The Walgreens of Europe: Alliance Boots

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Walgreens has a new partnership with pharmaceutical distributor AmerisourceBergen and European drugstore Alliance Boots.  Alliance Boots is considered the Walgreens of Europe.

Walgreens may have had dreams of going global but through this new partnership it looks as if those dreams will become a reality sooner rather than later.

The real story is the AmerisourceBergen and Alliance Boots partnership. The partnership will help reduce some of Walgreen's operational costs, as AmerisourceBergen will begin distributing a number of generic pharmaceuticals that Walgreen traditionally self-distributed. AmerisourceBergen's superior supply chain will allow for greater efficiencies and daily deliveries.

Read the entire article:  Walgreen Dreams of Going Global

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

How to Fund Future Global Business Growth For Your Business

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Have a hot international sale yet find yourself scratching your head as to how you are going to finance the deal?  Look no further.

This is my first contribution for Mastercard Business Network.  I hope you find it useful.

Read the entire article:  5 Ways to Fund Future Global Business Growth For Your Small Business

Top of the Morning To You!

©Laurel Delaney 2013.  All rights reserved.  "St. Patricks' Day 2013"

I don't know about you but I am preparing for tomorrow (3/17/13), my favorite day of the year:  St. Patrick's Day!  Have a happy one.  Remember, everyone is Irish on St. Patty's Day.  All it takes is a smile and wear'n of the green. Enjoy.

Chicago Is Work

©Laurel Delaney 2013.  All rights reserved.  "Vehicle in Chicago"

“I'm impressed with the people from Chicago. Hollywood is hype, New York is talk, Chicago is work." ~ Michael Douglas

Have a heartfelt weekend everyone!  Thanks for your readership.  Back with you on Monday.

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

A Room With a Chicago View

Photo courtesy:  ©Laurel Delaney 2013.  All rights reserved.  "Room With a Chicago View"

A room with a view, 321 N. Clark Street, Chicago, Illinois, 28th floor, facing West (4:30 p.m. Central on February 14, 2013).

Enjoy the weekend.

Bring On the Snow!

Photos courtesy: ©Laurel Delaney.  All rights reserved.  "Motorcycle Snowman."

"Disney had made such a great deal of money on Snow White that the banks gave him the go-ahead on the next three films. But he was heavily dependent on the foreign market." ~ Marc Davis

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

Iced Over, And We're Not Talking Cupcakes

©Laurel Delaney 2013.  All rights reserved.  "Iced Over in Chicago"

"You know what they say about Chicago. If you don't like the weather, wait fifteen minutes." ~ Ralph Kiner

Startups Going Global

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Michael Fertik is an Internet entrepreneur and CEO with experience in technology and law. He founded Reputation.com in 2006. You can follow him on Twitter at @michaelfertik and meanwhile, he knows how to write a great article on going global right out of the starting gate.

Read:  Go International, Young Startup

Related articles:  Tips to Trading Globally and Taking Your Startup Global

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

Chicago: Home of Historic Radio and Television

©Laurel Delaney 2013.  All Rights Reserved.  "MBC Media Tower"

I paid a visit yesterday to The Museum of Broadcast Communications (Chicago) where all the great communicators of the world -- from Mike Wallace to Larry King to Bill Kurtis -- are featured and honored.

The mission of MBC is:

The mission of the Museum of Broadcast Communications (MBC) is to collect, preserve, and present historic and contemporary radio and television content as well as educate, inform, and entertain the public through its archives, public programs, screenings, exhibits, publications and online access to its resources.

The photo you see above is that of an amazing Media Tower at MBC made up of old radios, televisions, computers and so forth.  Fascinating. It's located at the top of the staircase from the front entrance to the museum.  Admission is free from January 25th-February 28th.

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.

Sell Globally Without Ever Leaving Home

Photo credit:  ©Laurel Delaney 2013.  All rights reserved.

How do you transition from local to global without ever leaving home? It starts online via a smart phone, tablet, laptop (as shown) or PC. You must have a connection to the Internet and then you are well on your way.

In a more traditional way and provided you have created a website:

On your homepage, state that your company welcomes inquiries from any country in the world and that you’re willing and able to ship outside of the United States. That will help foreign consumers, buyers and distributors find you and your products. If nothing else, it can start a discussion about potential sales.

To learn more read (February 2012): How to Go Global Without Going Abroad

Related article (July 2011): 9 Ways to Sell Your Products Internationally Without Ever Leaving Home

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.

Happy Weekend from Chicago!

©2013 Laurel Delaney "Chilly Chicago."  All rights reserved.

Have a great weekend everyone!  Back with you on Monday. ~ Regards, Laurel

In Our Interconnected World, Let's Get Closer

©Laurel Delaney 2013, "Get Closer"

In our ability to make connections in heartbeat via LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Google+, what have you done lately to get closer to your worldwide constituency base?

Grow Global

©Laurel Delaney 2013 "Grow Global!"

Global: 

15 Ways to Find New or Hidden Markets

in the World Marketplace