Using funding from the State Trade Expansion Program (STEP), SweetGrass Trading recently became the first company in Nebraska to conduct research with Rural Export Center Rural America’s Intelligence Service for Exporters (RAISE). The RAISE program provides rural U.S. companies with one-on-one market intelligence from a team who identifies customized industry-specific insights and contacts. SweetGrass will utilize this program to research potential markets for the organization’s new brand, Tribal Tea Company.
A major part of the RAISE project involves identifying target markets using market indicators and interactive weighting to compare various regions and countries all over the world. After choosing six countries of interest and potential, RAISE team members will conduct a poll with leaders in each country.
After the polls are conducted, SweetGrass and the RAISE team identifies three countries with the best potential. The RAISE team will provide an in-depth report on the final three countries to help SweetGrass select which is the best fit. According to the RAISE website, “the three country market research report provides granular insight into which country you can most easily take actionable steps to increase exports.”
“Working with RAISE will help our team develop strategic export plans,” Adam Bowen, director at SweetGrass said. “The RAISE Matrix has already provided valuable information on countries that may be a good export partner for SweetGrass, as well as Tribal Tea Co.”