GOING GLOBAL—BUSINESS SUCCESS STORIES

 Sisters that turned their hobby into a million dollar business

While shopping for scrapbooking supplies in 2003, Caroline and Deborah Lau became frustrated with the lack of unique items available. They created Maya Road to try to fill that void, and used Alibaba.com to help them jump-start their business. Caroline says, “We taught ourselves international trade with Alibaba.com’s help and it was easier than we could have imagined.”  Today, Maya Road merchandise is carried by 1,500 stores worldwide, and the sisters have designed and released more than 1,000 different products.

A new direction for a 100-year old firm

Bell Performance has produced fuel additives for engines of all sorts, from cars to lawn mowers, however the company operated mainly with customers in the United States.  In fewer than three years, Gene Rumley, Bell Performance’s international marketing manager has grown the company’s product distribution to span more than 30 different countries.

A small company selling flags out of the basement now has 100 employees

Vice President Kevin Hickey says, “Alibaba.com has helped us grow by enabling us to purchase high-quality low-cost products from abroad with little or no research costs.”

Today, Online Stores is expanding at an incredible rate with more than 100 employees. When asked if Online Stores, Inc. has any success secrets during the current recession, Kevin replied, “What recession? Our sales are up 20 percent and we are making more money than ever.”

A ball and a dream lands in the hands of thousands

About four years ago, Mary Pembleton, a speech therapist in New Jersey, decided to integrate a ball into her sessions with kids that became an instant hit.  Then she had a dream where she heard the phrase “You have to create this ball, because no one has time to make things anymore.”  Thus Mary and her husband Gregg, created the Thumball, hand-sized balls inscribed with messages.  To generate a prototype, they used Alibaba.com and started to deal with overseas suppliers.  These days, the Thumballs have crossed all type of boundaries and can now be found at the next corporate event or even a child’s preschool.  

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