Happy New Year 2011 to One and All!
I wrote quite an extensive "tell all" post last year on New Years day and would like to suggest that you take time to read it now even if you have read it before, if you have allowed the entire year of 2010 to pass you by without taking action, you especially need to read and heed what I took a lot of time and thought in posting there -
http://importexportbusiness.blogspot.com/2010_01_01_archive.html
In addition to it being New Years Day 2011, I wanted to address a couple of recurring factors that seem to hold people back from making life decisions. Call this my 2011 KICK IN THE ASS POST!
It is NOW 2011, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?
Stop thinking that someone or some organization like the government is going to help you get to where you want to be in life.
Do you really think that either political party gives a DAMN about you and your family?
You have to take the steps necessary to survive and prosper in this life or forever label yourself as a victim of circumstances out of your control.
YOU ARE IN CONTROL and YOU MUST TAKE ACTION, SO WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?
A comment that was left on this blog a few days ago helped to prompt this post as well.
The comment stated about how tn start without much funds and also stated "I need a mentor".
So let me address those two facts about your success or failure first.
Funds - If you follow the course that we recommend and my personal bonus information provided when you purchase that course, you will need little or no money to start or operate your business (NOTE: I am referring primarily to the exporting part of the business).
My first recommendation is this - if you are short of funds enough that the price of the course is going to affect how you live for the next few months, i.e., pay your rent, buy your groceries, put gas in your car, then DO NOT BUY OUR COURSE OR ANYONE'S COURSE.
You need to either get a job or second job if necessary, get your finances in good shape and then, and only then, get our recommended course and bonus resources.
No one offering any of the other courses is going to tell you that because they simply do not care about anything but getting your credit card number and putting you into an even worst financial position than you are now.
Despite all the hype that is out there about how "easy" it is to just buy their "program" or their "mentorship" and you will be guaranteed of success. WAKE UP and smell the coffee - it AIN'T GOING TO HAPPEN, you are just going to be separated from your money at a time when you need it the most.
Which brings me to the subject of "mentorship" which has become a very sore spot for me.
Many people call me, every week, asking about the import export business, they want my help, they want my advice, they are seeking it, but when I give it to them, they never follow through.
Some people have told me that the SBA (Small Business Administration) volunteers really did not or want to provide the type of support they were seeking (for free, of course). I do not know if this is true since the SBA has always been touted as being the best place to go for free assistance in getting started in your own business.
My growing belief is more on the side of the people who make the above complaint being not ready to be in business for themselves and the SBA volunteers recognizing this. Also, I believe these same complainers are people like a lady who called me from Canada a few years ago asking for an import export business that was already set up and running and profitable that she could simply buy into for a few hundred dollars.
IT AIN'T GOING TO HAPPEN!
The volunteers teach or guide people how to get started and become successful but what most people lack is the initiative to actually take any action.
There is a WEALTH of FREE advice and guidance within the posts of this blog. REAL WORLD EXPERIENCE has gone into these posts.
HAVE YOU READ ALL OF THEM? Have you taken action to implement any of them, even ONE!
IF NOT, forget going into ANY business for yourself, because you need a BOSS, not a mentor, not a coach, a BOSS!
My advice to you before ever spending a single penny is to READ each of the posts within this blog. There are also some good posts within our Importers and Exporters trade leads blog spread out among the trade lead posts, read them too.
If there are suggested actions within those post, TAKE THEM, TAKING ACTION, even little ones will help you to realize YOU ARE IN CONTROL OF YOUR DESTINY and will help you get over the victim mentality or the I need a mentor, helper, coach before I can succeed thought process.
Realize that NO ONE ELSE is going to care as much about YOUR FUTURE, YOUR FAMILY'S FUTURE, YOUR SUCCESS as you will and if you don't care enough to take positive actions to change things why do you think anyone else should?
Some might think me to be arrogant. So be it but let me tell you where I came from.
My parents, both depression era children, worked for the railroad as a laborer and in various sewing factories as a seamstress.
I had two brothers and when my mother would buy a bag of M&M candies she would count the candies out so each of us got an equal amount.
I had to use an outhouse for a bathroom until I was about 10 years old (gets damn cold here in Pennsylvania December through March, let me tell you). We did not consider ourselves poor at the time and I know that both of my parents did their best to give us the best life possible.
I worked for several years in a warehouse loading and unloading trucks and have a bad back to this day because of it.
At one point in my life, I made a job decision that some would say (and did say) was a bad one and it almost left us destitute so much that I had to take a job shoveling horse ship cleaning out horse stables and planting trees at a minimum wage with no benefits.
Jump to today. I owe NO ONE. My only bills are those we all have, electric, heat, real estate taxes etc. and I do not state this to brag, but simply show you from where I came to where I am there were a lot of BAD decisions and GOOD ones but I really cannot look back on any of them and BLAME or TAKE CREDIT for other than myself.
I did not wait for a new president to be elected, or congress person or senator, they are only in the business of helping themselves keep their jobs every 2, 4 or 6 years. I took the negatives and turned them into positives, basically, I focused on what I wanted to do and took positive steps to achieve success in that area.
Did I continue to make mistakes to this day, absolutely! But without taking those steps I may still be working in some type of hard labor type of job for a subsistence style of living.
NO ONE CARES MORE ABOUT YOU AND YOUR FAMILY'S FUTURE THAN YOU DO!
For those of you who want my advice, then don't act on it, forget this business, forget any business for that fact, get the best job you can find and stick with it.
Seriously, because you need a BOSS or SUPERVISOR who will tell you what you need to do next and who will ALWAYS be sure you are one step below what they are in the corporate structure.
If you are a DECISION MAKER and ready to TAKE ACTION on starting an Import Export business, then my advice is (and always has been) read through my blogs first, take notes, take action, review the DUE-DILIGENCE resources on our company page and THEN purchase our recommended course, study it, take notes and TAKE ACTION.
The calendar has changed again. Are you still where you were a year ago? Either get off of it and take action or forget about it. Your CHOICE, not mine or anyone else's.
With that said, WELCOME TO 2011!
The International Business Times is the leading provider of international business news online.
Showing posts with label import export. Show all posts
Showing posts with label import export. Show all posts
Import Export Business Tips
1. Get a voicemail system to receive your calls.
You can have a dedicated phone number that allows you to record an outgoing message and receive unlimited incoming messages for as little as $24 a year ($34 the first year) - that is $2 a month. (NOTE: I did not say $24 a month, I said $24 a year after the first year which has a $10 setup fee.)
The voice messages are then sent to you via email and you can play them back on your computer anywhere you might be in the world. You can find these services advertised on the net, but if you would like the name of the service I have used for 5 years you have to get either the Import Export Toolkit or the Exporters Master Training package.
Sidenote: everyone loves their children and grand-children but you should not put their voice on your outgoing message - if you do not like your voice, write down what you want to say and have a friend or relative with a better voice record the outgoing message for you. And, please, do not have your children or grand-children in the background when you are calling someone - you only get one chance to make an impression.
2. Get a dedicated fax number.
Here again you can use the same service as the voicemail and have them send your faxes to you via email as PDF documents that you can then view on your monitor and print out, if necessary.
