The RDA Blog of Doug Wood
Doug has had over 16 years of experience in working with community development initiatives; developing and implementing marketing, strategic and financial plans; managing multi-million dollar budgets; managing and building teams; promoting and developing investment and trade opportunities; and advancing new areas of business, both domestically and internationally. He also has extensive experience in conducting market research in the US market. Currently, one of his projects is delivering seminars for business owners on entering the EU and US specialty food sector. Doug previously worked at Kroll, the Center for Public Policy Education at the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C. and at West Virginia University. He was a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Slovak Republic.
Companies in need of logistics in the southeast are still finding Atlanta a great value. Companies that are in the process of planning, implementing, and controlling the efficient, cost effective flow of raw materials, inventory, finished goods from the point of origin to the point of consumption are moving their goods through Atlanta. There is easy and cost effective access to air, rail, truck and ship transport. An experienced labor force, extensive logistics infrastructure and warehousing and to the state's incentives to create new business combine to make Atlanta a good place to do logistics.
Read more … Atlanta Great Logistics Value
In looking at Internet sales the top markets are The United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, France and Australia. You will need to setup your shopping cart to accept the currency of the country you are selling into. Additionally you should generate some standard rates to cover international shipping charges that include any duties. Use an established logistics company to warehouse your product in country for a fee and then ship directly to the client.
Read more … Web sales level playing field for small companies
There are some real business opportunities for companies in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia has approximately 26 million people and that is anticipated to reach 50 million people in the next 25 years. The Saudi government has committed over $625 billion in expansion. When entering a new market it is important to know the business environment. Take the time to learn the culture and understand the geopolitics of the region from Saudi Arabia’s perspective.
Read more … Saudi Arabia Has Real Business Opportunities
The three-day forum discussed opportunities for greater economic collaboration between the US and Saudi Arabia and provided an unparalleled business networking environment. The energy, education, medical sectors as well as woman owned business markets. All are experiencing dynamic growth and providing real opportunity for US businesses able to partner in these markets.
Read more … Business is booming in Saudi Arabia
This past season we worked with a firm that was interested in expanding its operations into Georgia. As always the first step is to define the markets for the firm in the new location. A firm needs to sort out the market share and opportunity that the new location is expected to provide and to understand the fit between workforce needs of the business and workforce assets of the new location. Once the choice of locations can be narrowed to a list of two or three locations, then a firm should explore the tax incentives of each state.
Read more … Moving or Expanding Your Company
Suriname was an agricultural based economy until the discovery of bauxite allowing for the production of aluminum. Additionally over 10 years ago gold was discovered in the country. Mining is the dominate industry along with agriculture and a small but growing tourism market. While land is plentiful and electricity cost $.03 per kilowatt there are not large multinational companies producing products in the country.
Read more … Suriname a country with opportunity and worth a look
These business-to-business matchmaking conferences are places government agencies and large corporations gather with smaller organizations to describe their contract needs and bid processes. The purpose is to match small and diversity businesses with federal, state, and local government agencies as well as with large corporations that have actual contract opportunities. The goal is to stimulate jobs and growth for small businesses. In addition to matchmaking opportunities, business owners will have access to expert small business advisers and procurement specialists. Here is an example of one such matchmaking event.
Read more … How to open an international market for your products
Once it is determined that there is a market and you have on-the-ground visual research, the next step is to determine the method to bring your product into the market. The six methods are: take orders directly, sale through an international buyer, engage a company to represent you, export directly, sell through the web, and use family members in targeted country.
Read more … Starting sales in an international market
Often folks want to get a feel for whether your product or service has a place in the international market. Here are some ideas.The first step in entering an export market is to determine the existing need for your product. There are a number of tools to look at the demand in the local market. A careful look at various trade associations that represent your industry may provide you with insights of how other members have approached the market and provide some valuable lessons learned. A look at resources from around the world.
Read more … Market Research for An Export Market
