More sales and increased profit can result from exporting. SCORE’s export/import workshops give you the tools to start

Exporting can be your secret path to increased sales and profit
SCORE’s exporting/importing workshops will show you how

By: Jerry Chautin, SCORE business columnist/SCOREing small-business success

Workshop: Developing a Successful Import Export Business, Part II
When: June 12, 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Where: SCORE Atlanta, 233 Peachtree Street, NE, Ste. 1900
Details: Online at tinyurl.com/cydufq or call, 404-331-0121

Consider exploding your sales by exporting, even during this recession. American-made products and services are desired around the world and you can profit by tapping foreign consumers. What is more, the declining dollar over the last few years has made our products more affordable for overseas purchasers.

With small-business owners looking beyond their traditional customer base, this may be a great time to consider exporting your products and services. Even if you have never exported before, there are resources to get you started. Some of them are listed in a free business startup guide offered by the U.S. Small Business Administration. You can download the Georgia guide at www.sbaguides.com.

One of the resource persons listed in the guide is Ray Gibeau. He is Georgia’s regional manager for SBA's U.S. Export Assistance Center in Atlanta. USEAC regional offices are aware of trade missions to countries that might buy your goods and services. They can connect you to the U.S. trade representatives for your target countries and explain how to research the need for your products and services. As a result, you can find prospective clients and make deals. Contact him by phone, 404-897-6089, or e-mail, raymond.gibeau@sba.gov.

Another resource person is Rick Martin. He was recently appointed director of the International Trade Center at the University of Georgia’s Small Business Development Center. He is based at Kennesaw State University and can be reached by phone, 678-797-2530; or by e-mail, rmartin@georgiasbdc.org.

Hosted by SCORE, the SBDC will be presenting a workshop called “Developing a Successful Import Export Business, part II” on June 12. It is the second part of an ongoing series to help you find overseas markets for your products and services. “The workshop II could be taken without attending the first if someone already had some basic information,” Martin says.

Here is a tip: Ask Dan Holt to include you on his exporting mailing list. He is Gibeau’s counterpart in the Carolinas and e-mails information about trade missions, events and training to become a successful exporter. You can call him at (813) 974-4090, or send him an e-mail, Dan.Holt@mail.doc.gov.

SBA offers free online training courses for exporting. Each is for a different level of expertise and competency. You have four choices: "Assess your International Risk," "A Primer on Exporting," "International Business Opportunities" and "Trade Mission Online." To learn more about the courses, go to tinyurl.com/2nll6m.

Conventional loans for exporting are available for well-established businesses. Others can get help in the form of government guarantees for banks to consider them. For more information, check out the financing programs at www.sba.gov and the Export-Import Bank at www.exim.gov.

OTHER INFORMATION:

About SCORE:
Since 1964, SCORE “Counselors to America’s Small Business” has helped more than 8 million aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners through counseling and business workshops. It is a nonprofit resource partner with the U.S. Small Business Administration. More than 11,200 volunteer business counselors in 370 chapters serve their communities through entrepreneur education dedicated to the formation, growth and success of small businesses. The Atlanta chapter has 100 volunteers in conveniently located branch offices.

Note to media: Photos of the SCORE counselors quoted and interviews are available upon request. For interviews with SCORE business counselors or SCORE small-business clients, contact SCORE’s chairman, Jeff Mesquita: e-mail, scoremarketing@joimail.com, cell: (770) 713-1702. You may use this article in part or in its entirety and distribute copies with credit to SCORE Atlanta www.scoreatlanta.org. The columnist’s CV is online at: tenonline.org/sref/jc1bio.html

SCORE Atlanta | Publish Date: 06.02.09 | Back to home |