QUESTIONS?
Becky DeStigter
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October 14, 2019
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Export Basics
It happens more than I would like to admit. A company tells me that they have downsized their international customer base or pulled out of international markets altogether. International markets are just not profitable, they say.
Upon closer investigation, a common issue is the lack of international negotiation skills.
While some of the savviest companies attend extensive training in this area, here are five rules that can help address some of the biggest issues.
David Noah
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October 9, 2019
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Import Basics,
Export Basics,
Incoterms
The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) has released the new Incoterms 2020 rules that identify the responsibilities of buyers and sellers for the delivery of goods in international trade. The terms also identify when the risk for those goods transfer from the seller to the buyer.
The new terms take effect on January 1, 2020.
David Noah
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October 2, 2019
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Export Basics,
Export Forms
So, you want to make an outstanding first impression? You have seven seconds. Studies show that positive (or negative) business impressions are made almost immediately—in person.
Can the same thing be said for first impressions when you aren’t working face to face with a potential customer? I think so.
In the world of exporting, one of the best ways to make a positive, lasting first impression is to provide a proforma invoice for your prospective buyers. When it comes down to it, the proforma invoice really is the first impression you will make on your buyers, so it’s pivotal to make your buyer’s experience a pleasant one.
David Noah
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September 25, 2019
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Import Basics,
Export Basics
As an exporter, you’re probably familiar with the Harmonized System (HS) and Schedule B codes, but you may not be as familiar with the role of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule, or HTS, codes.
In this article, we’ll cover the basics of the HTSUS, including what it is, when it should be used, and why Schedule B codes are a better option for companies that export only.
David Noah
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September 18, 2019
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Export Compliance,
Export Basics
Far too often we hear from exporters who say they’re not worried about export compliance because their company is “too small to be noticed” or they “don’t ship items that will get them in trouble.”
This is a huge—and potentially costly—mistake.
Francis Peters
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September 16, 2019
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Export Basics
Smaller businesses often think that exporting is only for large multinational companies. But that's usually not the case. In fact, more than 97% of all U.S. exporters are small and medium-sized businesses employing less than 500 people.
What's really surprising is the number of businesses that aren't exporting. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, less than one percent of the 30 million companies in the U.S. actually sell their products internationally. Many of these firms could benefit from exporting, but have yet to do so.
David Noah
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September 4, 2019
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Export Compliance,
Export Basics
Most of us wouldn't take a long road trip without directions, so why would a company embark on an export journey without one?
Exporting is a complicated process. You are navigating different cultures, customs, currencies and regulations. In order to be consistently successful, you need directions that guide you past all these hurdles, both known and unexpected.
That's where an Export Compliance Program (ECP) comes in.
David Noah
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August 28, 2019
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Export Basics,
Export Forms
“Where do I even start?!”
If you’re new to the export process, you may have uttered this phrase under your breath a few times. Beginning exporters have a lot on their plate, and it’s not always easy to know who (or what) to turn to for reliable information.
Here are seven resources that can make completing your export documents easier. With these sources, you’ll be able to finish your paperwork more quickly, get answers to many of your questions, and learn information to help you in future exports.
David Noah
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August 14, 2019
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Export Basics
In a previous blog post I shared a wealth of advice from U.S. Commercial Service directors and trade specialists: 12 Pearls of Wisdom for New Exporters from the U.S. Commercial Service.
I thought one of those excellent suggestions deserved more of an explanation, so we talked with George Tracy, director of the Atlanta U.S. Export Assistance Center, to learn more about domestic business processes that are impacted by exporting and how to optimize those processes. Here’s what he had to say.
David Noah
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August 7, 2019
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Export Basics
If you’re a U.S. exporter looking to become more competitive and successful, you must make it as easy as possible for global customers to purchase your products. Unfortunately, many companies in the U.S. aren’t aware of one simple change they can make to increase their competitiveness in selling to overseas markets: dual-currency invoicing.