Internationalization - Subsidiary Office Or Foreign Branch?

Whether you want to make business with foreign individuals, or you think seriously to purchase foreign companies you will have to confront yourselves with the logics of corporate evaluation.

Nowadays the definition of a true and correct rating is the decisive, essential requirement to take entrepreneurial choices, even more in international contexts.

In the present article I'm going on from financial aspects to insurance ones while digressing into more specific topics of international law. I'm going to deal with these themes in a confident way and perhaps I will be lacking in not choosing a univocal content but in this way I think I will offer you interesting hints if you have decided to cross the national borderlines.

It is a matter of relying on professional people that can base their analysis on the most accurate methodologies. The rating has to show clearly the informative resources from which it takes its information, it has to allow transnational comparisons or through different principles of accounting.

The risk can be reduced thanks to reliable information but it can be held in a more traditional way too and rationalized through insurance tools.

Usually when we speak about internationalization and insurance processes we mean typical risks due to the country situation and credit. I want to focus your attention on some very common tricks to which the insurance world has reacted with Ad Hoc tools.

Let's start with the Director and Officer insurance that prevents managers and administrators from claims for compensation because of their conducts. In some countries the risk due to these events is very high and providing an entrepreneur with tools of this kind can be very useful in order to recruit professional people with high profile that will be able to work in a safer, comfortable way.

There are countries where conflicts caused by mobbing, downgrading, discriminatory dismissal are highly probable and this is why it is very useful to rely on ad hoc insurance tools.

Unfortunately it has become very useful the so called Crime Insurance that assures the company even against account fraud and embezzlement. Moreover there are advance tools that offer a coverage in case of purchaser's non-fulfilment during the purchase of a third foreign company

The concept to keep clearly in mind is that with the internationalisation the risk outline changes and the frame of insurance tools on which to rely on has accordingly to change as well.

I'm going to close my analysis with an in-depth examination of a couple of topics bound to the international corporate law.

Subsidiary office or foreign branch? The first one has the advantage of being more easily established at lower cost. The second one, with its more complex structure, guarantees the limitation of the risk capital to the branch's alone; meanwhile in case of subsidiary office it is always the head office to answer jointly and severally for any events. Besides notice that the structure of a branch allows the entry of local partners.

An other extremely interesting aspect of this topic is represented by the join-venture: this is a contract that disciplines the cooperation among companies and its aim is the realisation of a specific economic project.

Though it can be established among Italian firms too, it is normally used for international cooperation. Just think about the importance of local partners' knowledge while penetrating into a new market as some topical operations have recently showed in the automotive fields.

The join-venture can be both contractual and corporative: in the first case and for temporary relationships, there is just a contractual bound, while in the second case there is a deeper cooperation represented by the establishment of a dedicated company.

Apart from the aspects of the matter considered above and since the complexity of economic context, I think the best piece of advice is to rely on competent professional people because this is no longer the time to internationalise in an off-hand, rough way.

Dario Ferrigato, Marketing consultant, Senior consultant at ADVBOUCLE & PARTNERS

Marketing consultants

You have full permission to reprint this article provided this box is kept unchanged.
Senior consultant in strategic marketing
ADVBOUCLE & Partners

Article Source: http:/

Read More ....

Where's the Beef Across Borders

Now that you have decided to offer your products in another country, do you have any idea how to market them? The marketing you've been using might not work well across borders.

First, everyone has heard of advertising or product names that did not translate well to another language. The Chevy Nova did not sell well in Spanish because the car's name translated as no go. But selling well across borders is more than a matter of translating correctly from one language to another.

Don't Just Hire a Translator

Even when you think you speak the right language, you have to be tuned in to local twists to make your marketing work. If you aren't, you might not even recognize a customer who wants to buy.

In Birmingham--the Midlands, not Alabama--I got a blank look when I asked, "Are you ringing up at this register?" The clerks behind the counter needed to be asked, "Are you checking out at this till?" Until then, they did not realize I wanted to hand over money for some of their goods. The potential for misunderstanding is worse if you are from a country where everyone bargains over every purchase, and the customer is not (or vice versa).

Now that you have a taste of how easy it is to misstep even in a 'shared' language, test your ability to comprehend what customers think of three models of pliers.

You could get one at the pound shop, but it would be pants. Bog standard will set you back five quid. But if you don't mind the cost, for less than a tenner you can have the dog's bollocks!

If you're British, you know exactly what that meant. If you're from the States and ran to the dictionary, you wonder what trousers have to do with pliers and why anyone would want a male dog's pair of privates. In Britain:
'Pants' means underwear, and it is also slang for something cruddy.
Five quid is five pounds, and a tenner is a ten pound note. A pound shop sells items for a pound, like a dollar store in the States sells items for a dollar.
Bog is slang for toilet, and bog standard is slang for the economy-grade quality that people settle for most of the time.
Don't use the last word in this example on its own-you'll be swearing. But the last two words in the example, together, means 'the best' (although it's still a bit too off colour for polite company).


