Rising Above: How Determination Became Our Greatest Asset in the Face of a Global Crisis
The COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly caused disruptions in various aspects of our lives, including the way we conduct business. In these times, it is inspiring to see organizations and individuals rising up to the challenge and finding innovative solutions to keep moving forward.
Our team at FTA International is no exception. Despite the uncertainties and challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, we remained steadfast in our commitment to connect South and Central American and Caribbean importers with American exporters in our annual USAPEEC Americas Expo trade event.
The USAPEEC Americas Expo was in its second year in 2020. This event was slated to be in person for its second year, however, with COVID-19 precautions and the safety and well-being of our attendees and staff as our top priority, we explored various options and ultimately decided to host the event in an online format. FTA team members worked tirelessly for a total of three months, ensuring not only standard participation procedures but also internet capabilities and platform access for more than 163 participants. Given the inconsistency of internet access and even power stability across the Latin American and Caribbean region, FTA made system testing and backup a priority for all participants.
The event was a huge success, with 76 agricultural importers taking part in over 250 meetings with 27 USAPEEC member companies in attendance. The attendees expanded their knowledge of the U.S. poultry industry and likely impacts of COVID-19 during seminars with investment executive Christine McCracken of Rabobank and international poultry economist Dr. Paul Aho of Cornell University.
While the online format was a departure from our usual in-person Americas Expo event, we were excited to embrace this new format and provide a platform for our attendees to connect and engage with one another. The online event also allowed FTA to reach a wider audience and provided an opportunity for those who may not have been able to attend in person to participate. Specifically, American exporters found the show particularly useful for connecting virtually with geographically distant customers and especially appreciated the event's exclusivity with its focus on purchase-ready large quantity importers.
Early sales estimates totaled $7.5 million in new business coming directly from this event, with a significant additional boost in recurring revenue for attending companies. Moreover, USAPEEC, the sponsoring commodity association, found event statistics especially useful as the FTA team was able to provide granular user data on meeting length, webinar attendance, and meeting follow-through on a company by company level. This success is a testament to the power of determination and innovation in the face of adversity.
While the COVID-19 pandemic has certainly presented its share of challenges, it has also provided opportunities for growth and breakthrough. FTA International is committed to continuing to find new and creative ways to connect and engage with our exporters, both online and in-person. Through unprecedented times, we have learned to remain determined, resilient, and dedicated to finding new ways to adapt to uncertainty and continue our dedication to providing our exporters with the best possible service, support, guidance, and resources required to be successful and build a promising future for themselves and their businesses.