Lamtec - "Lamtec's business activities in Washington significantly contributed to its ability to establish and maintain its market in the state. Given Lamtec's business strategy-maintaining long-term relationships with a small number of customers-its in-person customer visits were critical to maintaining its existing Washington customers.   And, as the Department suggests, when one is maintaining a customer relationship, it is establishing its market for future sales.   While in Washington, Lamtec employees provided information, listened to concerns about and answered questions concerning Lamtec products, participated in telephone calls that the customers placed to Lamtec's technical and customer service departments in New Jersey, fielded questions concerning potential price increases and new products, and maintained general client relations."

"Lamtec's distinction that its employees solicited no sales during their visits to Washington is of no consequence.   See Tyler Pipe, 483 U.S. at 249, 107 S.Ct. 2810; Gen. Motors, 107 Wash.App. at 52, 25 P.3d 1022 (stating that substantial nexus has never turned on whether an out-of-state company engages in direct selling activities);  see also Orvis Co. v. Tax Appeals Tribunal of New York, 86 N.Y.2d 165, 630 N.Y.S.2d 680, 654 N.E.2d 954, cert. denied sub nom.  Vermont Information Processing, Inc. v. Dep't of Taxation and Finance, 516 U.S. 989, 116 S.Ct. 518, 133 L.Ed.2d 426 (1995) (holding that there is no requirement under Quill and commerce clause jurisprudence requiring that an out-of-state company's sales representative be engaged in solicitation of sales or in sales transactions to satisfy the substantial nexus requirement). Likewise, Lamtec's distinction that it has no permanent employees in Washington is of no consequence. The test is whether Lamtec's in-state activities were significantly associated with its ability to establish and maintain its market in Washington, not whether it employed people within the state. See Tyler Pipe, 483 U.S. at 250, 107 S.Ct. 2810. See also Orvis, 86 N.Y.2d at 178, 180, 630 N.Y.S.2d 680, 654 N.E.2d 954 (finding a sufficient nexus based on the “slightest presence” of an out-of-state corporation's out-of-state employees visiting the state as many as 19 wholesale customers an average of four times a year)."