Have  you exhausted your supply of local leads and want to expand your market by looking for international trade leads?  Then you’ll need to start making sure your products are in a state where they can be bought by importers from many different countries.   You’ll find that rules and regulations vary from country to country, your marketing literature will have to change and what about things like packaging and finance?

We’ve got a new article in the guide on this very topic that will get you asking: are my products ready for export?

We recently spoke about finding distributors for businesses that are trying to export their products into new markets but there’s another side to distributors.  They also need to liaise with the businesses that will be selling the products to the end users.  If you run one such business and need reliable wholesale distributors of foreign goods what do you need to look out for?  Have a read of this article: Wholesale Distributors – Qualities of a Good Product Distributor, it will give you a few useful pointers.

Are you involved in the import/export trade?  Your focus might be on buying high quality, competitvely priced wholesale products but what if you’re an exporter or manufacturer looking to sell your goods in another country? How do you begin to find customers in far-away places you’re never likely to visit?

One obvious way is to use distributors. People who know how business works in these countries and already have contacts in place ready to buy your goods. They become, in effect, your sales force. Of course your profit per sale will be less but distributors take away the aggravation of finding direct customers.

Marketing Yourself

You can find distributors through a variety of methods, including in person, online, and through telephone or email communications.

Industry trade shows draw distributors, sometimes from other countries. By talking to them, you might hear about their competition abroad. You can also talk to fellow manufacturers or exporters of goods similar or complementary to yours. Particularly if their goods complement yours, both of your businesses might benefit from an arrangement where distributors sell your goods together.

B2B Portals

Online B2B portals offer a great way to meet many potential distributors at once, while saving time. You can list yourself in a well-known portal and attract interest in your products, or search for distributors who have listed themselves as looking for goods in your industry.

When you create your profile or post on a B2B portal, keep professionalism in mind. Fill out your company profile as completely as possible, to inspire confidence in possible distributors. They will be more likely to contact a business that has clearly stated the industry it operates in, a paragraph or two about its history, its customer base, and exciting new projects or products. Aim to generate interest in your company through your B2B profile.

International B2B trade has become increasingly easy in recent years. Take these basic steps to generate interest in your goods, and your business can benefit from finding international distributors!

Partner Leads

If you want to find distributors on Import-Export-Guide.com (or offer your services as a distributor) then the section you should be posting on is the Partner Leads section.

Here are a few current leads:
Sports Clothing Distributors Required (Member based in Pakistan)
Herbal Hair Oil Distributors Required (Member based in India)
Distributors for Diesel Forklift Trucks Needed (Member based in Belgium)

Read a full version of this article on the Guide Section: Find Distributors for your Goods Abroad

The importance of obtaining adequate insurance has been highlighted these past few days with the wrecking of the cargo ship MSC Napoli off the coast of Devon, England.

The ship was travelling from Belgium to Portugal when it was caught in bad weather.  Fortunately the crew were all rescued but the ship itself suffered damage in the storms.

At least 200 (out of about 2400) of the ship’s 40 foot long containers were lost overboard, some of them have washed up onto nearby beaches to the delight of some locals who have been helping themselves to the contents – automotive parts, babies nappies, perfume, dog food, barrels of wine and even BMW motorcycles!!!

Under UK law people are supposed to report any items they’ve salvaged to the quaintly titled ‘Receiver of Wreck’ within 28 days.  Chances of this happening or of the police following up any/all leads are pretty slim – some goods are already being sold on Ebay!

None of this will be at all amusing to anyone with products in those containers.  There’s not much they can do about the goods themselves if they are lost but you would expect any trader to have arranged adequate insurance (assuming it is their responsibility under the terms of sale). 

Marine cargo insurance covers the risk of damage or loss to your goods when they are in transit.  It covers the goods whether they are being transported by sea, air, rail or road.

Or perhaps I should say Happy Holidays?

Apparently our friends in the US are getting themselves a bit worked up over the more traditional Christmas greeting.  They feel its insulting to people of other faiths, this has got to be political correctness gone a step too far.

Anyway, since most visitors to this site are international import-export traders, I can rest assured you won’t be fussed about a good natured greeting.

When you trade with people from every part of the world you have to be far more accommodating towards foreign customs.  Tolerating, understanding, participating in and even enjoying foreign cultural events.  Even when you don’t accept the underlying belief systems, show them respect and you will build the trust you need for successful business.

Keep those trade leads coming and I’ll see you in the New Year.