Sidenote: I often use a dedicated fax number as a means of qualifying an import lead's validity - if an "importer" has the same number listed for both their fax and phone number, they are most likely just getting started, or are sample seekers who have no intention of buying anything. Don't waste your time.
3. STOP USING YAHOO AND HOTMAIL email addresses.
I have spoken to many people who will not bother to read an email if it is sent from a Hotmail or Yahoo email account. So when trying to do business via the Internet DO NOT try to do so with a Yahoo or Hotmail email account and expect people on the receiving end to take you seriously.
Gmail.com offers the best FREE email system right now and although it will probably reach a point where it too is looked down upon in the business world, it is still fairly new and does not have the BAD stigma attached to it that Yahoo and Hotmail have achieved.
BETTER YET - Follow advice on our last post about getting a website and begin using your own website Email system to send and receive your emails.
Yahoo and Hotmail email systems are two of the MOST restrictive systems that I and other business owners I have spoken to have found - many, if not most, of any email with the word dollar, or symbol for dollars $ or mere mention of order or other commonly used business terms will send your email into their spam folder. Oh and forget about an email with an attachment like an invoice.
4. STOP SENDING FREE SAMPLES.
Do your due diligence on a lead first, make sure they are a legitimate business and even then DO NOT SEND FREE SAMPLES - advise them that you will ship samples at wholesale cost and they will pay shipping "in advance" but that once you receive an order for $1,000 or more, you will deduct the wholesale cost of the samples from their first order. NO NEGOTIATION. Scammers know you want and need business and they will use this against you.
The above method was provided to me from the owner of a very successful vitamin manufacturing business (about $10 million a year successful) and it is the exact method his company uses, no exceptions.
5. FREE TRADE LEADS.
Forget about the trade lead boards, legitimate importer don't need them, they have the Internet and will find their sources of supply via the websites of the manufacturers and/or exporters. The majority of the FREE importer (buyer) leads are 1 person wannabee startups but the vast majority are SCAMMERS and FREE SAMPLE SEEKERS that will not only break your bank but waste your most precious asset - TIME!
There is a way you can find REAL importers using your best friend on the Internet - Google. I will not provide the exact details of how to find them as this is reserved for the BONUS resources we give to our customers who purchase either our Import Export training course or just the Export training course.
But I will tell you that GOOGLE can be your BEST friend in identifying REAL importers or REAL products that you seek to export and the key I will reveal is to learn how to use their "ADVANCED" search techniques. Other than that, if you want a full, detailed description of this search strategy you will have to get one of the two above mentioned courses.
Finding REAL IMPORTERS using the method I discovered is great, however, in the world of marketing, which type of lead is better? A lead that you find, then contact and try to sell OR a lead that has already seen that you have the product(s) they are looking for and now they have called you or sent you an email?
COMMON SENSE - the lead that is coming to YOU is the BEST lead you can find in ANY BUSINESS. And what is the best way to help potential customers find you and your products? Yes, you guessed it, a WEBSITE (re-read the post previous to this one).
Hope you have found value in the above TIPS and suggestions.
Ron Coble
International Trade Services
You can have a dedicated phone number that allows you to record an outgoing message and receive unlimited incoming messages for as little as $24 a year ($34 the first year) - that is $2 a month. (NOTE: I did not say $24 a month, I said $24 a year after the first year which has a $10 setup fee.)
The voice messages are then sent to you via email and you can play them back on your computer anywhere you might be in the world. You can find these services advertised on the net, but if you would like the name of the service I have used for 5 years you have to get either the Import Export Toolkit or the Exporters Master Training package.
Sidenote: everyone loves their children and grand-children but you should not put their voice on your outgoing message - if you do not like your voice, write down what you want to say and have a friend or relative with a better voice record the outgoing message for you. And, please, do not have your children or grand-children in the background when you are calling someone - you only get one chance to make an impression.
2. Get a dedicated fax number.
Here again you can use the same service as the voicemail and have them send your faxes to you via email as PDF documents that you can then view on your monitor and print out, if necessary.
Sidenote: I often use a dedicated fax number as a means of qualifying an import lead's validity - if an "importer" has the same number listed for both their fax and phone number, they are most likely just getting started, or are sample seekers who have no intention of buying anything. Don't waste your time.
3. STOP USING YAHOO AND HOTMAIL email addresses.
I have spoken to many people who will not bother to read an email if it is sent from a Hotmail or Yahoo email account. So when trying to do business via the Internet DO NOT try to do so with a Yahoo or Hotmail email account and expect people on the receiving end to take you seriously.
Gmail.com offers the best FREE email system right now and although it will probably reach a point where it too is looked down upon in the business world, it is still fairly new and does not have the BAD stigma attached to it that Yahoo and Hotmail have achieved.
BETTER YET - Follow advice on our last post about getting a website and begin using your own website Email system to send and receive your emails.
Yahoo and Hotmail email systems are two of the MOST restrictive systems that I and other business owners I have spoken to have found - many, if not most, of any email with the word dollar, or symbol for dollars $ or mere mention of order or other commonly used business terms will send your email into their spam folder. Oh and forget about an email with an attachment like an invoice.
4. STOP SENDING FREE SAMPLES.
Do your due diligence on a lead first, make sure they are a legitimate business and even then DO NOT SEND FREE SAMPLES - advise them that you will ship samples at wholesale cost and they will pay shipping "in advance" but that once you receive an order for $1,000 or more, you will deduct the wholesale cost of the samples from their first order. NO NEGOTIATION. Scammers know you want and need business and they will use this against you.
The above method was provided to me from the owner of a very successful vitamin manufacturing business (about $10 million a year successful) and it is the exact method his company uses, no exceptions.
5. FREE TRADE LEADS.
Forget about the trade lead boards, legitimate importer don't need them, they have the Internet and will find their sources of supply via the websites of the manufacturers and/or exporters. The majority of the FREE importer (buyer) leads are 1 person wannabee startups but the vast majority are SCAMMERS and FREE SAMPLE SEEKERS that will not only break your bank but waste your most precious asset - TIME!
There is a way you can find REAL importers using your best friend on the Internet - Google. I will not provide the exact details of how to find them as this is reserved for the BONUS resources we give to our customers who purchase either our Import Export training course or just the Export training course.
But I will tell you that GOOGLE can be your BEST friend in identifying REAL importers or REAL products that you seek to export and the key I will reveal is to learn how to use their "ADVANCED" search techniques. Other than that, if you want a full, detailed description of this search strategy you will have to get one of the two above mentioned courses.
Finding REAL IMPORTERS using the method I discovered is great, however, in the world of marketing, which type of lead is better? A lead that you find, then contact and try to sell OR a lead that has already seen that you have the product(s) they are looking for and now they have called you or sent you an email?
COMMON SENSE - the lead that is coming to YOU is the BEST lead you can find in ANY BUSINESS. And what is the best way to help potential customers find you and your products? Yes, you guessed it, a WEBSITE (re-read the post previous to this one).
Hope you have found value in the above TIPS and suggestions.
Ron Coble
International Trade Services
Open Letter To Import Export Business Entrepreneurs
This blog contains some of the MOST VALUABLE REAL WORLD experience regarding International Trade and Ecommerce that you will find anywhere and best of all, it is FREE.
You have been directed to this post as a means of helping you make the most informed decision possible about your interest in starting an Export and/or Import business.
