When it comes to international trade, every small and medium business should, in the beginning, Think Big: Global and Act Small: Take Baby Steps!  Too many companies start out their export journey with large steps that ultimately become too much to handle. Many companies fail this way. The media on global trade invokes this kind of attitude by making everything “international” seem easy!  No doubt, international travel is easier, exposure to other cultures is easier and international trade is easier, but by no means is it easy!

For a Start-Up exporter the five basic tips outlined below are fundamental for long-term success:

Timing: Right timing is everything in life especially for global trade.  Any leaders of organizations that want to embark on international sales must be confident that their business is ready.  Preparing the way for exporting is essential to success.  Here are the major areas that need to be checked for “right timing” and preparation: sales & billing departments, IT systems, compliance training, substantial budge allocation, packaging and product/service adaptation.

Strategy: Export Strategy is an essential element for global trade development.  Each country that you are seeking to trade with necessitates proper due diligence.  A comprehensive export strategy will ensure that you have a “map” for your international trade endeavors and you know where you are going.

Training:  On the ground training for your staff is important for global trade in general and country-specific trade.  Areas that your employees need to be trained are in compliance issues, cultural nuances for negotiations that are unique to the countries in which you are developing international sales, product packaging, delivery time frames, taxation issues and production scheduling.

Compliance Issues: Compliance issues are often overlooked in global sales until it is too late.  On the ground compliance issues in your home country and the nation (s) you are selling to are essential to the success of any international sales endeavors.

Product/Service Adaptation: Selling products sometimes is easy in many countries, however, meeting product specifications unique to each country or region is an entirely different matter.  Product Adaptation is a small on the ground step that is essential to ensuring that your product is well received by your buyers guaranteeing continued sales and your company’s positive recognition.

Global Trade and its prospectives are indeed fascinating, however, thinking Big while taking concrete steps to ensure that these Big “dreams” become a smooth, consistent, lucrative reality is very important.  Outlined above are five necessary steps to begin your international exporting journey, and we recommend you start, at a minimum, with these steps first.  At ExportsInfo your success is our success so any additional information you require, feel free to contact us anytime.

Wishing You Lucrative Exporting Endeavors Always

ExportsInfo Team