Our Story – The 70’s were an important time for us…as was 1986
Although it took a few years to realize, the 1970’s were a foundational time for CACL. After 4 years in Taiwan, CACL founder Bill Coleman returned to Vancouver and, in June 1970, our VP Business Development, Bill Jr. was born. Then, in the summer of 1972, Bill (Snr.) met the Premier of the Peoples’ Republic of China, Zhou Enlai. Bill still talks about one of those events with great fondness. 🙂
In 1986, Coleman Associates (Consulting) Ltd. opened its basement door in Oakville, Ontario. Over the years CACL has imported Chinese products into Canada, taken Canadian steel processing technology to China, and helped numerous Canadian exporters establish solid marketing and distribution partnership across Asia.
Our Personal Approach
You might think that, after 30+ years of experience in Canada-Asia trade, we would have a canned process to shuffle clients along which provides a predictable outcome.
The reality is that doing trade with Asia is anything but predictable. It is dynamic and exciting, and opportunities are constantly arising from new consumer behaviour and disruptive business models.
CACL uses its knowledge and experience to find the right business model and right partners to be successful in Asia. It is a global marketplace, and we help build the right models for our Canadian clients to compete against their global competitors.
Meet the Team
Like most of our clients, we’re small and mighty!
Bill Coleman
Founder & Chairman
Bill started his life-long affair with Asia in Taiwan in 1965, where he successfully challenged for his Masters Degree in Chinese History at the National Taiwan University. If you can read Chinese, ask him for a copy of his thesis!
Bill returned to Canada, with his wife and daughter, in 1970, and after a successful career managing the China portfolio at the Canadian Wheat Board, Bill was asked to open the Canada-China Trade Council (now the Canada-China Business Council) in 1978.
One highlight of Bill’s career was the time he organized a Chinese delegation from CEROILS (China Food) to visit the home of Dr. Norman Bethune in Gravenhurst, Ontario. It was the first Chinese delegation anyone remembers, and the homestead in Gravenhurst is still used to this day as a National Historic Site, with thousands of Chinese tourists visiting to honour Dr. Bethune each year.
Finally, in 1986 Bill opened CACL and has been focused on helping Canadian companies trade with Asia ever since.
Bill Jr.
President
Bill Jr. started his career in Taipei, Taiwan, working for a large trading company, name Getz Bros. After 5 years of living and working in Taiwan, he returned home, married his university sweetheart, Alana, and continued marketing and trade consulting for another 5 years.
Then Bill Jr. took a decade away from international trade to work for Canadian Blood Services, first as a Regional Manager in Toronto, then as a Regional Director in Winnipeg, and eventually as the National Director for Partnership Development based in Ottawa, overseeing one of the largest Corporate Social Responsibility Partnership and volunteer programs in Canada.
Today, Bill Jr. is back in international trade and is excited to help Canadian exporters explore and expand into Asia.
Next Steps…
We have the expertise to take your brand and your products to Asia. Give us a call!