Quite frankly, if you will not spend hours and maybe days reading through the posts in this blog, especially ALL of the Questions and Answer posts, you really are not ready to be in business for yourself, especially international trade.
And, if bluntness offends you, you should leave now.
Over the past 4 1/2 years most or at least many of the questions I have received by email or by phone over the past 22 years in this business. My answers to those questions are posted here because it became apparent that many (or most) of these questions were the same, only from different people.
In recent months some changes have come about in our business, website and my health. Assessing these changes, I have decided to put more emphasis on the RETIRED side of the term I normally use of "SEMI-RETIRED" when describing my level of doing business.
In doing so, I also decided that if a person called or emailed questions that I would first refer them to this blog to read everything that has been posted here since most of those questions were answered in the archived posts.
Then if they are unable to find the answer to their specific question, they may come back and ask it, BUT TOO BE VERY BLUNT here, I do not intend to provide you a summary of the import or export course by phone or email when details of the course have been outlined "very" extensively on our web pages.
Also, I am NOT here to provide free coaching, mentoring or consulting - that is why we offer the course and the main courses have a ONE YEAR EMAIL consulting services for any questions that may not be answered within the course.
Before writing this post I tried to think of an analogy for the reason most people never succeed in "any" type of business and I think one came to me.
Let's say you decided to build an addition onto your house and you purchased all of the necessary plans, materials and tools to do so.
If all those plans, materials and tools are still sitting there or the addition is only 1/2 finished after one year, are the plans, tools or materials the reason it was not finished? OR, heaven forbid, would the fault be with the fact the person who had every intention of finishing this addition in 3 months, then 6 months, then 9 and 12, simply was not motivated enough to start or finish it?
If you follow my advice and read the posts within this blog, you may do so by using the links to the archives that are located on the right sidebar area linked to by Month and Year.
Ultimately, if you decide to get the international trade course offered on our website or do not, you will hopefully benefit from the REAL WORLD experience I have put into my answers to the many questions received over the past 22 years.
I will continue to post on this blog as there are still more questions and answers in my files, but again, I am entering a more RETIRED mode of my semi-retired mode of operation.
Thank you for taking the time to read this post and I hope you will find the rest of the blog helpful.
UPDATE (24 October 2010): I realized that the Month/Year Arhive links were not showing up on this page, so just go to the MAIN page of the blog either by clicking here --> http://importexportbusiness.blogspot.com or by clicking on the header title of Import Export Business at the top of the page - the Arhived Posts are then found on the right side by Month and Year.
Regards,
Ron Coble
Owner - Coble International Marketing Services
http://www.importexporthelp.com
You have been directed to this post as a means of helping you make the most informed decision possible about your interest in starting an Export and/or Import business.
Quite frankly, if you will not spend hours and maybe days reading through the posts in this blog, especially ALL of the Questions and Answer posts, you really are not ready to be in business for yourself, especially international trade.
And, if bluntness offends you, you should leave now.
Over the past 4 1/2 years most or at least many of the questions I have received by email or by phone over the past 22 years in this business. My answers to those questions are posted here because it became apparent that many (or most) of these questions were the same, only from different people.
In recent months some changes have come about in our business, website and my health. Assessing these changes, I have decided to put more emphasis on the RETIRED side of the term I normally use of "SEMI-RETIRED" when describing my level of doing business.
In doing so, I also decided that if a person called or emailed questions that I would first refer them to this blog to read everything that has been posted here since most of those questions were answered in the archived posts.
Then if they are unable to find the answer to their specific question, they may come back and ask it, BUT TOO BE VERY BLUNT here, I do not intend to provide you a summary of the import or export course by phone or email when details of the course have been outlined "very" extensively on our web pages.
Also, I am NOT here to provide free coaching, mentoring or consulting - that is why we offer the course and the main courses have a ONE YEAR EMAIL consulting services for any questions that may not be answered within the course.
Before writing this post I tried to think of an analogy for the reason most people never succeed in "any" type of business and I think one came to me.
Let's say you decided to build an addition onto your house and you purchased all of the necessary plans, materials and tools to do so.
If all those plans, materials and tools are still sitting there or the addition is only 1/2 finished after one year, are the plans, tools or materials the reason it was not finished? OR, heaven forbid, would the fault be with the fact the person who had every intention of finishing this addition in 3 months, then 6 months, then 9 and 12, simply was not motivated enough to start or finish it?
If you follow my advice and read the posts within this blog, you may do so by using the links to the archives that are located on the right sidebar area linked to by Month and Year.
Ultimately, if you decide to get the international trade course offered on our website or do not, you will hopefully benefit from the REAL WORLD experience I have put into my answers to the many questions received over the past 22 years.
I will continue to post on this blog as there are still more questions and answers in my files, but again, I am entering a more RETIRED mode of my semi-retired mode of operation.
Thank you for taking the time to read this post and I hope you will find the rest of the blog helpful.
UPDATE (24 October 2010): I realized that the Month/Year Arhive links were not showing up on this page, so just go to the MAIN page of the blog either by clicking here --> http://importexportbusiness.blogspot.com or by clicking on the header title of Import Export Business at the top of the page - the Arhived Posts are then found on the right side by Month and Year.
Regards,
Ron Coble
Owner - Coble International Marketing Services
http://www.importexporthelp.com
Import Export Courses Now Available Via Online Delivery
We will soon have the information and new LOWER PRICES and
FASTER DELIVERY info posted to their respective web pages, but for now,
we are posting the announcement of the NEW ONLINE DELIVERY of the
Import and Export business courses here in our blog.
Basically, all the course files that were placed on CD roms, packaged in a fancy
looking box and then shipped sometimes taking 2-3 weeks due to the customs
clearance delays in your country are now being made available online via a
password accessible dedicated member website.
You will need a broadband connection to download the files, so please
keep that in mind as you make a decision.
Now, in addition to the much faster delivery, the prices will be changed shortly to
reflect the basic shipping costs being taken off the price.
Here is the link to the combined Import Export Toolkit course (components are
outlined on the web page) -
http://www.importexporthelp.com/trdspx1.htm
*** Note the stated price is $424 and $25 would have been added for overseas shipment - NOW (and this may change to a higher price) you can get ALL the
materials via direct member site download for only $409.00US.
If you were only interested in either the exporting or importing courses, here are their direct links and new online delivery prices:
Importing Course - Price on page is $160 and $25 would have been required to
ship - new online delivery price is only $154 -
http://www.importexporthelp.com/trdspi1.htm
Last, just the Exporting Course - Price stated on webpage is $316 plus $25 to
ship overseas - NOW online delivery price is only $301.00 -
http://www.importexporthelp.com/trdspm1.htm
Now even if you are in India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, United Kingdom, Australia or
wherever you are in the world, you do not need to be held hostage to the mercies
of your customs bureau for delivering your course. Within 1 Business Day of
placing your order, you will receive your Password and UserID to use
to get ALL the course materials directly downloaded to your computer.
Ron Coble
Coble International - International Marketing Services
FASTER DELIVERY info posted to their respective web pages, but for now,
we are posting the announcement of the NEW ONLINE DELIVERY of the
Import and Export business courses here in our blog.
