Cunning firm has the edge

A BLEND of cutting edge technology and native cunning enabled Kerry company Stockbyte to snatch the title of DHL Exporter of the Year, managing director Jerry Kennelly said yesterday.

Tánaiste Mary Harney presented the company with a trophy, €6,500 worth of international shipments and a further €6,500 towards their overseas marketing programme at a ceremony in Dublin yesterday.

She said: “Today’s finalists are an example to other Irish exporters that commitment to innovation, and persistence in pursuing opportunities in a competitive marketplace is a means to achieving competitive advantage and increasing our share in overseas markets.”

Based in the Kerry Technology Park in Tralee, Stockbyte employs 40 people and specialises in the creation and distribution of digital stock photography.

Mr Kennelly said cutting edge technology and a large degree of native cunning helped expand the business into a global brand, selling in 70 countries. Stockbyte has 500,000 licensed users in the printing and publishing industry.

Mr Kennelly said the company services five times zones from its international customer services call centre in Tralee and utilising local telephony in all markets enables it to make its location in the south west irrelevant to its customers.