It takes research and a great plan to make sure your exporting and international expansion efforts pay off. Becoming an exporter can put you on a fast track to growth, but it can be a big challenge to get started and achieve success. You have to think about a host of complicated questions—everything from picking the right target market to logistics, product adaptation, pricing, customs, marketing and your company’s export readiness. The long list of challenges may seem intimidating, but you can tackle them by taking steps to prepare your business and adopt a strategic approach.
“Exporting offers great opportunities for Canadian businesses, but you need a good export plan,” says Bill Macheras, Manager of the Info-Centre at Global Affairs Canada and a long-time Trade Commissioner with the Canadian Trade Commissioner Service. “Many business owners have no strategy and chase every lead. With a strategic approach, you can be proactive and improve your results,” he says.
The steps below are essential steps to consider before entering a foreign market. Keep in mind; you don’t have to do this on your own. Our Trade Experts from the Global Growth Trade Service are available to work with you from the start of your journey to develop a market entry approach that is customized to your business needs
Take a careful look at your business to make sure you’re ready to expand internationally. Be sure to review these elements:
Capacity to expand
Do you have the capacity and resources to start exporting? It is essential that you have the financial power to make a long-term commitment to this venture. You should also think about your ability to expand your workforce, production and support functions to accommodate expected sales growth.
Leadership
Are the owners and senior managers on board? Are you ready to get the outside expertise you’re missing? Our Trade experts recommend having a dedicated senior executive to manage the international operations. “Without a dedicated executive to handle exports, the CEO may get stretched and neglect other tasks,” Macheras says.
Your team
Do you have adequate marketing, sales and other human resources? Think about any training and other gaps you will need to address, such as operating new equipment or systems or communicating in the target market’s language.
Product or services
How will you (or your product) stand out against the competition in a foreign market? Are you ready and able to adapt your offering to the needs and tastes of international customers? Just because something sells well in Canada doesn’t mean it will do so elsewhere.
“It’s important to research beforehand what kind of retooling and hiring you may need to start exporting,” Macheras says. “You can then put the resources in place before you get orders. Many businesses make the mistake of wanting to see orders before making any investment, but this can lead to delays in fulfillment and shipping and hurt your reputation.
One example that comes immediately to mind is an Ontario-based manufacturer that had to retool its entire production line to produce in metric to meet European Union requirements. The company’s manufacturing line had been entirely in imperial, which it had been using for years to serve its U.S. customers.”
Macheras says it’s “quite common” for Canadian businesses used to operating at a Canadian scale to become overwhelmed when they get their first large international order.
The next step is to develop a market entry strategy. This typically involves these elements:
Set clear goals. Decide on:
Do preliminary research on your market. This should include:
Choose your mode of entry. Options include:
Consider financing and insurance.
“If you strategically narrow down your market and spend resources there, that’s when you can get significant export sales,” Macheras says. “A lot of entrepreneurs make the mistake of trying to service all over the world. They’re used to domestic business where you don’t turn down that purchase order and sell to 20 different markets, making $1,000 here, $1,000 there. They go very wide and very thin. Instead, you should go narrow and go deep.”
Our Trade experts can help you identify the potential market where your products can be valued and competitive. Once you have settled on strategic locations, we will leverage our network and help you identify contacts within those markets so you can learn more before making a final decision. It is always advisable to consider countries that have signed free trade agreements with Canada. These countries tend to offer a safer investment climate, reduced tariffs and easier movement of goods and people.
Finally, create and implement an export marketing plan (sometimes known as an export plan). This is where you work out the specifics of your venture. Your export plan would typically cover:
More detailed research on your target market, including:
Needed adaptations to reflect local needs and customs. You may have to adapt:
Logistics needs, including:
A promotion plan. This should include:
Monitoring your efforts. It’s crucial to pick a few key metrics and regularly monitor them to stay on target and optimize.
A critical element for exporting success, Macheras says, is having local expertise and partners to help untangle the complexities of international business.
Our Trade experts from Global Growth Trade Service can provide personalized service to guide you through your export journey: from working on market research to developing an export plan & go to market plans. We will also assist you in working through logistics hassles (connecting you with expertise like a freight forwarder, customs broker and carrier). We will work with you to develop a unique and customized strategy aligned with your business objectives. Export research and planning can be overwhelming, especially if you do not know where to look. We act as an extra resource for you and your team, guiding you through this process.
Connect with our trade experts today for a free consultation.
This content was culled from an original post on bdc.ca
