Legitimate Inquiry. Fake Company?

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Many of us receive what looks like legitimate business inquiries from all over the world on a daily basis but how do you determine if they are each on the up-and-up?

This will help.  Read:  How to Determine If a Foreign Company is Legit

Reduce Dependence on Domestic Demand By International Franchising

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Reduce dependence on domestic demand and grow new, future revenue and profit centers worldwide by international franchising.

Extending a brand globally through franchising requires minimal investment and offers a huge upside potential on scaling capabilities.  Further, you don't have to be big to franchise.  You just have to have a successful model.

Below I examine what is international franchising, its benefits, examples of companies that have successfully franchised internationally, how to get started in franchising and where to look for additional help.

Read the entire article: International Franchising: A Global Strategic Initiative

Open For Trade: U.S. and E.U.

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The United States and European Union aim to start negotiating the Transatlantic Free Trade Pact this year. The two top economies hope the pact will revive their respective economies.

The goal of the agreement is to cut tariffs, lower trade barriers and ease commerce–thereby setting higher standards for the world to follow. 

The alliance should help create jobs, spur economic growth and strengthen the transatlantic economic ties.

Read the entire article:  The Transatlantic Free Trade Agreement:  Open Trade Between the United States and the European Union

How a Furniture Maker's Triumph Translates to International Success

Photo courtesy:  ©Laurel Delaney.  All rights reserved.  "Business As Unusual"

Here are five out more than a hundred principles-in-action that former president and chief executive officer Hugh DePree at Herman Miller implemented and how they relate to running not just a global small business but any business.  Hugh passed away in 2002.

Five Tips for Business Success

Contemplating New Product Expansion Overseas?

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Everybody loves an international success story.  It goes like this:

Your overseas venture is booming and delivering profits. Your next step might be contemplating new product expansion.  You wonder whether you should create an entirely new product for an overseas market.  What's involved?  What's the upside?  What's the downside? 

Here's a scenario  -- article -- that might help you decide.

Creating New Products to Expand Your Overseas Market

First Step to Global Success? Companywide Commitment

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Global success is directly related to a companywide commitment. That companywide commitment involves you alone if you are a sole proprietor, or in the case of a large corporation, the executive committee, finance, operations, marketing and sales, logistics, research, technology and culture.

Who do you look for on your team?

A new breed of communicator who pays attention to detail and who has great salesmanship qualities, persistence, integrity, an interest in international matters, bi- or multilingual language capabilities, cultural empathy, and good writing and speaking abilities. The individual must be  ...

Read the entire article here.

Export Opportunities Exist in Brazil

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Brazil is a ripe and robust market offering excellent growth opportunities on exports. It is also part of the emerging -- or developing markets -- which include large economies such as the BRICs: Brazil, Russia, India and China.

If you’re looking for a country to expand, Brazil might just be the answer.

Learn more here.

How to Sell More to the World

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OK, you have a website.  You created a blog.  You are on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.  But somehow, for some reason, you still can't get customers the world over to find you?

Well I've got a solution.  Go here to find out.

Claim your online space before your competitors do!

Multicultural Design

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When you design for an international audience, it's like walking on thin ice.  You want a certain look or feel - only to find out well into a project - that a color you used means "death" in the foreign country.  Well that message will go nowhere!  And, more than likely, you have offended a whole lot of people in the process.

In Designing for Foreign Cultures, I outline five factors to consider when creating products, websites and marketing material for an overseas audience.  The key is to master the market you are entering and be extra sensitive to the people you are developing a design for.

ShopPlanet

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You've heard of Small Business Saturday but now we're proposing Global Small Business Sunday (11/25/12)!

It’s a fabulous idea to support your local community—business owners in your neighborhood who provide a pure American-made product or service—by purchasing their goods on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. I also praise American Express for launching the movement, especially as it benefits the company if shoppers use their American Express card to make their purchases. But how do you shop the other 364 days of the year? Will you continue to support the local businesses—I hope so—or will you expand your purchases to include all over the world? 

Learn more:  Global Small Business Sunday:  ShopPlanet by Laurel Delaney

Payoffs, Bribes and Gifts in International Business: Avoid At All Costs

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Payoffs, bribes or gifts should never, ever be a means to accomplishing your international business goals.

Example of an innocent bribe scenario:

After struggling for years to get that automotive accessory business in Korea, you switched sales agents in an attempt to nail it and suddenly out of nowhere -- and to your surprise -- got the business? Did you get the business because the new agent did a better job or did you get the business because the new agent bribed the automotive company without you knowing?

Find out more:  How to Avoid Bribes in International Business by Laurel Delaney

How to Manage an Import/Export Mistake

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When things go bad in the global marketplace, communication is the key to turning things around in a positive direction.  Exploring and weighing options is equally important.

Below I share two real experiences—one export and the other import related – showing how creative thinking and playing to one’s strengths can provide simple solutions to what could have become a costly disaster in the import/export world.

Crisis Management:  What To Do When Your Import/Export Goes Wrong

Establishing a Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ)

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A foreign-trade zone is a dedicated area where goods can land, be repackaged, modified, manipulated, relabeled, manufactured further and re-exported without customs authorities stepping in.  An FTZ is especially beneficial to firms that import components in order to manufacture finished products for export.

But how do you establish a foreign trade zone (FTZ)?

Find out here.