LEAPING BEYOND LOCAL
LEAPING BEYOND LOCAL A TRIO OF MANITOBA BUSINESSES OFFERS ADVICE ON HOW TO GROW BUSINESS INTERNATIONALLY
BY JIM TIMLICK
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MBiz spoke with three Manitoba-based companies about the success they have enjoyed in international markets, how they achieved it, the chal- lenges they faced along the way and what advice they have for other companies looking to do likewise.
n today’s ultra-competitive business environment, com- panies need to look beyond their own backyard to achieve significant market growth. “I think that’s just part of the game now,” says James Reimer, general manager of Morden- based Decor Cabinets Ltd.
“If you want to be a growing company, you have to look inter- nationally. It’s not something to be scared of. It’s just a matter of going in with your eyes open and understanding what the risks are and what speed bumps there might be along the way. It’s a necessity to grow.”
Decor Cabinets was es- tablished in 1977 and has grown to become one of the leading manufactur- ers in Canada for custom cabinetry for kitchens and bathrooms. The com- pany’s initial market was the Canadian Prairies but in 1994 it targeted the American Midwest as part of its first foray into the U.S. marketplace. OPENING THE DOOR TO EXPANSION
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WINTER 2024
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