US EXPANSION MAKES PROMISING START FOR RUBY OLIVE

RUBY Olive founder Skye Anderton (pictured) has returned from NY NOW with dozens of leads, saying her first foray into the United States exceeded her expectations.

The Brisbane-based jewellery entrepreneur spoke to Business News Australia ahead of her trip last month, telling of the risk she was taking by targeting the US, and it appears to have paid off.

"It was a successful trip, particularly in the museum and art gallery space," says Anderton. "There were far more art galleries there than I ever thought there would be; a lot of high-end galleries and museums."

In total, there were around 80 leads to come out of the event and Anderton is now shipping out the subsequent orders.

There has been interest from potential clients based in New York, Washington, Las Angeles, San Francisco and Canada.

"In the 10 days since coming back it has been just as much of a whirlwind as it was in the US, the emails have been flooding it, it has been amazing," says Anderton.

The next step is to build on the relationships created during the event, in order to build trust with potential new clients.

"There were a number museums and galleries interested, but they are nervous dealing with an Australian company they have never seen before, so I will be spending some time building those relationships."

NY NOW is a wholesale home, lifestyle and gift trade fair based in New York City.