smoyers

A few weeks ago, I spent a good deal of time with small business owners who came to the United States from other countries. They're names, no doubt, were familiar: Peter Chan, Kenny Lee, Dr. K. Charles Cheung, John Cai.

They're the reasons Cape Girardeau is diversified, and they stand as the first cog in the wheel of globalization. As our regular readers will know, I am writing an occasional series on globalization, the phenomenon that allows information to flow at the speed of light and corn to be sold from the Bootheel to Asia.

But as I was thinking about it and talking with these good folks who have scratched and clawed their way to this country to make a buck and enjoy the freedoms that so many American-born citizens take for granted, I came up with a few thoughts.

I believe -- and the Missouri Department of Economic Development will agree, I assure you -- that it is more important now than ever for Missouri businesses to gain a competitive edge. If the recession is over, like many experts say, we are still dealing with the effects nationally and on the state level.

That makes globalization all the more important.

Like John Mehner told me, not only are we competing for added businesses and expansion with our neighboring states, we are competing internationally. Our state, and our city, has a diversified economy and both are attractive in the international marketplace. If you doubt me, call the folks at Nordenia (from Germany) or BioKyowa (from Japan).

It's a local and global market that many businesses can be successful in. The DED tells me that just last year, Missouri businesses exported $6.88 billion in products. This number actually reflects the slowest year for exports since the Asian economic crisis in 1998, when sales totaled $6.83 billion. But Missouri is not alone; most states have experienced a downturn in exports.

Our top export partners include our neighbors, Canada and Mexico. Those countries are followed by Belgium, Japan, the United Kingdom, Singapore, Brazil, Argentina, Germany and China. Together, these top 10 export countries account for 68.1 percent of Missouri's total exports, according to the DED.

Recently, the DED's Office of International Marketing announced a partnership with the U.S. Department of Commerce to promote Missouri through an Internet-based marketing service called BuyUSA. Affiliates of this program gain access to foreign contact lists from around the world through e-mail. The lists contain more than 17,000 potential foreign buyers.

As an affiliate, Office of International Marketing staff members will receive e-mail requests from that comprehensive list, enabling them to closely target foreign businesses seeking to expand or trade. The e-mail lists will be used to cultivate leads and match foreign products and companies with Missouri businesses.

This program is an excellent marketing tool that focuses on global promotion. OIM staff members will be able to take these leads and personally call on companies. By specifically identifying and targeting these potential partners, we will be able to help them find a Missouri business that will fit their needs, whether they are seeking a product or service. The BuyUSA program should open a lot of doors into the international marketplace for Missouri businesses.

Globalization is here, and with the increasing push to bring foreign businesses to Missouri, the world is going to continue to become smaller and smaller.

Get Ziggy with it

Ziggy's Consignment will be opening Wednesday at 16 N. Frederick St.

Most will remember that as the old Stinnett Produce Building or, if you're older, as the old bus station.

Owner Michele Sedlock, who recently started running her own ice cream truck, said she will sell new and used antiques, jewelry, spices, honey, baby toys and some clothing. She decided to open a consignment shop after Empire Trade World closed March 10.

"I had a booth there and when he closed I thought I'd start my own," she said. "Then I'd heard the woman at Cast-A-Ways was retiring, too, and it seemed like a good time."

She said the location will be advantageous because it's near Teen Challenge, Discount Corner and the Salvation Army.

"It sort of creates a series of shops people can stop in at while they're out," Sedlock said.

Mag maneuvers

The American magazine is apparently in no danger of losing ground or readers to Web-based competitors. According to a new survey by InsightExpress, a Stamford, Conn.-based online market research firm, American magazine readers like the fact they can take their reading material to bed and the restroom or on the train.

The company's online survey of 500 people found that less than a third, or 32 percent, read any magazines online. The reasons: 54 percent said it was inconvenient and 47 percent said they disliked the pop-up and banner ads on the magazines' Web sites. Other factors included the subscription prices, cited by 43 percent, and eye strain, cited by 23 percent.

However, online publications didn't get a bad rap all the way around. Fifty-nine percent of the people polled said the magazines were timely in their content.

Quickly

A few mall updates. Westfield Shoppingtown manager Jim Govro tells me construction is going to start on Aeropostale, the trendy youth clothing store, this week. He also says that Prime Wireless company is opening Wednesday.

"Money" magazine reports that the best-performing stocks of the past three months are, in order, Crown Cork & Seal (CCK), Boyd Gaming (BYD), Sulzer Medica ADR (SM), Office Max (OMX), and SeeBeyond Technology (SBYN). But over the last year they are, in order, InVision Technologies (INVN), Hollywood Entertainment (HLYW), Flir Systems, (FLIR), Action Performance Cos. (ATN) and Alliance Gaming (ALLY).

Scott Moyers is business editor for the Southeast Missourian. Send your comments, business news, information or questions to Biz Buzz, 301 Broadway, Cape Girardeau, Mo., 63702-0699, e-mail to smoyers@semissourian.com or call 335-6611, ext. 137.