basic-guide-to-exporting_Latest_eg_main_086196

A GEE might consist, for example, of your local Chamber of Commerce, your local World TradeCenter, a university with an international business department, some Small Business DevelopmentCenters, the U.S. Commercial Service, a bank with international experience, and your state’s officeof international trade. Just to name a few. Social networking websites, such as LinkedIn, also haveinternational trade groups and are worth considering.If what you read so far comes as a surprise—particularly that exporting is relatively easy, as isexpanding the markets you sell to from one to many, even for very small businesses, and thatthere are scores of local yet worldly folks ready to help you succeed—then you are not alone. Thepeople whom we interviewed for the case studies in this book—like many potential exporters—say that their number one need starting out was for more basic information on how to export. Thegreatest information needs are how to choose the best markets for their products and servicesand to meet people to purchase them.Surprised?Then you also might be surprised by the old global businessassumptions and the new ones replacing them.This book is mainly written for you, the millions of business owners,or their business development gurus, who could export or exportmore. You’ve asked to have spelled out in plain language how peoplebusy running their businesses can learn what they need to know togrow their sales globally. And here it is: A Basic Guide to Exporting.Reasons to ExportIf you purchased this book or received it from one of our corporatepartners, chances are you have already answered for yourself thisfundamental question: Why bother?The U.S. government andprivate companies have officesall over the world, all designedfor one purpose: to help getU.S. products and servicesout of the United States andinto the waiting hands ofinternational customers.Exporting can be one of the best ways to grow your business:• Grow your bottom line (companies thatexport are 17 percent more profitable thanthose that don’t).• Smooth your business cycles, includingseasonal differences.• Add management and interculturalexpertise.• Use production capabilities fully.• Defend your domestic market.• Increase your competitiveness in allmarkets.• Increase the value of your intellectualproperty should you choose to license it.• Increase the value of your business shouldyou choose to sell it (and start another).Chapter 1: Introduction—The World Is Open for Your Business5