Basically, all the course files that were placed on CD roms, packaged in a fancy
looking box and then shipped sometimes taking 2-3 weeks due to the customs
clearance delays in your country are now being made available online via a
password accessible dedicated member website.
You will need a broadband connection to download the files, so please
keep that in mind as you make a decision.
Now, in addition to the much faster delivery, the prices will be changed shortly to
reflect the basic shipping costs being taken off the price.
Here is the link to the combined Import Export Toolkit course (components are
outlined on the web page) -
http://www.importexporthelp.com/trdspx1.htm
*** Note the stated price is $424 and $25 would have been added for overseas shipment - NOW (and this may change to a higher price) you can get ALL the
materials via direct member site download for only $409.00US.
If you were only interested in either the exporting or importing courses, here are their direct links and new online delivery prices:
Importing Course - Price on page is $160 and $25 would have been required to
ship - new online delivery price is only $154 -
http://www.importexporthelp.com/trdspi1.htm
Last, just the Exporting Course - Price stated on webpage is $316 plus $25 to
ship overseas - NOW online delivery price is only $301.00 -
http://www.importexporthelp.com/trdspm1.htm
Now even if you are in India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, United Kingdom, Australia or
wherever you are in the world, you do not need to be held hostage to the mercies
of your customs bureau for delivering your course. Within 1 Business Day of
placing your order, you will receive your Password and UserID to use
to get ALL the course materials directly downloaded to your computer.
Ron Coble
Coble International - International Marketing Services
Import Export Business Tips
Free eBook Excerpt
"42 Rules of Cold Calling Executives"
Understand the dynamics of a cold call and how you can manage those to get results.
Many sales professionals find cold calling difficult and unpleasant, yet the 42 Rules gives them ways to redesign their thinking, approach, practices, and tools, to get the best possible results. The full eBook contains some of the fundamental principles Mari Anne Vanella has developed over the course of her career. Her clients and her own company use this approach to execute the top performing programs in the industry for the past seven years.
This eBook excerpt includes:
Introduction
Rule #2
Rule #3
Rule #4
About the Author
Prepared by Superstar Press; Sponsored by Super Star Press.
Geographic Eligibility: Selected International Countries
Offered by: Super Star Press
"42 Rules of Cold Calling Executives"
Understand the dynamics of a cold call and how you can manage those to get results.
Many sales professionals find cold calling difficult and unpleasant, yet the 42 Rules gives them ways to redesign their thinking, approach, practices, and tools, to get the best possible results. The full eBook contains some of the fundamental principles Mari Anne Vanella has developed over the course of her career. Her clients and her own company use this approach to execute the top performing programs in the industry for the past seven years.
This eBook excerpt includes:
Introduction
Rule #2
Rule #3
Rule #4
About the Author
Prepared by Superstar Press; Sponsored by Super Star Press.
Geographic Eligibility: Selected International Countries
Offered by: Super Star Press
Get your FREE Excerpt at:
http://importexporthelp.tradepub.com/free/w_ha05/prgm.cgi
------------------------------------------------------
American Business Lists are available by SIC code, by state,
by city or by just about any parameter you need for the
success of your direct marketing campaign.
We just finished 51 new web pages for the ImportExportHelp.com
web site under the new directory of "targeted business lists".
You can review these 51 state (and Washington DC) web pages
through their links at the bottom of our main
American Business Lists web page. Check them out today!
------------------------------------------------------
Glo-bis.com can provide you with due diligence reports
on any company in the world - any size, any location,
any industry.
Globis is the source for the US Dept. of Commerce's
reports on Chinese companies. The basic report is
under US$250 and is always freshly investigated, so
the info is as current as possible. See more info,
sample reports, and pricing at http://www.glo-bis.com/
------------------------------------------------------
DIVERSIFICATION - that is the key to success and long term
viability of your international business.
A little known marketplace that you may be able to sell
your goods to is the United Nations.
The most effective way to approach the United Nations is to understand that despite the fact that UN headquarters is in New York, the UN has the same status as a sovereign country. So, selling to the UN is similar to selling to the Canadian government or any other public sector export market.
The most effective way to approach the United Nations is to understand that despite the fact that UN headquarters is in New York, the UN has the same status as a sovereign country. So, selling to the UN is similar to selling to the Canadian government or any other public sector export market. Being a US company confers some strategic advantage as US firms can visit the UN headquarters easily, but beyond that, competition for UN contracts is global and intense. Canada and the Scandinavian countries are key competitors, operating with strong governmental advocacy and financial support for their industry. Inside the UN, there is an international culture, so ithelps to be a seasoned exporter.
To get started, get on the UN Procurement Service website and bookmark it:
http://www.un.org/Depts/ptd/
Your may Download and print out their General Business Guide, which serves as a roadmap to the UN agencies, what they buy and how they do business:
http://www.iapso.org/information/publications.asp
The Procurement Service requires that suppliers be solid, solvent, stable. The UN can’t afford to have a vendor go bankrupt in the middle of a Peacekeeping Mission, so the Procurement Division requires vendor registration.
------------------------------------------------------
Money-$aving tip: If you take an empty toner
cartridge to Office Depot, Office Max or Staples,
they will give you a credit of approximately $3
towards the purchase of anything in their store.
Note: most have a limit of one trade per visit.
Also, call to verify that the offer is still valid
at your local office supply stores - I just called
our local stores and it was still in effect. So,
save your cartridges. If you have to buy another
cartridge, take in the old one for a nice credit.
Another Money-$aving tip: When your toner cartridge
starts running low, leaving streaks in the
middle of your pages, simply remove the cartridge,
shake vigorously from side to side, and re-insert
it. You will get another couple of hundred pages,
minimum. This strategy is especially important
when you don't have a spare cartridge on hand,
and you are printing out something that need
completed immediately.
Import Export Business Resources
This is a quick post on a Saturday night before I go watch a movie.
First, if you are searching for a product to export or sell domestically here
in the USA, you should look for a product line that has the backing and
support of the US Government and what better product than one that
is certified to meet their standards?
The US and the world are looking for products that support the GREEN
movement towards saving and supporting and not destroying the Earth.
If you are not familiar with environmentally friendly cleaning products
and how they are just as effective as other harmful chemical based
products, you should really take a look at the green cleaning products
company that is advertising on our web site.
One you have viewed their ad (thru the link above) then go to their
main web site and if you have been looking for a line of products to
market in the USA or internationally, this might be it or if you live
in a country where you think these products would sell, contact the
company and see what kind of deal you can work out with them.
Do it now!
Next, if you have followed my posts here (and you really should
because I have really published a great deal of information FREE
that others would charge you for (see the ARCHIVES by date on
the right side of this blog) then you know that I STRONGLY
encourage you to use the INTERNET to promote your products,
whether you are working as an exporter or importer.
The INTERNET is the marketplace to the WORLD. Whether you
are promoting your own product or marketing another company's
products, the INTERNET is your VERY BEST resource.
The course that got me started about 10 years ago on the net was
only available in a cumbersome 2 ring binder of over 1000 printed
pages and cost nearly as much to ship it outside the USA as the
course itself cost.
ALL THAT HAS CHANGED WITH THE NEW 2009 EDITION!
Everything is now available on a password protected web site and
includes FAR MORE than they could have ever included in the
printed version AND due to the savings on paper and shipping,
the price has been lowered by $97.00.
