It Straps On, Inc. Wins 2010 MEPOL Award for Entrepreneurship, International Growth

BATON ROUGE, LA, November 12, 2010 (Press-News.org) It Straps On, Inc., (ISO) was chosen for the 2010 Small Manufacturing Award by MEPOL, the Manufacturing Extension Partnership in Louisiana. This award is given to firms based on entrepreneurship and making a substantial financial impact within the local community.

MEPOL is a non-profit organization that promotes manufacturing in Louisiana. Each year, the organization recognizes local small businesses that stand out for their innovation and impact in a ceremony held at the Governor's Mansion. This year, the award for Small Manufacturing was awarded to It Straps On, Inc., on May 27, 2010.

According to Corinne Dupuy, MEPOL director, ISO was selected because of the company has a significant international presence and growing international sales, has improved production efficiency, won the 'E' award, and has helped other local companies enter the global marketplace.

It Straps On Owner, Steve Smith, credits his international efforts for the company's current growth. He feels that international commerce is the future of business and is happy to help other Louisiana business owners benefit from this large untapped market for their goods. He enjoys sharing his experiences because it is "a little adventurous...[and] developing a world-wide supply chain is very exciting." Currently, the company sells products in 29 different countries, and that number is growing.

ISO also has an "E" award, which was earned in 2008. The federal government gives this prestigious award to companies that build the export market, thus promoting the free market and helping the American economy. In order to be eligible, a company must have a track record of growing exports, a plan for continuing that growth, and a successful marketing strategy for international markets.

About It Straps On

It Straps On, Inc. is located in Covington, Louisiana, just outside of New Orleans. The company manufactures banding and strapping systems created from stainless steel which are used for mounting signs, mounting traffic control systems such as stop lights, and fastening down any number of components. Government agencies, industrial companies, and commercial pursuits need these products in order to operate efficiently.