Millions in sales and several jobs created

MONTREAL – January 20, 2022 – « Even in the midst of the pandemic, our 10th sales mission to Quebec, held last November, was by far the most successful of all the missions we have organized in the past six years, » says Robert Maddix, who coordinates these missions for RDÉE Prince Edward Island, the provincial francophone economic development council.

« In fact, one of the nine participating companies has signed sales agreements exceeding $1 million in value. Another company is waiting to hear about a very promising bid for a $2.5 million sale, » he adds. « All of the other companies have also closed very impressive sales deals or are negotiating high-value contracts with major partners. I couldn’t be more thrilled about all of this! »

What’s even better, the coordinator explains, is that the numbers that are tabulated and quoted after each mission are only sales that occur as a direct and immediate result of the mission in question. Very often, other sales are concluded in the months and years following the missions, so they are not included in the figures.

Maddix adds that the fall mission participants had to hire at least five more employees in order to produce, supply and deliver the products required by their new contracts, meaning that a multitude of economic spinoffs are happening. It is no wonder that many of these companies want to participate in future missions.

WELL PREPARED

The coordinator believes that there is one main reason for this great success: « Our contractors prepared very well before participating in the mission. Last fall, they received one-on-one sales pitch training with the Quebec firm Clientis and really took to heart and implemented the suggestions they received. Their extra efforts obviously paid off handsomely.”

Clientis had organized a combined total of 120 meetings with potential buyers in Montreal, Quebec City, Lévis, Sherbrooke, Trois-Rivières, Val-d’Or and Toronto for the nine Island companies, which sold seafood, alcoholic beverages, food safety models, safety clothing, post-secondary training, tourism activities, software development and technologically advanced sanitary appliances. Seven of the companies (Productions Cuisine à Mémé, Navigate Food Safety Solutions, Mary Manette Seafood, Lobster PEI, Double Hill Cidery, Colège de l’Île and Atlantic Safety Wear) participated in person while the other two (EastCode eCommerce Solutions and Überloo International) participated virtually.

BUSINESS MIXER

As a new addition to the fall mission, the RDÉE organized a business mixer for about 40 business people at the upscale restaurant Le Richmond in Montreal. The event was organized in collaboration with the Chambre de commerce du Montréal métropolitain and the Fédération des Chambres de commerce du Québec, thanks to funding from the Acadie-Québec initiative of the Bureau du Québec.

All participants enjoyed the Island products (lobster, smoked herring, smoked oysters, cider and beer) that were served. « A few sales were even made during the evening’s informal discussions, which means that the investment was well worth it, » concluded Maddix.

It is estimated that total sales from the 10 missions held since 2015 are about $10 million. These missions are conducted in collaboration with Innovation PEI and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency; participating companies are also responsible for a portion of their expenses.

Encouraged by these numbers, Maddix is already recruiting 10 participants for his 11th mission, which will take place this spring: May 2-6 for those wishing to attend in person or May 9-13 for those wishing to participate in a virtual format. Companies with bilingual capacity interested in participating or learning more should contact the coordinator at robert@rdeeipe.org or 902-367-8413.

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PHOTO: From left, Emily Browning of Mary Manette Seafood, was accompanied by Françoys Bernier of Clientis when she met with three representatives from the Domaine Côtes d’Ardoise vineyard, general manager Anais Doutriaux, director Jean-Pierre Ménard and one of their employees, during the sales mission to Quebec last November.

 

For more information, please contact
Robert Maddix
Sales Mission Coordinator
RDÉE Prince Edward Island
902-367-8413
robert@rdeeipe.org