What are some reasons that firms decide to export their products or services?
No matter how attractive and ‘must have’ your product or service seems to be, a strictly limiting yourself to your domestic market will have a finite capacity. And once you have reached saturation point, what then? Because of these limitations wise business owners are looking to go global and exploit the many international trade opportunities – after all, in the global economy; practically every country is a potential customer. Show
Here are seven reasons for international trade:1Reduced dependence on your local marketYour home market may be struggling due to economic pressures, but if you go global, you will have immediate access to a practically unlimited range of customers in areas where there is more money available to spend, and because different cultures have different wants and needs, you can diversify your product range to take advantage of these differences. 2Increased chances of successUnless you’ve got your pricing wrong, the higher the volume of products you sell, the more profit you make, and overseas trade is an obvious way to increase sales. In support of this, UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) claim that companies who go global are 12% more likely to survive and excel than those who choose not to export. 3Increased efficiencyBenefit from the economies of scale that the export of your goods can bring – go global and profitably use up any excess capacity in your business, smoothing the load and avoiding the seasonal peaks and troughs that are the bane of the production manager’s life. 4Increased productivityStatistics from UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) state that companies involved in overseas trade can improve their productivity by 34% – imagine that, over a third more with no increase in plant. 5Economic advantageTake advantage of currency fluctuations – export when the value of the pound sterling is low against other currencies, and reap the very real benefits. Words of warning though; watch out for import tariffs in the country you are exporting to, and keep an eye on the value of sterling. You don’t want to be caught out by any sudden upsurge in the value of the pound, or you could lose all the profit you have worked so hard to gain. 6InnovationBecause you are exporting to a wider range of customers, you will also gain a wider range of feedback about your products, and this can lead to real benefits. In fact, UKTI statistics show that businesses believe that exporting leads to innovation – increases in break-through product development to solve problems and meet the needs of the wider customer base. 53% of businesses they spoke to said that a new product or service has evolved because of their overseas trade. 7GrowthThe holy grail for any business, and something that has been lacking for a long time in our manufacturing industries – more overseas trade = increased growth opportunities, to benefit both your business and our economy as a whole. Are you ready to boost your international trade in 2021?Do you want to expand further in 2021 and seize more exciting international opportunities but feel unsure about where to start? Or have you already taken the plunge but found you’re unable to perform well in the new market? Canada has always been a trading nation. Exports and imports consistently account for about two thirds of the country's GDP. As the liberalization of global commerce continues, more and more Canadian companies are joining the international market every year. Why would a company that's already doing well within Canada consider becoming an exporter? There are several good reasons to export, including:
Access export information and tools through MY TCS, an online platform for Canadian SMEs brought to you by the TCS.
Make the TCS your personal link to business intelligence from around the world! Create your profile for MY TCS today. Exporting has many challenges, but you can surmount them through careful preparation and planning. Among these challenges are:
Source: Adapted with permission from the Forum for International Trade Training, (FITT) Going Global. Finding helpThe Canadian Trade Commissioner Service (TCS) provides resources and contact information to help businesses with export counselling, marketing strategy information, market-entry support, export financing and in-market support. Find other resources on the subject of exporting at the Canada Business Network. Exporting goods versus exporting servicesExporting goods and exporting services present quite different challenges. The former must deal with packaging, customs and physical delivery, for example, while the latter confronts issues such as work permits, credential validation, language and travel to and from the market. When exporting goods it is also important to remember that there is often a service component that should be anticipated (installation, training, service, warranty, etc.). Customer success storyCanadian businesses AND TCS working together - The TCS helped this small Moncton company to become the global leader in virtual remote sensing technology. Watch the video 1.2 Are you ready?An export-ready business is one that has the capacity, resources and management to deliver a marketable product or service on a global scale at a competitive price. The trick is to determine whether this is true of your company—and if it isn't, how to make it happen. Your first step is to think about the resources and knowledge your business already has. Consider the following as a starting point: Your expectations. Do you have:
Human resource requirements. Do you have:
Financial and legal resources. Can you:
Competitiveness. Do you have:
Export myth: My company is too small to be successful at exportingTo succeed in international markets, you don't have to be a big firm. Tens of thousands of Canadian small and medium-sized companies (SMEs)—those with foreign sales of between $30,000 and $5 million—are currently exporting and are doing very well. 1.3 Evaluating your export potentialCan your product or service find a worthwhile market outside Canada? Answering this question is crucial. If there's no demand for what you're offering, it would be unwise to proceed. TipSpecial events like conferences, seminars or business networking sessions offer excellent opportunities to explore market potential and profit from other people's experiences with exporting. When analyzing the export potential of your products/goods or services, you may want to account for the following considerations: Customer profiles
Product modifications
Transportation
Local representation
Exporting services
Capacity
TipTrade commissioners can help you prepare for international markets and assess the market potential of your product/goods or service. 1.4 International business and science, technology and innovationHistorically, Canada's leading exports have been natural resources and commodities. But in a global marketplace, diversifying our exports into the area of science, technology and innovation (ST&I) is essential to maintain a robust and adaptable economy. The Government of Canada has built formal ST&I relationships and partnerships with both established and emerging innovation networks around the world. International partnerships are an essential catalyst for ST&I, as these collaborations often accelerate the pace of discovery and result in improved commercialization. Partnerships include research and development (R&D) and the transfer of ST&I to the global market. An outward-looking approach to development will ensure that our exporters have access to leading-edge research and will ultimately lead to a higher standard of living for all Canadians. Canada’s domestic market for many advanced technologies is relatively small. The aerospace sector, for example, can't support the full-fledged commercialization of a service or product domestically. Finding an international market or supplying companies in Global Value Chains can, therefore, be essential to an ST&I company's survival. If your company falls into this category, you will almost inevitably have to internationalize. Remember that "internationalizing" can mean R&D collaboration with an overseas company, forming an international partnership or investing in a foreign business that complements your own. What are some reasons that firms decide to export their products or services what does a firm need to consider when developing an export plan?There are several good reasons to export, including:. Increased sales. ... . Higher profits. ... . Economies of scale. ... . Reduced vulnerability. ... . New knowledge and experience. ... . Global competitiveness. ... . Domestic competitiveness.. Why is it important to export goods and services?Exporting services provides an opportunity for export diversification and growth, which is important for economic stability. If global demand for one sector drops, a country with diversified exports can rely on others such as banking, transport, or business services.
What does a firm need to consider when developing an export plan?Your export plan should contain the following:. business history.. vision and mission statements.. purpose of the export plan.. organizational goals and objectives.. international market goals.. short- and medium-term objectives for exporting.. location and facilities.. What is the main reason why a country export its products to other countries?Countries export goods and services in which they have a competitive or comparative advantage. Governments encourage exports because they increase revenues, jobs, foreign currency reserves, and liquidity.
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