EXPLORING EXPORT POTENTIAL VIA VIRTUAL SEMINAR IN THESE CRAZY EXPORT TIMES

Media Release - for immediate release

May 2020

We have a spat on our hands. And everyone’s talking about it. So, how will the current diplomatic conversations with our major international trading partners affect Australian businesses in the post-COVID landscape, what have we learnt and what do we need to do to get back on track?

In keeping with their commitment to innovation, knowledge and a global vision, Summer Land Camels Co-Founder and CEO, disruptive thinker Jeff Flood, will be the keynote speaker at a virtual seminar being organised by Trade & Investment Queensland (TIQ) to prepare businesses for what’s next in this rapidly changing world. Being held online on Wednesday 27 May, this initiative will help to educate businesses on their export potential and position them for the eventual upswing.

Jeff will be sharing his initial, global vision to create a commercial camel milk dairy, to share the benefits of this incredible and little-known product to encourage overall health and wellness. A passionate practitioner, advocate and recognised leader in immunity and gut health particularly, Jeff’s vision became a reality just over four years ago, when Summer Land Camel farm, 45 minutes south west of Brisbane, became a reality.

And whilst this is a TIQ initiative, the messages that Jeff will be sharing are relevant for all businesses involved in export. Summer Land Camels has exported to over 11 countries around the globe and China is their next big move. So committed are they to the Chinese market and its potential for camel milk and camel milk products, Summer Land Camels has taken the unique step of engaging a brand representative on the ground in China, to smooth the transition to market.

Heidi Dugan is a Chinese market expert, an ex-pat Australian who has been living and working in Shanghai for over 24 years (www.heididugan.com). A strategist, marketer, influencer and personality, Heidi has her own TV show, enjoys a profile as a key opinion leader and is a Board Director with the Australian Chamber of Commerce – Austcham - in Shanghai. She maintains her strong Australian links and is also a council member for the University of Southern Queensland. She’s connected and she, too, believes in the power of camel milk.

And whilst ‘’unbelievably disappointed – actually gutted,” by the downturn in exports of late, Jeff has turned a negative into a positive and pivoted their business, ready for the recovery.  “This pandemic, whilst distressing, has given us time to rethink strategy, reposition and bring forward some new ideas. We’ve ‘pivoted’, we’ve worked our direct to consumer marketing hard and have found people willing to connect in these isolated times.  The same will be the case in China and we’re going to be there, ready to go.”  

Jeff will have some incredible insights to share with Queensland exporters on Wednesday including his business story, the Summer Land Camels export journey, markets and potential markets for investigation. Jeff remains resolute and committed to the cause, “We’re not going to be following the same old pattern post-COVID. We’re looking at new ways of engaging at export level, we’re not going to be fear based rather human interfaced as we know our products directly meet consumers needs globally. I’m looking forward to sharing my story with other exporters. We’re all in this together, right?”

Head to www.summerlandcamels.com.au for more information about the Summer Land Camels story.