'Baggler' on international stage
By ELIZABETH COMEAU
Staff Writer
Kennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel 12/13/2007

AUGUSTA -- Local businessman Mark Eichenbaum is hopeful sales will more than double in the next few months, thanks in part to his participation in a gubernatorial trade mission to South Korea and Japan.

Eichenbaum also hopes that means more money -- and more jobs.

"I do have contracts with agents to represent the product in good faith, but I don't have purchase orders from them for actual products yet," Eichenbaum said. "I'm working on the translated packaging for my product now."

Eichenbaum's Augusta-based company, The Baggler Co., was one of 14 business and educational organizations on the trade mission, which ran from Oct. 27 to Nov. 3.

The Baggler is a plastic device Eichenbaum invented that makes it easier to carry multiple shopping bags. The device is now sold in seven countries, but Eichenbaum said that number could jump to as many as 12 by the middle of February if his trade talks pan out.

Industries represented in the trade mission -- Baldacci's fourth -- included education, seafood, tourism, agriculture, wood and wood pulp, landscaping machinery, information technology, law, consumer goods and building products.

The Maine International Trade Center, a Portland-based nonprofit that organizes the trips, says the meetings between Maine businesses and potential product distributors in the Asian nations are expected to generate $3 million in sales in the next year.

The center, which has been organizing the trips for 10 years, chose Japan and South Korea because both are among the top five countries importing Maine exports, which include education and food products.

"If we double our sales, more people need to be hired," Eichenbaum said. "Being part of the governor's trade mission helped me because of what it represented in terms of his status among the Japanese society."

If Gov. John Baldacci's most recent trade mission abroad is as successful as years past -- the sales generated by the previous three trade missions are pegged at about $12 million, according to the Maine International Trade Center-- Eichenbaum's hope of doubling his company sales may become reality.

"This has been a very exciting time for my company," Eichenbaum said. "As far as Mainers go, I think we're all very excited that this is helping us open up doors for trade."

"It was fascinating to watch Mark," Baldacci said Wednesday. "He was very aggressive and determined. We were all rooting for him to do well."

"While we believe these trade missions can benefit businesses of all sizes, it's smaller Maine businesses that can really benefit," Baldacci said. "They don't have offices overseas and need help navigating their way through the process. The trade mission puts them on a world stage. Once they get there, Maine's businesses perform very well."

"Maine can't wait for new business and customers to wash up on the shore. We have to go after them and be proactive. Maine is full of innovative people and our state is known around the world for integrity and quality. The trade missions help us spread that message."

Elizabeth Comeau -- 623-3811, Ext. 433

ecomeau@centralmaine.com

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Reader comments

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MTC of Hallowell, ME
Dec 17, 2007 7:10 PM
For what it is worth...I met Mark last week, and indeed, he is passionate about the Baggler. He also told me, with great detail and enthusiasm, about a follow up product that, in theory, benefits consumers, businesses and is eco-friendly. That's not an easy trio to reconcile. Rather than respond with cynicism, let's all "root for" one of our own. These days, the inventor/entrepeneur must unfortunately battle the stigma of light-night-cable infomercial sweet-talker. In this case, we're talking about a local guy with ambition and energy. In that very American tradition, let's give him a chance. Our State is viewed by many from away (and plenty of its citizens), as "anti-business". Deserved or not, it doesn't help when a story like this is met with nit-picking and sarcasm. Good luck, Baggler!report abuse
Neil Farrington of China, ME
Dec 13, 2007 4:21 PM
How much did this trip cost? Who paid for it? How was the $600,000 dollars in sales tax of the 12 million spent? This was from 3 previous overseas trips? How much did they cost? Do you have these answers MikeH?report abuse
MikeH of Litchfield, ME
Dec 13, 2007 8:05 AM
Come one conservatives! Chime in here and tell us how stupid and wasteful the trade mission was! I am waiting! Where's Brian of west gardiner and his girl Nonny? Oh they are probably down at Slate's for brunch.report abuse

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