Kutztown University SBDC Client Success Story
SBA Eastern Pennsylvania’s 2020 Exporter of the Year
Kutztown, Pa.– The U.S. Small Business Administration announces RADIUS Corporation in Kutztown is the Eastern Pennsylvania Exporter of the Year for 2020.
Radius was established in 1983 by Kevin Foley, an architect who had the idea to take a mundane product – a toothbrush – and revolutionize it to be simply put, better by design: better quality, better looking, better for the environment, and deliver better results. In 2011, his daughter Saskia Foley became the CEO, and in 2014 assumed the role of President, making RADIUS a certified women-owned enterprise.
RADIUS innovates, designs, engineers, and manufactures specialty toothbrushes and USDA organic-certified toothpastes for adults and children, and complementary products such as travel cases and dental floss. With a world-wide target market of highly educated and high disposable income consumers, RADIUS customers expect their products to be on the cutting edge of design. Famous customers include Cher, Whoopi Goldberg, Martha Stewart, and Kourtney Kardashian. In 2018 the company expanded and moved its operations and manufacturing to a restored silk mill in Kutztown where they have their own injection molding and bristling machines. Today they have expanded their products to include organic pet dental care.
Exporting comprises about 40% of RADIUS’s sales and over 50% of corporate profits. Exports are an essential element of their core business, growth strategy, profitability, and corporate expansion. Major export markets are South Korea, Taiwan, China, Vietnam, United Kingdom, Sweden, Lithuania, Latvia, Russia, Ukraine, Chile, Peru, Brazil, and Canada. RADIUS is taking advantage of opportunities to expand sales into Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and other Persian Gulf counties.
“It’s a privilege to recognize the achievements of women-owned and second-generation owned Pennsylvania small businesses like RADIUS Corporation. Exporting allows RADIUS to pursue an additional source of revenue and profits,” said Steve Dixel, SBA Eastern Pennsylvania District Director. “Export sales translate into more job creation and more regional employment opportunities to serve the rural region surrounding Kutztown. SBA and our resource partner Kutztown University Small Business Development Center (SBDC) are proud to play a role in helping them grow internationally and succeed.”
As a manufacturer of a premium, niche product in a small town, RADIUS must remain lean, innovative, and creative to build new and profitable exports. They maintain active digital and social media platforms, an aggressive sales lead and follow-up effort, and constantly review to lower shipping costs. Careful selection of the right exclusive distributor based on their marketing plan, reputation, customer relations, and quality of communications is RADIUS’ key to bulk sales and its future to export growth in the Pacific Rim, European Union, and the Persian Gulf.