉE PEI’s manager of entrepreneurial initiatives, points out that participants (who must be able to speak French) have the option of participating virtually via meetings with potential buyers by audio-visual teleconference the week of Oct. 28 to Nov. 1. Those wishing to attend in person will do so from Nov. 11- 15. (Travel takes place on Mondays and Fridays, followed by sales meetings from Tuesday to Thursday.)

« Each participant will receive group and individualized training to help them prepare their sales pitch, » Maddix explains. « Then, each participant will have the opportunity to meet 10 to 12 carefully targeted potential buyers from Quebec. Depending on the participant’s needs, they could be wholesalers, retailers, distributors, exporters or others. It’s up to the participating entrepreneur to explain precisely what he or she is looking for to Clientis, the match-making firm. »

REIMBURSEMENT

The mission program pays for the training and matchmaking services. In addition, it reimburses participants 40 percent of their transportation, lodging, meal and cab expenses. Hotel reservations will be made for the entrepreneurs; transportation to Montreal as well as to and from the 12 business meetings will be organized by the RDÉE.

Typically, a participant ends up investing $600 to $800 in expenses, in addition to his or her time. « That’s still a pretty small investment when you consider that the typical participant makes sales of $10,000 to $100,000 in the medium term as a result of participating in our mission. Some of our biggest sellers have even sold for close to $1 million, » points out Maddix. « This doesn’t include sales that were made later or that will be made in the future, since we only tabulate sales resulting directly from each mission.”

The coordinator finds it an excellent and comparatively inexpensive way to explore new export markets. There’s literally no limit to the kind of Island products or services that businesses can try to sell.

OTHER BENEFITS

Some 125 companies took part in RDÉE’s first 15 sales missions. Some have had to hire additional staff to increase their production capacity as a result of their mission; others have had to expand their production plants. A few have hired Quebec salespeople. Several have established excellent relationships that have led to ongoing renewal of sales contracts.

All interested parties are asked to contact Maddix as soon as possible at robert@rdeeipe.org.

These missions are organized in partnership with Innovation PEI and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency.

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PHOTO 1: Jordan Rose (second from right), general manager of Cornwall-based TrackTile, took part in the sales mission to Montreal last spring to identify potential new customers. These included Québec International. Pictured, from left, are Salim Yaye of Québec International, Mohamed Rizkallah of Clientis (who organized all TrackTile’s business meetings), Jordan Rose and Félix-Antoine Chavanelle of Québec International.

PHOTO 2: Another of the participants in the spring 2024 Montreal sales mission, Tom Margeson of Healthy Berries in Montague, enjoyed some excellent meetings with a dozen potential buyers. He is pictured during his meeting with Ms. Sevplay of Exo Fruits Alimentation Fine in Montreal.

 

For further information, please contact
Robert Maddix
Sales mission coordinator
RDÉE Prince Edward Island
(902) 314-1714
robert@rdeeipe.org