HUGHES SAFETY SHOWER’S EXPORT CHAMPION FOR THE NORTH WEST

Hughes Safety Showers Group Sales Director, Paul Darlington, has joined an elite group of North West businessmen. As an Export Champion Paul is taking up the challenge to encourage and inspire the next generation of exporters in the region.

Paul (pictured left) has been invited to share his knowledge and experience of international business at a series of meetings to be held during 2014.

The Export Champion scheme is an initiative pioneered in the North West by the government body UK Trade & Investment (UKTI). It is promoted in conjunction with the Insider Magazine, one of the country’s leading business publications, and draws together a highly experienced group of exporters who are ready to share the secrets of their success. With help from the Export Champions, UKTI has set an ambitious target to find 1,000 new exporters in the region in 2014.

Hughes currently exports to more than 80 countries and continues to develop its global business each year. This involves increasing market share in established territories and opening up completely new territories. Paul Darlington and his team are currently exploring opportunities in the Far East and South America as well as increasing penetration of established markets such as the US and Europe.

Paul’s mantra is research, research, research:

  “Understanding the marketplace, how it operates and who needs what are the essential building blocks for success.

“Desk research is an essential starting point,” says Paul, “but there’s no substitute for first-hand experience from visits to new markets and direct contact with prospective customers. Fact finding visits not only provide valuable market intelligence but demonstrate a serious commitment to do business.”
Developing products for specific markets is also important.

“Ignore local conditions and requirements and your customer will probably ignore you. At Hughes, for example, we recognised that specialist products were needed in extreme climatic conditions. We developed tank showers with integral cooling for the Middle East and enclosed heated shower cabinets for the frozen oil fields of North America. Both are designed to ensure optimum performance in challenging conditions and both have proved to be exceptionally successful.”

“A detailed understanding of the marketplace and meeting customers’ needs with the right products are fundamental in international sales, concludes Paul.

“As an Export Champion, I will be driving home this message to aspiring exporters during the coming year and help them drive forward their businesses on a world stage.”