This Internet Marketing course is AGES ahead of the one I
purchased 10 years ago and includes the very latest and greatest
information YOU NEED to market products or services via the
INTERNET.
Literally, OVER $100 MILLION in international business
experience, strategies, and Internet marketing secrets have
gone into this new 2009 version which is availabe to YOU
WHEREVER you live in the world (it is best to have a broadband
connection due to the number of vides that are included).
The $100 MILLION is what the publisher has done in
International Business using the very same strategies they
reveal to you. Strategies you can use to market your export
or import products and/or services.
Here is the link to FAR MORE information than ever before
at nearly ONE HALF the price and available IMMEDIATELY!
http://www.importexporthelp.com/redir/imc-course.htm
Last, but certainly not least, if you do the SMART THING and
begin using INTERNET MARKETING to promote your export
or import products, you need an easy to use and inexpensive
web site building system with hosting, domain registration and
search engine optimization help built into it.
The best best WEB SITE BUILDING system that I can
recommend to you gives you all of the above and MORE and
right now, they have a special deal going on that you should
check out before it is closed. Literally, you get about 5 times
the value of what they ask from this web building system when
you look at the resources they provide all-in-one package to
help you build and get your web site ranked in the search
engines where someone will find it - go check them out now
while their special is still in effect:
http://www.importexporthelp.com/recommends/best-website-building-system.htm
That is it for this Saturday night - I could not contain myself
and keep the information until Monday, so go check out the
above resources and be sure to visit all our archived pages
for free valuable real-life experience lessons from the world
of import and export.
Ron Coble
Coble International Marketing Services
http://www.importexporthelp/
First, if you are searching for a product to export or sell domestically here
in the USA, you should look for a product line that has the backing and
support of the US Government and what better product than one that
is certified to meet their standards?
The US and the world are looking for products that support the GREEN
movement towards saving and supporting and not destroying the Earth.
If you are not familiar with environmentally friendly cleaning products
and how they are just as effective as other harmful chemical based
products, you should really take a look at the green cleaning products
company that is advertising on our web site.
One you have viewed their ad (thru the link above) then go to their
main web site and if you have been looking for a line of products to
market in the USA or internationally, this might be it or if you live
in a country where you think these products would sell, contact the
company and see what kind of deal you can work out with them.
Do it now!
Next, if you have followed my posts here (and you really should
because I have really published a great deal of information FREE
that others would charge you for (see the ARCHIVES by date on
the right side of this blog) then you know that I STRONGLY
encourage you to use the INTERNET to promote your products,
whether you are working as an exporter or importer.
The INTERNET is the marketplace to the WORLD. Whether you
are promoting your own product or marketing another company's
products, the INTERNET is your VERY BEST resource.
The course that got me started about 10 years ago on the net was
only available in a cumbersome 2 ring binder of over 1000 printed
pages and cost nearly as much to ship it outside the USA as the
course itself cost.
ALL THAT HAS CHANGED WITH THE NEW 2009 EDITION!
Everything is now available on a password protected web site and
includes FAR MORE than they could have ever included in the
printed version AND due to the savings on paper and shipping,
the price has been lowered by $97.00.
This Internet Marketing course is AGES ahead of the one I
purchased 10 years ago and includes the very latest and greatest
information YOU NEED to market products or services via the
INTERNET.
Literally, OVER $100 MILLION in international business
experience, strategies, and Internet marketing secrets have
gone into this new 2009 version which is availabe to YOU
WHEREVER you live in the world (it is best to have a broadband
connection due to the number of vides that are included).
The $100 MILLION is what the publisher has done in
International Business using the very same strategies they
reveal to you. Strategies you can use to market your export
or import products and/or services.
Here is the link to FAR MORE information than ever before
at nearly ONE HALF the price and available IMMEDIATELY!
http://www.importexporthelp.com/redir/imc-course.htm
Last, but certainly not least, if you do the SMART THING and
begin using INTERNET MARKETING to promote your export
or import products, you need an easy to use and inexpensive
web site building system with hosting, domain registration and
search engine optimization help built into it.
The best best WEB SITE BUILDING system that I can
recommend to you gives you all of the above and MORE and
right now, they have a special deal going on that you should
check out before it is closed. Literally, you get about 5 times
the value of what they ask from this web building system when
you look at the resources they provide all-in-one package to
help you build and get your web site ranked in the search
engines where someone will find it - go check them out now
while their special is still in effect:
http://www.importexporthelp.com/recommends/best-website-building-system.htm
That is it for this Saturday night - I could not contain myself
and keep the information until Monday, so go check out the
above resources and be sure to visit all our archived pages
for free valuable real-life experience lessons from the world
of import and export.
Ron Coble
Coble International Marketing Services
http://www.importexporthelp/
Recession? Depression And The Import Export Business
One of the main questions I get from people who call or email
me asking about starting an import export business involves the
current state of the economy.
Quite frankly and honestly, it is bad and probably going to get a
lot worse before it begins to turn around. Personally, I do not
believe that either political party can do much about it and since
most of them are lawyers, they have little, if any, real business
experience or comprehension of how or what it takes to operate
a business.
If you are contemplating starting a business, make sure it is one
you are really interested in because it is going to be a lot tougher
to succeed now than it was just 6 months ago.
The Import Export Business is not for everyone. YOU must decide
if it is really what you want to do and if it is, make the decision
now to move forward and do it.
If you wait for a politician or government statistician to tell you
when is the right time to get started or when we have "turned the
corner", you are simply allowing another human being dictate your
life's future. A human being, that is what makes up government,
remember that - they are as subject to mistakes, miscalculations,
fraud, waste and abuse and any of those deadheads being paid
billions of dollars while their corporations are going bankrupt.
Take control of your life now, whether we are in a recession or
depression and move forward based on YOU and the intelligence you
were given.
So with that said, I wanted to post an excerpt from a book titled:
The Davis Dynasty by John Rothchild the subject of which is the
Great Depression of the 1930's:
Rothchild writes: "The Great Depression didn't destroy commerce,
any more than the mislabeled Dark Ages destroyed culture.
Zippo lighters, Frito corn chips, Skippy peanut butter and
Three Musketeers candy bars appeared on retail shelves in 1932."
People still started businesses. Revlon got its start in 1932,
for instance. "Life went on. People went shopping. Some bought rugs.
Even in the worst of times, Art Loom stayed in business."
Art Loom was the creation of the Wasserman family. It sold rugs.
Recession? Depression?? Don't let it or some government employee
(remember they serve you and I) dictate how you will live out
your life in the coming months and years.
OK, here is one of the latest Questions and Answers from my
email collection:
QUESTION:
One of the first products I wanted to trade in construction
materials is cement. I found a company I would like to deal
with because of their size and many locations
around the world. After some weeks of weeding out the
wrong people to talk to, it seems I may have stumbled on
the right person.
If you have the time, I am sending my correspondence with him
and is from last to first of our communications.
I am wondering if you might steer me in the right direction.
All I would need is FOB pricing, depending on quantity,
from any particular manufacturing site they may have around the world.
Do you think he may be asking me for actual orders I may have now,
or just the type of relationship I wish to create with them?