Now look at a couple of quick remarks from the other side of the Pond.

Let's drop off the deposit at the drive-through.

Drive-through banking is ordinary in the USA, but for the British, it's bizarre. Hardly anything except McDonald's has a drive-through window in the UK.

Did you see the price on that proposal? They sure are proud! But where's the beef?

"They sure are proud!" means they are charging a premium price for a product that is perhaps not worth the price. This Southern expression is part of the daunting variety of regional sayings in the USA. The USA adopted the next phrase from a television advertisement a generation ago: an old lady peered inside her hamburger bun at the tiny portion of meat and loudly asked "Where's the beef?" Ever since, it has been a pointed way to say that substance is lacking.

If it is this hard to translate ordinary conversation from one English to the other English, how can you make your marketing in The Other Country work?

It's Their Culture, Not Yours

Every culture has its own favorite phrases, television shows, music, slang, and images. Your marketing in The Other Country needs to tap into their culture, not yours. If that requires campaigns entirely different from what works in your home country, so be it!

This is why you need more than a translator. If you don't know the nuances yourself, find someone who is well versed in whatever makes The Other Country tick.

Staying with the USA versus UK for examples, one of the most notable differences is general implications about size. Big tends to be seen as good in the States: big portions of food, big cars on wide streets, big houses on large lots. (Even toilets are bigger, to such a degree that some Britons feel like they're falling in when they use one in the States.) But the UK is only about the size of Michigan. Imagine if one out of every five Americans lived in Michigan!

This leads the UK to pack everything more densely. Big tends to be bad. Housing is more compact. Furniture has to fit in small rooms. With smaller refrigerators, freezers and cabinets, there is not enough storage for most people to buy in bulk to get discounts the way they might in the States. Instead, stores offer discount vouchers or promote BOGOF special sales (buy one, get one free) on small packages.

Because the UK has so many people in such a constrained land area, landfill space is as tight as cupboard space for the kitchens. Being wasteful is severely frowned upon. Despite an otherwise frugal bias, many routinely pay a little extra for the more ecological option, as well as recycle the packaging. Some pockets of the USA are similarly inclined, but more as a matter of choice than necessity.

Even Big Brands Stumble Across Borders

Even big brands falter when they step into another country. Tesco is a powerful brand name in the UK, comparable to the weight of WalMart in the USA. Both companies dominate markets in their home countries. Their entry into a town is dreaded by small locally owned businesses. But Tesco is having difficulty establishing a foothold in the USA, and WalMart's presence in the UK is still very limited.

Notice that neither of them has pulled out. If your first attempt at marketing across boarders is a failure, don't automatically give up. As long as you have chosen products that fit The Other Country, it's a matter of finding a way to spark interest. You may not have gotten it right on your first try at home. Small wonder if it takes more than one try Over There!
About the author: Bonnie D. Huval has been a consultant since 1992, helping companies make more money with their automation and transaction systems.

Her USA and UK business interests also include real estate, property management and a restaurant. Bonnie D. Huval has been a consultant since 1992, helping companies make more money with their automation and transaction systems. Her USA and UK business interests also include real estate, property management and a restaurant. Go to http://www.makesureyougetpaid.com for her materials help small businesses be more successful. If you want more, go to http://www.seneschal.biz for consulting services. Copyright 2009. This article may be reprinted only in its entirety, with full attribution.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bonnie_Huval

Read More ....

Importing Handbags and Luggage

Importing bags and luggage has become big business but there are some things that you need to know before setting up such a business.

Designer copies - these products are illegal and you may end up having your bags seized at customs, being fined and possibly facing a breach of copyright charge from the design owner. Bags such as straw baskets and cane purses will be subject to Quarrantine Leather bags will not need to be quarantined but may be examined to see that the leather is properly processed and not from an endangered species.
Luggage for Children - needs to meet Australian standards for the bag and its components.

Bags and luggage can be bulky to ship and this will affect your overall costing.
There are clear labelling requirements for bags that are made from leather and imitation leather. Labels need to include the country of origin and a true description of the bags.


That was some warning information. Now what about looking at what you can do?

Why not design your own range of bags or luggage? You can have personalised fabric created using specific colours. You can brand it with your logo. You can choose the manufacturer and have the process monitored along the way. Bags start from only US$1.

My favourite are evening bags - elegant and sophisticated or vibrant and fun. Why not create a signature range? Source fabric and fittings and create your own line.

PU bags have no duty so you can go wild here and look for stylish handbags or tote bags. There is a growing market for synthetic bags and purses which look like leather or crocodile skin.

Enviro bags are popular especially for promotional items. There are varying weights so you could create bags for school or shopping or even as backpacks. You are only limited by your imagination.

Benefits of importing are endless so take time out to really think about all the possibilities, your own designer range of luggage, kids designer luggage - not much competition there. Wallets, purses, totes, no-one has done anything exciting in this area for years. Just think of the fun you could have with your own creations.

