ISSUE: Connecting S.C. businesses

OUR VIEW: Organizations on target with promoting S.C.-to-S.C. business

South Carolina agriculture has been doing it for more than a year. The S.C. Department of Agriculture under Commissioner Hugh Weathers of Bowman pushes South Carolina-grown products through a marketing campaign.

Weathers joined with Gov. Mark Sanford and others in 2007 to launch a grassroots marketing campaign designed to motivate South Carolina consumers to demand and buy South Carolina-grown products. “Certified South Carolina” was and is a call to action for citizens to “Buy South Carolina’” because “Nothing’s Fresher. Nothing’s Finer.”

Research told S.C. officials they were on target with the effort. Nearly 90 percent of shoppers say they would purchase South Carolina-grown produce if it is competitively priced and offers good quality.

With transportation costs soaring, the campaign looks all the wiser. The shorter the distance a product travels the better.

Enter the S.C. Department of Commerce and the S.C. Chamber of Commerce looking to capitalize on the same approach in tough economic times. The two organizations this week partnered to encourage South Carolina businesses to buy and sell more in South Carolina.

They are taking action to make it easier for businesses to do just that, providing directories of manufacturers and service providers.

To bolster economic development activities throughout the state, free copies of the directories will be given to the lead economic developer in each county, each regional development alliance, the South Carolina Economic Development Association and each of the state’s 16 technical colleges.

The directories include information on 198,000 businesses in South Carolina.

Specifically, the manufacturers directory provides company contact information in a range of sectors including chemicals, electronics, industrial machinery, paper products, pharmaceuticals and textiles (advanced materials). The service provider directory has information on many non-manufacturing sectors, including banking and finance, communications, construction, education, health care, real estate, retail and transportation.

Additionally, the directories provide four different means to look up a business – by geographic region, SIC code, alphabetical listing or product category.

Since often knowing who can provide goods and services is much of the battle, the directories promise to be a valuable tool in connecting businesses with in-state suppliers and service providers.

“With gas prices and transportation costs on the rise, now is the time for South Carolina businesses to buy and sell more in South Carolina. These directories are a great resource to help businesses find local suppliers, reduce costs and increase their bottom line. We are excited to partner with the state chamber to encourage South Carolina businesses to do more locally,” Secretary of Commerce Joe Taylor said.

It’s a fundamentgally sound approach by two organizations whose missions are promoting and fostering S.C. business. The time for S.C.-to-S.C. business connections couldn’t be more right.

To purchase the manufacturers and service provider directories, contact the Department of Commerce at 800-868-7232 or 803-737-0400 or the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce at 800-799-4501. The directories can be purchased together for $165 or separately for $115. Online access to the Selectory can be purchased for both the manufacturers and services databases for $670 or separately for $485.

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