ANSWER:
First, you have encountered one of the primary reasons why I
do not like email as a means of making initial contact. It would have
been much more reliable and faster to just pick up the phone and
call this gentleman and it would be my recommendation for any
follow up to either get to an agreement or find out they are not
interested.
Second, you have to decide what it is you are, i.e., an EMC generally
buys the product for resale to your importing customers - an export
agent/broker works on a commission basis by bringing the two parties
together and earning a commission from the seller/manufacturer.
Third, back to number one - this gentleman is unsure of what it is
you are asking or requiring of him and his company - a short 5 minute
phone call would clarify that and you would soon know if he is
interested in working with you.
*** NEW ADDED NOTE not in original correspondence - I cannot emphasize
enough about making initial contact by some other means other than
Email. For some reason, our ISP does not like the email
domain name of a long time business associate of ours - despite
approving his domain and email "multiple" times, our ISP puts all of
his emails into the sp*am folder. Some ISP's are even more strict and
delete them outright.
The first part of this question was answered because there had been
multiple attempts to make contact with the supplier by email and
there was then some problem in the supplier misunderstanding the
communication. A quick phone call will alleviate this type of
delay and also help eliminate any misunderstanding of what you are
proposing.
One additional suggestion - in your calls and correspondence - try
to refer to your business in the plural - we - it just sounds more
businesslike than using I.
Bottom line is that email is a very poor means of making
initial contact, but great means after you have established a
point of contact to deal with. I use both methods but rely more
heavily on phone for initial contacts.
---------------------------------------
Ron Coble
International Business Marketing Services
http://www.importexporthelp.com/
me asking about starting an import export business involves the
current state of the economy.
Quite frankly and honestly, it is bad and probably going to get a
lot worse before it begins to turn around. Personally, I do not
believe that either political party can do much about it and since
most of them are lawyers, they have little, if any, real business
experience or comprehension of how or what it takes to operate
a business.
If you are contemplating starting a business, make sure it is one
you are really interested in because it is going to be a lot tougher
to succeed now than it was just 6 months ago.
The Import Export Business is not for everyone. YOU must decide
if it is really what you want to do and if it is, make the decision
now to move forward and do it.
If you wait for a politician or government statistician to tell you
when is the right time to get started or when we have "turned the
corner", you are simply allowing another human being dictate your
life's future. A human being, that is what makes up government,
remember that - they are as subject to mistakes, miscalculations,
fraud, waste and abuse and any of those deadheads being paid
billions of dollars while their corporations are going bankrupt.
Take control of your life now, whether we are in a recession or
depression and move forward based on YOU and the intelligence you
were given.
So with that said, I wanted to post an excerpt from a book titled:
The Davis Dynasty by John Rothchild the subject of which is the
Great Depression of the 1930's:
Rothchild writes: "The Great Depression didn't destroy commerce,
any more than the mislabeled Dark Ages destroyed culture.
Zippo lighters, Frito corn chips, Skippy peanut butter and
Three Musketeers candy bars appeared on retail shelves in 1932."
People still started businesses. Revlon got its start in 1932,
for instance. "Life went on. People went shopping. Some bought rugs.
Even in the worst of times, Art Loom stayed in business."
Art Loom was the creation of the Wasserman family. It sold rugs.
Recession? Depression?? Don't let it or some government employee
(remember they serve you and I) dictate how you will live out
your life in the coming months and years.
OK, here is one of the latest Questions and Answers from my
email collection:
QUESTION:
One of the first products I wanted to trade in construction
materials is cement. I found a company I would like to deal
with because of their size and many locations
around the world. After some weeks of weeding out the
wrong people to talk to, it seems I may have stumbled on
the right person.
If you have the time, I am sending my correspondence with him
and is from last to first of our communications.
I am wondering if you might steer me in the right direction.
All I would need is FOB pricing, depending on quantity,
from any particular manufacturing site they may have around the world.
Do you think he may be asking me for actual orders I may have now,
or just the type of relationship I wish to create with them?
ANSWER:
First, you have encountered one of the primary reasons why I
do not like email as a means of making initial contact. It would have
been much more reliable and faster to just pick up the phone and
call this gentleman and it would be my recommendation for any
follow up to either get to an agreement or find out they are not
interested.
Second, you have to decide what it is you are, i.e., an EMC generally
buys the product for resale to your importing customers - an export
agent/broker works on a commission basis by bringing the two parties
together and earning a commission from the seller/manufacturer.
Third, back to number one - this gentleman is unsure of what it is
you are asking or requiring of him and his company - a short 5 minute
phone call would clarify that and you would soon know if he is
interested in working with you.
*** NEW ADDED NOTE not in original correspondence - I cannot emphasize
enough about making initial contact by some other means other than
Email. For some reason, our ISP does not like the email
domain name of a long time business associate of ours - despite
approving his domain and email "multiple" times, our ISP puts all of
his emails into the sp*am folder. Some ISP's are even more strict and
delete them outright.
The first part of this question was answered because there had been
multiple attempts to make contact with the supplier by email and
there was then some problem in the supplier misunderstanding the
communication. A quick phone call will alleviate this type of
delay and also help eliminate any misunderstanding of what you are
proposing.
One additional suggestion - in your calls and correspondence - try
to refer to your business in the plural - we - it just sounds more
businesslike than using I.
Bottom line is that email is a very poor means of making
initial contact, but great means after you have established a
point of contact to deal with. I use both methods but rely more
heavily on phone for initial contacts.
---------------------------------------
Ron Coble
International Business Marketing Services
http://www.importexporthelp.com/
International Business Questions And Answers
Import Export Business Question:
We are to Norwegian export agents based in Vancouver, Canada,
who would like to find potential buyers in Norway for Canadian
and American companies. Even though one of us has a bachelor
degree in International marketing & export, we still have some
questions about how things really work in the real world.
Due to our limited resources, we have just started a home-based
export business, and we think we have everything in its place now.
However, we are a little bit unsecured if we as agent need to be
responsible for the shipping of the goods and custom declaration?
Could some companies require this?
Import Export Business Answer
Even though you have a degree, I would still suggest you get a copy of
our Exporters Master Training package since it contains "real world"
information, not just theory - you may review details at:
http://www.importexporthelp.com/trdspm1.htm
I will attempt to answer your question below, but you should also take
several hours and visit our import export business blog at:
http://importexportbusiness.blogspot.com
*** look on the right side - down a bit - to find the dated archived posts -
not all will be of interest but the majority are questions and answers
that we have received and answered over the years which will be
beneficial to you.
Now to your question - working as an agent/broker can involve you doing
everything that is part of the exporting process from taking care of the
shipping, customs, financing, etc. if that is what you agree to do or
what your client requires in order to do business.
You can also work the business (again subject to your negotiated
agreement with the supplier/manufacturer) in a manner like I do where all
I do is generate or identify potential buyers for manufacturers and pass
those qualified leads on to the supplier - upon completion of a sale to
the parties I introduce them to, I get paid a commission which is far
less than the one I could earn if I wanted to handle all the follow up
details as you have described.
Some purists would say I am a finder, some would say I am nothing
more than a lead generator and I would respond, call me what you will
but as long as they have my name or my company's name spelled
correctly on their checks, I could care less what anyone else wishes
to call me.
