Improve sales with SCORE’s international trade workshop
Exporting and importing will raise your profit and lifestyle

By: Jerry Chautin, SCORE business columnist

SCOREing small-business success

• Workshop: Developing a Successful Import Export Business, Part I
• When: Friday, April 23, 2010, 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM
• Where: SCORE Atlanta, 233 Peachtree Street, NE, Ste. 1900
• Details: Online at tinyurl.com/cydufq or call, 404-331-0121

The world wants your products more than ever. And in some cases, it wants your services. In part it is because the U. S. dollar has declined making our products more affordable for overseas purchasers. But even more important, the world appreciates the quality of our products while Asian goods have become questionable. Even iconic brands such as Toyota are taking a beating and consumer confidence is plunging.

"(There are) very different business ethics and models, and quality issues (in Asia)," Bill Zoller says. He is the sales manager for Sun Hydraulics, a Florida-based manufacturer of screw-in hydraulic cartridge valves and manifolds for industrial and mobile markets. The 40-year-old company has distributors throughout the U.S. and in several countries. But it buys its materials and manufactures its products in the U.S. rather than losing control of the quality as it would overseas. "Just look at the recent issues of tainted dog food, lead in paint, sulfur compounds in dry wall, etc., in products coming from China," he says.

So as we emerge from the Great Recession, the world will focus on American quality. And you have a unique opportunity. Your chances of making money will be enhanced when you sell your products overseas.

Furthermore, fine-tuning your knowledge about international trade will also give you the skills and contacts you need to import goods from overseas and market them to U.S. consumers. Accordingly, SCORE’s entry-level workshop will address both exporting and importing.

Even if you have no experience with international trade, there are resources to get you started. The U.S. Small Business Administration offers some programs and special financing. You can download the Georgia guide at www.sbaguides.com that lists the federal agencies and departments that are eager to help.

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’s regional offices are aware of trade missions to countries where you can sell your goods and services. They will connect you with the U.S. trade representatives for your target countries and explain how to research the need for your products and services overseas. Contact him by phone, 404-897-6089, or e-mail, raymond.gibeau@sba.gov.

Dan Holt is another resource person. 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 get on his e-mail list by calling call him at (813) 974-4090, or by sending him an e-mail, Dan.Holt@mail.doc.gov.

SBA offers a host of useful information, training and financing programs for international trade. To learn more, go to http://tinyurl.com/6g2xq9.

Additional financing programs are available from the Export-Import Bank at www.exim.gov.

The International Trade Center at the University of Georgia’s Small Business Development Center will be presenting SCORE’s import-export workshop in downtown Atlanta. The trade center is based at Kennesaw State University. The SBDC has convenient locations throughout metro Atlanta. You can read more about the workshop and its presenter at tinyurl.com/cydufq. Click on “Developing a Successful Import Export Business Part 1.”

The time is right for you to accelerate your business and boost your profit by exporting or importing. SCORE’s workshop will show you how.

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