Business: Going International–The Critical “How To”
Hosted by Asia in Review’s David Day, here is a candid and educational conversation with Richard Swanson, the Director for the Pacific South Region of the U.S. Commercial Service, which includes not only Hawaii and the Pacific Islands (Guam, American Samoa, Saipan, etc), but also the Southwestern states of California, Nevada, and Arizona.
During the course of this program, Mr. Swanson walks the business owner through the “how to” steps of using the U.S. Commercial Service to get underway successfully in new markets overseas. He discusses how to prepare for and then set up the “face-to-face” approach with USCS, pre-vetted potential partners/dealers/distributors. In addition, Mr. Swanson talks about the “trade show” approach, and how to effectively tackle both the international and domestic trade shows with the assistance of the USCS.
There are all kinds of challenges that a small or medium-sized business faces when contemplating a move into a new market overseas: problems with payment, shipping, customs & duties, cultural barriers, distribution and marketing nightmares, taxes, local management/partner problems, customer service, language barriers, corruption possibilities, different methods/style of doing business, and on and on. For many entrepreneurs and small businesses, these challenges can be so daunting that the business is frozen and stagnates within its smaller domestic market.
It does not have to be this way. The trick is to understand the tools available for free or very little cost to the entrepreneur and small/medium sized business through the U.S. Commercial Service. An enterprise entering a new business mileu needs both business market intel as well as front-line, “on the dirt” experience in the new, target market, both in initially putting the deal together and later in assisting on the back end should problems or misunderstandings develop.
The host for this episode was David Day.
The host for this episode was David Day.
The host for this episode was David Day.
The host for this episode was David Day.
The host for this episode was David Day.
