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Expanding Business Operations to Neighbouring Markets
Basic Rules for a Successful Export Business
- Timely planning. A clear vision as well as an export strategy of the company and the readiness of all company structures for it are extremely important.
- If you are not ready, wait. Do not "run after" "unique" opportunities over the Internet.
- Using a qualified consultant or consultants, depending on your planned export countries, who will help you work out the basic plan (specifics of the country, its market and legal system, creation of the optimum route to market, etc.)
- Based on the analysis of your consultants, you must make sure the products you plan to offer comply with legally required local specifications and/or technical specifications.
- If, based on the analysis of the route to market, you decide to use the indirect sales channel, protect yourself through a sound contract with the distributor.
- Secured export financing. According to some opinions, it is possible to set up an export business within a couple of months. In reality, however, this period tends to be several times longer. Additional time is, of course, required, for your brand to become established on the new market.
- Protection of your brands, including protection from your distributor's use of them.
- Well developed marketing and communication plans for your company and your brands on the new market.
- Awareness of the power of the company and the brands, and the development of an export strategy based on this and on the advantages over the competition derived from it.
Do You Need a Business Consultant or an Interim Manager?
If you require help analyzing the state of your business or developing a business strategy, you need a consultant. If, in turn, you are looking for help with the implementation of the strategic measures you have defined, an interim manager will be your best choice.
An interim manager can at the same time be a consultant, but a consultant is, usually, not an interim manager, because he does not engage in the implementation of the solutions he proposes.
The diagram above clarifies the division of roles of a business consultant, an interim manager and a director-employee.
The difference between a consultant and an interim manager thus lies in the fact that a consultant advises and recommends, remaining responsible to his own company. An interim manager implements the agreed measures, being directly and exclusively responsible to his client.
There are, however, persons, who due to their rich business experience, can at the same time function as business consultants and interim managers.
