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West Virginia Success Story

West Virginia Country Store—Rural America Success Story

Program: Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D)

Overview: The West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA) and West Virginia Division of Tourism (WVDT), with assistance from the Mountain Resource Conservation and Development Council (RC&D) work together to sponsor a unique marketing opportunity for more than 50 West Virginia specialty produce companies.

Accomplishments: As in the past two years, The WV Country Store will participate in the Charlotte Merchandise Mart, Southern Christmas Show. This annual, 11-day show takes place in Charlotte North Carolina. There are over 500 booths. Over 100,000 show visitors spent over 22 million dollars ($179.00/person) in 2002. West Virginia’s contract space features specialty foods, gifts, and tourism attractions from around the state. Vendors conduct food preparation and product sampling seminars.

The RC&D secured the grant funding from WVDA and WVDT to fund the cost of booth space and provide transportation of retail products. WVDA, WVDT, and agribusiness vendors provide sales staff during the show.

Project Benefits:
• In two years, sales of approximately $100,000 of products were direct marketed at the show.
• Follow-up sales are estimated at $40,000.
• More than 50 part time/full time jobs are created or maintained.
• WV produced products are exposed to a large metropolitan market for future sales.
• Product vendors and merchandise exposure creates opportunities for sales to large corporate stores.
• WV Tourism advertises activities and locations to a large metropolitan market.
• Emerging agribusiness owners gain market entry experience and a prospective to regional marketing approaches.

Contact:
Cindy Martel, Advisor to Mountain RC&D
Michael Gasper, Mountain RC&D Coordinator
304-469-9738
Mike.Gasper@wv.usda.gov

Mountain Resource Conservation and Development Office
226 Maple Avenue
Oak Hill, WV 25901
Phone (304) 469-9738 Fax (304) 469-3718
http://www.wv.nrcs.usda.gov/contact/mountain_rcd.html

Photo of WV Country Store sales area West Virginia’s contract space features specialty foods, gifts, and tourism attractions from around the state.

 
Photo of WV Country Store sales area Sales of approximately $100,000 of products were direct marketed at the past shows.

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