Job Skill Superbook #7 Book 6. World Trade Guide, Includes Transportation & Logistics
Description
World Trade Introduction
This is a world trade resource book that people in the transportation industry can use because it contains resources for travel and cargo logistics like freight forwarders, customs brokers, shipping companies, etc.
Exporting costs money. That's a fact of life of the business. It's part of the cost of being in the business but if it wasn't profitable people wouldn't do it. Some of the major costs to get into the exporting business are as follows:
The cost to get out there to other countries, meet people, make contacts, give them demos and promotional literature to market and promote your products.
You will have to hire an export person or perhaps an entire staff on one side or both sides to ship (if applicable), manufacture, market and sell your products.
You may need a trade consultant to show you the way the system works.
Your export staff will have to travel to the target countries, stay at least a few days, meet people, dine with them, travel around while there, bring demo products and promotional literature and that's just for starters.
Then you will have to set up either an office, a receiving facility or a manufacturing plant, get government approval, possibly build an infrastructure, etc.
Chances are you will meet with local or company agents or importers who are able to speak the English language which is the business language of the world but at some point, you will have to hire people who speak other languages for general tasks and provide product literature in foreign languages.
Oftentimes products have to be redesigned for the
foreign market. At the very least, the instructions and some letter markings will have to be changed. Some sizes will probably have to be changed if selling in Asia because Asians are smaller than North Americans, Products should be packaged in a way the locals are familiar with.
Don't assume the foreigners will bend for you. You have to bend to please them. Even the ways people do business is different in terms of suppliers, payment schedules, etc. You have to play by their rules.
Expect additional, unexpected costs.
Will your product have to be tested and approved for government rules and safety standards?
Will you have to redesign the product to meet foreign standards?
What about the electrical aspects of the product?
Many parts of the world operate on a different system.
50hz.com/pwchrt, worldwide currents.
kropla.com/electric, world electric guide, also international dial codes.
teleadapt.com, teleadaptusa.com, 877-teleadapt, info about electric power, internet service, telephone service, etc. in foreign countries.
Is your product and its packaging politically correct? Do you unknowingly insult people in some way?
What about units of measure? Most of the world is metric, the United States goes by the foot-pound system.
Check on the Labelling and Packaging laws, especially if you're selling a food product in the United States. United States and Canada are the two most stringent countries around for food labelling.
Some countries have several languages and laws about which language(s) you must label your products with.
When in Rome do as the Romans do. Either you or your representatives must be aware of local customs and religions and honor them.
While we think nothing of a girl in a bikini posing with a product, this is strictly taboo in some culture like the culture of our friends, the Moslems. Most cultures are willing to adopt some western ways but some Moslems have no middle ground. It's their way or the highway.
Costs of Doing Business Elsewhere 2
The most popular form of foreign business representation is the commissioned agent. Commissioned agents are sales people who get paid a percentage of your product that they sell.
This percentage has different conventions in
different countries and for different products. Some high volume products may have low commission
This is a world trade resource book that people in the transportation industry can use because it contains resources for travel and cargo logistics like freight forwarders, customs brokers, shipping companies, etc.
Exporting costs money. That's a fact of life of the business. It's part of the cost of being in the business but if it wasn't profitable people wouldn't do it. Some of the major costs to get into the exporting business are as follows:
The cost to get out there to other countries, meet people, make contacts, give them demos and promotional literature to market and promote your products.
You will have to hire an export person or perhaps an entire staff on one side or both sides to ship (if applicable), manufacture, market and sell your products.
You may need a trade consultant to show you the way the system works.
Your export staff will have to travel to the target countries, stay at least a few days, meet people, dine with them, travel around while there, bring demo products and promotional literature and that's just for starters.
Then you will have to set up either an office, a receiving facility or a manufacturing plant, get government approval, possibly build an infrastructure, etc.
Chances are you will meet with local or company agents or importers who are able to speak the English language which is the business language of the world but at some point, you will have to hire people who speak other languages for general tasks and provide product literature in foreign languages.
Oftentimes products have to be redesigned for the
foreign market. At the very least, the instructions and some letter markings will have to be changed. Some sizes will probably have to be changed if selling in Asia because Asians are smaller than North Americans, Products should be packaged in a way the locals are familiar with.
Don't assume the foreigners will bend for you. You have to bend to please them. Even the ways people do business is different in terms of suppliers, payment schedules, etc. You have to play by their rules.
Expect additional, unexpected costs.
Will your product have to be tested and approved for government rules and safety standards?
Will you have to redesign the product to meet foreign standards?
What about the electrical aspects of the product?
Many parts of the world operate on a different system.
50hz.com/pwchrt, worldwide currents.
kropla.com/electric, world electric guide, also international dial codes.
teleadapt.com, teleadaptusa.com, 877-teleadapt, info about electric power, internet service, telephone service, etc. in foreign countries.
Is your product and its packaging politically correct? Do you unknowingly insult people in some way?
What about units of measure? Most of the world is metric, the United States goes by the foot-pound system.
Check on the Labelling and Packaging laws, especially if you're selling a food product in the United States. United States and Canada are the two most stringent countries around for food labelling.
Some countries have several languages and laws about which language(s) you must label your products with.
When in Rome do as the Romans do. Either you or your representatives must be aware of local customs and religions and honor them.
While we think nothing of a girl in a bikini posing with a product, this is strictly taboo in some culture like the culture of our friends, the Moslems. Most cultures are willing to adopt some western ways but some Moslems have no middle ground. It's their way or the highway.
Costs of Doing Business Elsewhere 2
The most popular form of foreign business representation is the commissioned agent. Commissioned agents are sales people who get paid a percentage of your product that they sell.
This percentage has different conventions in
different countries and for different products. Some high volume products may have low commission
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