Florida Firm Wins SBA Exporter of the Year Award

April 20, 2016

(SBA) WASHINGTON, D.C. – Endoscopy Replacement Parts, Inc., of Newberry, Fla., has been named Small Business Exporter of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration. The recognition is part of the celebrations of National Small Business Week, an annual event designed to honor the best small businesses of the nation.

The award will be presented jointly by SBA Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet and Eileen Sanchez, Associate Administrator for the Office of International Trade, on May 2 during a National Small Business Week event at the U.S. Institute of Peace, in Washington, D.C.

David Peter Bello, Sr., ERPI’s founder and CEO, will receive the award on behalf of his company.

The substantial, increasing importance of exporting to the U.S. national economy cannot be overstated. In FY2015, SBA lending hit yet another record, with 1,777 loans for a total of $1.45 billion, which resulted in $3 billion in small business export sales.

Small businesses like ERPI are taking advantage of opportunities created by agreements such as NAFTA and, more recently, the Trans-Pacific Partnership. SBA is proud to actively support these free trade agreements as we help American small businesses grow and create jobs through exporting.

ERPI was launched in 1997 with four employees, much as a local provider of parts and replacement products to endoscopy repair shops in the area. Thanks to exporting, the company was able to expand and now has a staff of 14 employees, handles more than 2,000 lines of products, exports to about 70 countries in all continents, from Argentina to Vietnam, and reached sales of over $3.7 million in 2014.

ERPI won the award as SBA Exporter of the Year based on the following criteria:

  • Increased sales, profit and/or growth of employment because of exporting
  • Creative overseas marketing strategies
  • Effective solutions to export-related problems, including trade financing, payment and currency issues; market-entry and logistical challenges; and cultural differences.
  • Demonstrated encouragement for other small businesses to export
  • Volunteer assistance to other small businesses entering the export market
  • Cooperation with other businesses in the creation of export trading companies and/or introduction of unique trading relationships, products or services

banner1

Welcome to the Exporting Source

Your one-stop resource for finding help to export to new customers, to learn about government export programs, to join export-promoting trade missions, to sign up for trade conferences and training, and to link to other exporting services. Whether you're an old hand at exporting or just getting started, the Exporting Source provides a place to locate foreign customers, export financing and foreign investment assistance.

The Export Practitioner
 

Providing readers with expert reports on changes to U.S. export licensing rules, enforcement policies and regulations for defense and dual-use products and technology.

Washington Tariff & Trade Letter

Providing exclusive, behind-the-scenes news and analysis every week of U.S. trade policies, regulations and legislation, export controls, trade sanctions, and enforcement of antidumping and countervailing duty laws.

Mastering Deemed Exports
 

An invaluable video training tool that helps exporters, universities and research laboratories alert all employees to the potential fines and legal sanctions that can come from violating EAR and ITAR restrictions on giving certain foreign nationals access to controlled U.S. technology.