Florida Company Named Exporter of the Year by U.S. Export Promotion Magazine

Nationwide Equipment Co. of Jacksonville, Fla., has been awarded a 2007 ThinkGlobal/Commercial News USA Exporter of the Year award from ThinkGlobal Inc., publisher of Commercial News USA, the official export promotion magazine of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Commercial News USA is a catalog-style magazine distributed to an estimated 400,000 readers in 176 countries worldwide. Awards are given to one U.S. company in each of 15 industry categories. Privately-held Nationwide Equipment was named Exporter of the Year in the Industrial Equipment, Services, & Supplies category.

Winners were chosen based on the total number of documented export deals completed in 2005, total percentage increase in sales in 2005 compared to 2004, exports as percentage of total sales, the company’s commitment to exporting, the company’s commitment to customer service, and the company’s innovation and originality in marketing products or services.

To be eligible for the award, the company must currently be exporting from the United States.

Nationwide Equipment rents and sells new and reconditioned earthmoving, road building, and marine equipment to more than 60 nations. The company reported total export sales of $14,130,000 in 2005, a 42% increase from 2004. Exports now represent 75% of the company’s total sales.

Founded in 1983, Nationwide Equipment began exporting in 1983. “Early on, we detected a strong demand worldwide for our products and services and our exports were the perfect vehicle to satisfy this demand while growing our company,” said Nationwide Equipment President Ed Kostenski.

Gregory Sandler, publisher of Commercial News USA, said that Nationwide Equipment’s success is indicative of how American companies can benefit from exporting. “With 95% of the world’s market outside the U.S., there is significant growth opportunity for American manufactures and service providers.”

More information about the Exporter of the Year awards is available online at www.exporteroftheyear.com.