Tobacco Associates Inc

TRADE SERVICING MISSIONS/INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIRS: TOBACCO ASSOCIATES TRADE SERVICING MISSIONS PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR MARKET EXPLORATION, CUSTOMER SERVICING, AND INFORMATION GATHERING. PERSONAL MEETINGS WITH CUSTOMERS AND POTENTIAL CUSTOMERS ALLOW TA TO OBTAIN RELEVANT INFORMATION REQUIRED TO ADEQUATELY ACCESS MARKET OPPORTUNITIES FOR U.S. FLUE-CURED EXPORTS. FRANK DISCUSSIONS ARE HELD ON A COUNTRY'S DOMESTIC MARKET SITUATION AND ITS SHORT AND LONG-TERM INDUSTRY OBJECTIVES. IN RETURN, TA HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLAIN ITS MISSION AND CAPABILITIES AS WELL AS DISCUSS AREAS WHERE TA MAY BE OF ASSISTANCE IN THE UTILIZATION OF U.S. FLUE-CURED. TYPICALLY, ONE TA STAFF MEMBER MAKES A TRIP TO A TARGETED REGION WHERE MULTIPLE MEETINGS ARE HELD IN MULTIPLE COUNTRIES. THE DURATION OF THE TRIPS ARE USUALLY 18-21 DAYS, DEPENDING ON THE REGION VISITED.TO REACH A MUCH BROADER AND DIVERSE AUDIENCE, TA TYPICALLY COMBINES ITS TRADE SERVICING MISSIONS WITH PARTICIPATION IN INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIRS. THE TRADE FAIRS ARE ATTENDED BY MUCH OF THE WORLDWIDE TOBACCO INDUSTRY, INCLUDING: LEAF SUPPLIERS, MATERIAL SUPPLIERS, EQUIPMENT SUPPLIERS, MANUFACTURERS, FLAVOR COMPANIES, ETC. THE FAIRS PROVIDE AN EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY FOR TA TO DISTRIBUTE INFORMATION REGARDING ITS PROMOTION PROGRAMS, ESTABLISH NEW CONTACTS, STRENGTHEN EXISTING CONTACTS AND OBTAIN USEFUL INFORMATION. IT ALSO ALLOWS TA TO KEEP ABREAST OF THE LATEST TECHNOLOGIES AND TO MEET WITH PRODUCT SUPPLIERS WHOSE ASSISTANCE IS ESSENTIAL IN IMPLEMENTING ITS TECHNICAL PROMOTION PROGRAMS. TRADE FAIRS USUALLY LAST 3 DAYS WITH ANYWHERE FROM 25-75 COMPANIES EXHIBITING AND ARE ATTENDED BY HUNDREDS OF COMPANY OFFICIALS.

PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT: PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT ENCOMPASSES THE TECHNICAL ASPECTS OF PROMOTION PROGRAMS AND ACCOMPLISH THE FOLLOWING: 1) FURTHER THE UNDERSTANDING OF THE UNIQUE QUALITY CHARACTERISTICS OF U.S. FLUE-CURED, 2) DEMONSTRATE HOW U.S. FLUE-CURED GRADES CAN BE UTILIZED TO IMPROVE THE SMOKING CHARACTERISTICS OF A BLEND, 3) DEMONSTRATE HOW CERTAIN BLENDING TECHNIQUES ARE USED TO MAXIMIZE THE POSITIVE CHARACTERISTICS AND MINIMIZE THE LESS DESIRABLE CHARACTERISTICS OF EACH GRADE IN A BLEND, 4) PROVIDE ADDITIONAL TRAINING AND INFORMATION IN THE USE OF CASING AND FLAVORING ADDITIVES TO ENHANCE THE CHARACTERISTICS OF TOBACCOS AND 5) PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY TO JOINTLY DEVELOP NEW BLENDS FOR OUR CUSTOMERS OR POTENTIAL CUSTOMERS.TA RELIES ON THE TECHNICAL EXPERIENCE OF ITS INDEPENDENT CONSULTANTS TO PROVIDE ON-SITE TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE. TYPICALLY, FOUR TO SIX OFFICIALS ARE TRAINED DURING A 7-10 DAY PERIOD.