Marketing Tips

The different ways to enter overseas markets
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When you decide to enter an overseas market, it's important that you identify the best approach for your business. There are four main ways to sell to customers in overseas markets. You may find you need to use more than one entry strategy, depending on the markets you target and the products you offer.


Selling directly from the UK

This typically involves making periodic sales visits to the country, supplemented by telephone sales or accepting overseas orders on an e-commerce website. It can be a simple and cost-effective way to enter an overseas market. However, it may isolate you from your customers, and make you unable to share the exporting workload with partners or intermediaries.


Opening an overseas operation

This involves opening your own branch or subsidiary in the new market, or entering into a joint venture with a local business. Having a presence on the ground can be valuable, but setting it up and maintaining it may involve major resource commitments.


Using an overseas sales agent

A sales agent acts on your behalf in the overseas market, although there are many types of agents they normally introduce you to a customer and you pay a commission on any sales to that customer. Agents are used extensively in the EU and are protected from abusive business tactics by law so its worth ensuring you understand what you have agreed and seek legal advice on your agreement. It is not advisable to operate without an agency agreement in place. The key benefit of using an overseas sales agent is that you get the advantage of their extensive knowledge of your target market.


Using an overseas distributor

A distributor buys from you and then sells on at a higher price to their market and customers. They take full responsibility for the import of your goods. A distributor takes ownership of the goods and therefore can do with them as they wish, which means you must trust them with your brand. It is always worth spending time ensuring that the relationship is documented and well thought through.


Important considerations

There is much more to exporting than simply generating overseas sales. An intermediary can help you with issues including customs and other paperwork, shipping, warehousing and after-sales service. Selling direct means you will have to handle these issues yourself.

 

( liyy )22 Dec,2010

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