So bottom line, it comes down to you and the supplier and what
involvement you wish to have in the process - the more involvement,
the more you can demand in payment, the less involvement and the
you can expect to be paid less - you have to weigh the offset of the
time you spend on a deal versus what you will get paid for that time.
Hope this helps and again, I strongly recommend you and your
partners get the Exporters Master training package - it is something
you all may use and continue to use if and when you hire any employees
or take on any new partners in your business.
Good luck and I wish you success!
Ron Coble
http://www.importexporthelp.com
We are to Norwegian export agents based in Vancouver, Canada,
who would like to find potential buyers in Norway for Canadian
and American companies. Even though one of us has a bachelor
degree in International marketing & export, we still have some
questions about how things really work in the real world.
Due to our limited resources, we have just started a home-based
export business, and we think we have everything in its place now.
However, we are a little bit unsecured if we as agent need to be
responsible for the shipping of the goods and custom declaration?
Could some companies require this?
Import Export Business Answer
Even though you have a degree, I would still suggest you get a copy of
our Exporters Master Training package since it contains "real world"
information, not just theory - you may review details at:
http://www.importexporthelp.com/trdspm1.htm
I will attempt to answer your question below, but you should also take
several hours and visit our import export business blog at:
http://importexportbusiness.blogspot.com
*** look on the right side - down a bit - to find the dated archived posts -
not all will be of interest but the majority are questions and answers
that we have received and answered over the years which will be
beneficial to you.
Now to your question - working as an agent/broker can involve you doing
everything that is part of the exporting process from taking care of the
shipping, customs, financing, etc. if that is what you agree to do or
what your client requires in order to do business.
You can also work the business (again subject to your negotiated
agreement with the supplier/manufacturer) in a manner like I do where all
I do is generate or identify potential buyers for manufacturers and pass
those qualified leads on to the supplier - upon completion of a sale to
the parties I introduce them to, I get paid a commission which is far
less than the one I could earn if I wanted to handle all the follow up
details as you have described.
Some purists would say I am a finder, some would say I am nothing
more than a lead generator and I would respond, call me what you will
but as long as they have my name or my company's name spelled
correctly on their checks, I could care less what anyone else wishes
to call me.
So bottom line, it comes down to you and the supplier and what
involvement you wish to have in the process - the more involvement,
the more you can demand in payment, the less involvement and the
you can expect to be paid less - you have to weigh the offset of the
time you spend on a deal versus what you will get paid for that time.
Hope this helps and again, I strongly recommend you and your
partners get the Exporters Master training package - it is something
you all may use and continue to use if and when you hire any employees
or take on any new partners in your business.
Good luck and I wish you success!
Ron Coble
http://www.importexporthelp.com
Import Export Business And The Economy
Question:
I am going to order your program next month, but I was wonder, if the economy is such a crappy mess, is Import/Export Business hard to get into?
Answer:
Thanks for the opportunity to answer your question. It is one that
I thought I had answered this question in one of my blog posts but
upon reviewing it this morning it does not appear that I have done so.
I will try to keep my answer from getting political, but it is difficult
not to reference some of the reasons our economy is in the mess
it is in.
First, let me address your basic question. Is the Import Export
business hard to get into?
The quick answer to your question is Yes, it is a hard business
to succeed in whether the economy is good or bad.
In fact, it is hard to succeed at any business at any time and
the economy does play a role in how difficult it will be and
right now, it is much, much more difficult to succeed in ANY
business.
The fact that this business, or any business, is difficult to
succeed at is a fact the "hype" masters of the Internet and
opportunity magazines seem to ignore. It can best be summed
up in a Chinese proverb I just posted last night in our
Import Export business blog - the proverb is this -
“Fish see the bait, but not the hook. Men see the profit, but not the peril.”
International trade or trade between businesses in different
countries has been going on since the beginning of mankind.
There have always been obstacles placed in front of them and
these obstacles can be in the form of mountains, rivers, oceans,
thieves, and the biggest thief and obstacle of all, governments.
Governments create obstacles whether through the manipulation
of their economies or supposed protection of the industries
within their borders from less expensive goods coming in and
threatening the status quo.
Governments try to regulate things that most often will work
their way through, if the government would just let their hands
off of it in the first place.
We human beings have a tendency to believe that the persons
making up our governments have a better understanding of how
business should be run than the people who are actually working
in that business, yet most government employees and elected
officials have "never" run a profitable business.
And the people who make up our governments are just as
subject to greed and envy as all human beings and in some
instances I believe they are more subject to it.
Sorry, I am getting off on a rant here but in regards to starting
your business, you must decide if the Import Export business
is really what you want to do. It is not a hyped up business
"opportunity", it is a serious business and what our course
offers is "training" on how to start that type of business.
If you are serious about starting an import export business,
then do not wait around for the economy to turn, get started
learning what you need to know to succeed now. Then when
the economy finally does turn around, you will be that much
ahead of everyone else who sat on their hands waiting for
an imagined government solution.
One of the biggest obstacles to international trade, right
now, is financing or letters of credit.
Banks no longer trust each other, both within the USA and
from one country to another and this means you or a
manufacturer you work with as an agent or broker is going
to have a much more difficult time getting a buyer to get
a letter of credit and secondly have the manufacturer's
bank accept that letter of credit (loc).
The course will discuss financing options and where you
or the manufacturer can go to get financing if that is the
only method by which a buyer can make a purchase.
There are other alternatives to financing depending upon
the amount of the purchase. Credit cards often have a
line of credit large enough for a buyer to make the purchase
if an loc is not an accepted solution. Direct bank wire
transfers are still another option.
If a buyer really has a market for the product(s) you are
helping a manufacturer sell, the buyer will find a way of
paying for them.
So the bottom line, in answer to your original question,
is YES it is more difficult today than just a few months ago
but if you are serious about your interest in this business,
then begin learning the "how to" now and you will be in
a much better position to capitalize on the turnaround
once it comes.
If you make the decision to get started now, do not wait
for a turnaround, begin looking at markets that are still
moving goods. Food is a commodity that will always
be needed and the USA still leads the world in food
production.
In finishing this LONG answer to a SHORT question,
let me cite how difficult trade can be and then begin to
think about how much easier a path you have than
the following example.
Over the past weekend there was an episode of the
show "Globetrotter" on one of the PBS stations. I
missed the first part of it but saw enough to impress
me on how easy our lives and businesses have it
in comparison to other people in the world.
The 'globetrotter' on this episode was a young lady who
(when I picked up the show) was walking across a barren
desert in an African country (I think it was part of the
Sahara).
She had joined a trader's caravan from a desert oasis
where they grow fruits and vegetables. The people and
their camels were walking across the desert as these people
have done for thousands of years to take their goods to
a city where they would trade their goods for "salt".
The salt is required for both the people and their animals
due to the intense desert heat.
Most of the people in the caravan were walking and the
narrator stated how they would cover 50-60 miles a day!
I think they said it was a 17 day round trip and the city
where they traded their goods for salt was about 600 miles
from their oasis.
Once they got to the city, they made their trades and
loaded 4 very heavy pillars of salt on the camels and
began their journey back to their oasis.
This is what these people have been doing for thousands
of years and in my humble opinion, nothing that is currently
facing us in regards to the economy even comes close to
the hardships these 'traders' face on a continual basis.