Disclaimer:

1. The contents of this document do not constitute the provision of any legal representations or warranties. Whilst precautions have been taken in the preparation of the information on this document, no reliance may be placed on this information and Jolt Consulting Pty Ltd disclaims all representations and warranties, including, but not limited to, warranties as to the quality and accuracy of the information of whatsoever nature and warranties of fitness for a particular purpose.

2. Neither Jolt Consulting Pty Ltd nor any of its directors or representatives shall be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, special or consequential loss or damage arising from any misrepresentations, negligence, omission of information or incomplete information, caused or resulting from any reliance on the contents of this document.
Jackie Mikami
2008 Nominee- Telstra Business Women of the Year
JOLT Consulting Pty Ltd
Got a Million $.$.$ Idea?
Get our 50+ Page QuickStart Guide to Import/Export Success. Click http://www.gotamilliondollaridea.com/ Discover the latest international trends on how to develop, source and choose the perfect product to start making you money today.
Read my blog at http://joltconsulting.com.au/blog/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jacqueline_Mikami

Read More ....

International Relocation With Careful Planning and Dedication

There are lot of things that comes into accountability when you relocate. And when it's the matter of international relocation then more care has to be taken. International Shipping Cargo, International Freight Shipping, Overseas Moving has become the major concern of today.

It's always good to make a list of stuff that you need to take care of, before moving internationally. There are many options for you like you can easily contact some agency before moving internationally.

There are certain things which you need to check and verify prior to hire an international company. For example the credentials of the vendor you plan to hire, a past reference or the proven track record will help to inspire greater faith in choosing the international company. The cost to be charged should also be determined before the contract is agreed upon, as this helps to prevent any deceptive deals on part of the vendor for international relocation services.

There should be a smooth and hassle-free process for international relocation. And for that there are many service providers giving one of the best services for moving international. You just need to invest a fair amount of time and effort to mitigate the stress and uncertainty inherent in international relocations.

You should hire a company developing custom solutions that focus attention on critical-to-quality corporate relocation services. It ensures you a complete satisfaction rather than imposing a one size fits all strategy. While shipping internationally there should be some global Policy which should be efficient, competitive and bench-marked against industry standards. The company hired by you must give you good advice on all elements of a global relocation and can make the process easier for you. They should have some sophisticated tools and processes to help you out in every sense.

At the time of transportation or relocation, you must get full help to arrange paperwork to ensure that your assets are properly transferred from one country to the other without any hassle. You should hire a company that should assure you that your fragile and precious belongings will not get damaged during the transfer. So while you take care of the other aspects associated with relocation, the company should handle the physical transfer of the goods very effectively. By this way, you can easily fulfill your needs related to International Shipping Cargo, international shipping, Overseas Shipping Chicago, Overseas Shipping and moving international.
Brooke Thom is an expert author and webmaster of shipping international website. The website having details of International Shipping, Moving International,

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brooke_Thom

Read More ....

Role of Distributors & Agents in Exporting Business

As a manufacturer or exporter who is willing to step into some foreign market, you should better be starting in a safe and calculated manner. One relatively safe and secure method is to start with indirect exports and see the response. There are many ways to start indirect exports, but the most widely used method is to hire the services of commission agents or get into a contract with some distributor. Although, their roles may sound a bit similar, both of them differ at some points. Let's look into the role of these two in detail.

Agents:
Also known as commission agents, they are responsible for selling your products in foreign market. They are experienced campaigners and quite familiar with the market you are going to target. They know the customers and their needs. However, the thing to remember is that they are solely responsible for selling your products. They do not buy from you directly; neither do they involve themselves in delivery or after sale services in most cases. Their source of earning is the fixed commission on every sale (or gross sales, they will make for you).

Commission agents must be able to meet following requirements before you hire their services.

- Should be having loads of experience
- Check to see if the agent also deals in some of your competitive products
- Past record of sales and the stats for business they have provided to other exporters in the past
- How much of the market that agent can cover on his/her own and to what extent
- Do they sell to end users or businesses?

Distributors:
Unlike commission agents, distributors normally purchase the product from you (at low rates) and then sell it in the market, all the time maintaining some inventory with them. Given, they also provide after sale services, they are more suited if your product needs some installation work or requires after sale services.

- Distributors should be financially stable
- They must be good in inventory stocking and warehouse management
- Should be having technical information about the product (train them if needed)
- Should be ready to work at price margins you are willing to offer
- Be careful when going into a contract and think over the clauses many times before signing
- Distributor should be capable of running or managing the advertising campaign if needed

Now, whether you should go for agents or distributors? The answer to this question will depend on your product and preferences.
William King is the director of UK Wholesale Suppliers & Dropshippers and UAE Dubai Property & Real Estate Properties Portal. He has 18 years of experience in the marketing and trading industries and has been helping retailers and startups with their product sourcing, promotion, marketing and supply chain requirements.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=William_King

Read More ....