LA Style With Trade Connect

LA Style With Trade Connect
D e c e mb e r 2 0 1 2
Exploring overseas opportunities.
Los Angeles is not just about good
2:00 p.m. with an introduction by the
weather and beautiful people. It is the
Port’s Deputy Executive Director for
home of fashion and apparel and has a
Internal Relations, Cynthia Ruiz.
claim to be the leader in contemporary
was followed by a welcome from Deputy
wear, active ware and surf ware. It has a
Chief Terry Hara of the Los Angeles
strong base of creative talents and a
Police
niche in quick turn merchandise.
Manganiello, SVP and Market Executive,
Department
and
This
John
Business Banking, Bank of America.
Fashion and export are two very complex
Register
Today!
Over a hundred attendees were present
in the half-day session to learn about
resources available. Still more joined
the holiday mixer that followed. The
200+ guests in the CMC theater
networked, asked questions and
exchanged business cards over light
refreshments.
Jean Coronel
Port of Los Angeles
425 S. Palos Verdes St.,
San Pedro, CA 90802
310 732-7765
jcoronel@portla.org
subject matters, especially for small and
The main event was started by Jorge
medium size business entrepreneurs.
Silva of Rancho Santiago Center for
But on December 6, 2012, the creatives
International Trade Development (CITD).
and the analytics came together in a free
“There are 27 million small businesses in
Trade Connect export workshop at the
the US and only 260,000 export (less
Fashion Theater of the California Market
than 1%); and 60% of those who export,
Center (CMC) where experts presented
only export to one country.” Rachid
on issues such as export readiness
Sayouty of the U.S. Department of
education, finding markets overseas,
Commerce (DOC) opened his remarks
getting paid, documentation and logistics
saying “Our global network of trade
and other key resources. This workshop
professionals opens doors that no one
was hosted by the Fashion Business
else can.” He reminded the crowd that
Incorporated and the Bank of America in
as a U.S. government agency, the DOC
collaboration
have relationships with foreign govern-
with
the
Port
of
Los
Angeles Trade Connect program.
The
workshop
started
promptly
at
“There
are
27
million
small
businesses in the US and only
260,000 export (less than 1%); and
60% of those who
export, only
export to one country.”
explained by Joyce Sloss of the Los Angeles World
Airports and Jim MacLellan, Director of Trade Developments and business leaders in every key
provides reliable financing to businesses
global
involved in international and domestic
market.
Patrick
Rodriguez
ment at the Port of Los Angeles.
announced that the Export Working Capi-
trade.
tal Program of the U.S. Small Business
exporters get immediate access to their
Legal
Administration can guarantee a maximum
international sale proceeds by discounting
Property. Farah P. Bhatti of BuchalterNemer discussed
gross loan limit $5,000,000, with no
their BA prior to maturity.
topics like “Do you need a License to Export?” She shared
minimum.
With
acceptance
financing,
Another highlight of the workshop was a presentation on
Considerations
for
Exporting
and
Intellectual
He continued to say that the
that only a very small percentage of exports and
maximum SBA guaranty to the lender is
re-exports require a submission of license application to
90%.
the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Export Administration; the types of products requiring a license are
Marianne Hughes of the Export-Import
determined by technical characteristics, destination, end
Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank)
use and end
Los Angeles can dominate the global
shared that she worked with an exporter of
property
industry given its orientation to fast
high-end apparel of women’s and chil-
trademarks.
fashion and its strategic geographic
dren’s clothing who used contract manu-
location.
designs
facturers in four states including California
STEP
grant
Nicole Williams, of the Mayor’s Office of Economic
inspired by the sun, light, nature and
and New York. The client was exporting
booths
will
Development for the City of Los Angeles, introduced
easy living, the LA Style will be
mostly to 5 European buyers in 5 markets.
available for extremely
“Designed/Made in Los Angeles”, an initiative launched at
sought after; thanks in part to the
The exporter took out an Ex-Im Bank multi
With 26 years in the customhouse broker-
economic rates (up to 50
the MAGIC trade show in Las Vegas last August. The
world’s obsession with
-buyer policy in 2009.
Since then their
age industry, Mark Hirzel invited the group
% off for California small
goal is to raise the profile of Los Angeles brands domesti-
celebrities ! The nearby Los Angeles
export sales went from $125,000 to $4.8
for a short stretch and then proceeded to
businesses). An exclu-
cally and around the world. Nicole introduced the hang
World Airports and the largest port
million, increasing their total sales by 23%.
define logistics terminologies. He provided
sive California Pavilion
tag logo that identifies products that originate from Los
complex in Northern America in the
The firm is now serving 79 buyers in 24
information on what a forwarder can do
will be created with the
Angeles, and explained how companies can apply to use
San Pedro Bay provide easy access
countries with United Kingdom, Hong
and offered tips on how to find a good
generous support of the
the logo. This positive news created a sense of excitement
to world destinations with tremendous
Kong
freight forwarder.
HKTDC !
among participants.
competitive advantage. With the rise
markets.
With
fashion
Hollywood
and
Canada
as
their
largest
Mark represented the
user.
She also touched on intellectual
considerations
of
copyright,
patents
and
Forwarders Association.
expanding middle class - numbering
expert, Christian Miller, pointed out that a
Of course cargo cannot go from point A to
timely new program for local companies to join the Hong
in the in tens of millions – there is an
bankers’ acceptance (BA) is a unique,
point B without the services of the airport
Kong World Boutique fashion trade show between January
enormous market for “Designed/Made
negotiable
and the port. The port services were well
and
the
in Los Angeles” apparel. These are
exciting times!
program,
be
made
Stella Poon of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council
rapidly
The Bank of America export financial
America,
tance from the California
Los Angeles Customs Brokers and Freight
of “developed” countries in Asia and
Latin
14th to 17th. With assis-
financial
instrument
that
(HKTDC) and Bronwen Madden of CITD announced a
“Our Global
Network of Trade
Professionals Opens Doors that No One
Else Can.”