So, yes, it will be more difficult to succeed in the import
export business today than just 6 months ago, but if this
is the business you wish to pursue, then you need to make
the decision that once you learn the "how to" that nothing
is going to stop you which brings up another proverb or
old saying I once heard many years ago.
"Let the dogs bark but the caravan moves on"
You can liken that to the first caravan that ever made that
long, hot and fateful journey across the Sahara. There
were probably more people telling them it would fail than
succeed but in the end, the caravan left those barking dogs
behind and moved on.
Hope this helps you make a more informed decision.
*** There was a brief follow up to the above answer that I
remembered a few days later that I had intended to include,
that additional answer is as follows:
Just wanted to follow up with you since there was one other
comment I wanted to include in the previous reply shown below.
It basically involves how in today's lousy economic environment
and a general distrust of investing your money with any
institution, the very best thing you can invest in is yourself.
Once you gain knowledge about a new subject, the investment
will last for a life time. No one can ever take it away from you
and the growth of that investment is solely dependent upon
you and the actions you take, not an investment advisor,
banker, etc..
So if there is any ONE place I would recommend for someone
to invest right now or for that matter, any time, is in educating
yourself.
For further information about Import Export or other International
business resources, visit the International Business Help Center
and be sure to take your time looking around the 285 web pages
that make up this premier web site.
Ron Coble
Coble International Business Services
I am going to order your program next month, but I was wonder, if the economy is such a crappy mess, is Import/Export Business hard to get into?
Answer:
Thanks for the opportunity to answer your question. It is one that
I thought I had answered this question in one of my blog posts but
upon reviewing it this morning it does not appear that I have done so.
I will try to keep my answer from getting political, but it is difficult
not to reference some of the reasons our economy is in the mess
it is in.
First, let me address your basic question. Is the Import Export
business hard to get into?
The quick answer to your question is Yes, it is a hard business
to succeed in whether the economy is good or bad.
In fact, it is hard to succeed at any business at any time and
the economy does play a role in how difficult it will be and
right now, it is much, much more difficult to succeed in ANY
business.
The fact that this business, or any business, is difficult to
succeed at is a fact the "hype" masters of the Internet and
opportunity magazines seem to ignore. It can best be summed
up in a Chinese proverb I just posted last night in our
Import Export business blog - the proverb is this -
“Fish see the bait, but not the hook. Men see the profit, but not the peril.”
International trade or trade between businesses in different
countries has been going on since the beginning of mankind.
There have always been obstacles placed in front of them and
these obstacles can be in the form of mountains, rivers, oceans,
thieves, and the biggest thief and obstacle of all, governments.
Governments create obstacles whether through the manipulation
of their economies or supposed protection of the industries
within their borders from less expensive goods coming in and
threatening the status quo.
Governments try to regulate things that most often will work
their way through, if the government would just let their hands
off of it in the first place.
We human beings have a tendency to believe that the persons
making up our governments have a better understanding of how
business should be run than the people who are actually working
in that business, yet most government employees and elected
officials have "never" run a profitable business.
And the people who make up our governments are just as
subject to greed and envy as all human beings and in some
instances I believe they are more subject to it.
Sorry, I am getting off on a rant here but in regards to starting
your business, you must decide if the Import Export business
is really what you want to do. It is not a hyped up business
"opportunity", it is a serious business and what our course
offers is "training" on how to start that type of business.
If you are serious about starting an import export business,
then do not wait around for the economy to turn, get started
learning what you need to know to succeed now. Then when
the economy finally does turn around, you will be that much
ahead of everyone else who sat on their hands waiting for
an imagined government solution.
One of the biggest obstacles to international trade, right
now, is financing or letters of credit.
Banks no longer trust each other, both within the USA and
from one country to another and this means you or a
manufacturer you work with as an agent or broker is going
to have a much more difficult time getting a buyer to get
a letter of credit and secondly have the manufacturer's
bank accept that letter of credit (loc).
The course will discuss financing options and where you
or the manufacturer can go to get financing if that is the
only method by which a buyer can make a purchase.
There are other alternatives to financing depending upon
the amount of the purchase. Credit cards often have a
line of credit large enough for a buyer to make the purchase
if an loc is not an accepted solution. Direct bank wire
transfers are still another option.
If a buyer really has a market for the product(s) you are
helping a manufacturer sell, the buyer will find a way of
paying for them.
So the bottom line, in answer to your original question,
is YES it is more difficult today than just a few months ago
but if you are serious about your interest in this business,
then begin learning the "how to" now and you will be in
a much better position to capitalize on the turnaround
once it comes.
If you make the decision to get started now, do not wait
for a turnaround, begin looking at markets that are still
moving goods. Food is a commodity that will always
be needed and the USA still leads the world in food
production.
In finishing this LONG answer to a SHORT question,
let me cite how difficult trade can be and then begin to
think about how much easier a path you have than
the following example.
Over the past weekend there was an episode of the
show "Globetrotter" on one of the PBS stations. I
missed the first part of it but saw enough to impress
me on how easy our lives and businesses have it
in comparison to other people in the world.
The 'globetrotter' on this episode was a young lady who
(when I picked up the show) was walking across a barren
desert in an African country (I think it was part of the
Sahara).
She had joined a trader's caravan from a desert oasis
where they grow fruits and vegetables. The people and
their camels were walking across the desert as these people
have done for thousands of years to take their goods to
a city where they would trade their goods for "salt".
The salt is required for both the people and their animals
due to the intense desert heat.
Most of the people in the caravan were walking and the
narrator stated how they would cover 50-60 miles a day!
I think they said it was a 17 day round trip and the city
where they traded their goods for salt was about 600 miles
from their oasis.
Once they got to the city, they made their trades and
loaded 4 very heavy pillars of salt on the camels and
began their journey back to their oasis.
This is what these people have been doing for thousands
of years and in my humble opinion, nothing that is currently
facing us in regards to the economy even comes close to
the hardships these 'traders' face on a continual basis.
So, yes, it will be more difficult to succeed in the import
export business today than just 6 months ago, but if this
is the business you wish to pursue, then you need to make
the decision that once you learn the "how to" that nothing
is going to stop you which brings up another proverb or
old saying I once heard many years ago.
"Let the dogs bark but the caravan moves on"
You can liken that to the first caravan that ever made that
long, hot and fateful journey across the Sahara. There
were probably more people telling them it would fail than
succeed but in the end, the caravan left those barking dogs
behind and moved on.
Hope this helps you make a more informed decision.
*** There was a brief follow up to the above answer that I
remembered a few days later that I had intended to include,
that additional answer is as follows:
Just wanted to follow up with you since there was one other
comment I wanted to include in the previous reply shown below.
It basically involves how in today's lousy economic environment
and a general distrust of investing your money with any
institution, the very best thing you can invest in is yourself.
Once you gain knowledge about a new subject, the investment
will last for a life time. No one can ever take it away from you
and the growth of that investment is solely dependent upon
you and the actions you take, not an investment advisor,
banker, etc..
So if there is any ONE place I would recommend for someone
to invest right now or for that matter, any time, is in educating
yourself.
For further information about Import Export or other International
business resources, visit the International Business Help Center
and be sure to take your time looking around the 285 web pages
that make up this premier web site.
Ron Coble
Coble International Business Services
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