It’s no secret that the international business environment is currently going through a pronounced period of change, politically, geographically, and economically.

Some of this year’s biggest headlines followed trade-related events such as the Brexit and the U.S. presidential election, successful and halted trade deals such as CETA and the TPP and some major currency fluctuations around the world.

All of this change begs the question for businesses of all sizes considering going global for the first time – is now a good time to pursue importing and exporting your products and services?

We decided to pose the same question to some of the most knowledgeable global business professionals in the Twittersphere in our latest #TradeElite chat, and here’s what they had to say.

Moderator: Adrian Mutton (@AdrianMutton) Founder and CEO of Sannam S4 and U.S. Business Centers, based out of Washington D.C. and London, England.

Panelists: 

Clarecia Christie, CITP|FIBP (@ClareciaChriste) Project Manager and Team Lead, Trade Information Services at Trade Facilitation Office of Canada, based out of Ottawa, Ontario.

Idalia Obregon (@Idalia_Obregon) Executive Director at Belgian Canadian Business Chamber, based in Toronto, Ontario.

Craig Atkinson, CITP|FIBP (@CraigAAtkinson) Director, International Trade and Development Consulting with Lexmerca, formerly with the ITC, based in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

William Bush (@BillKBush) International Business Consultant, and Professor of US Foreign Policy, International Relations, Emerging Markets, Latin America-Caribbean, based in New York, NY.

Petra Benes (@PetraBenes) Owner of export development company @TopLatinExport, and Partner at Alliance Exports, based in the Netherlands.

Erica A. Murray, PhD (@EricaAMurray) iHeart Syndicated Radio Host, Author, Keynote Speaker, Dr. of Philosophy and International Business Consultant, based in Houston, Texas.

Bernadette Fernades (@On_the_varanda) Founder of the Varanda Network and international development expert, based out of New Brunswick.

Are nations’ imports and exports likely to a) increase b) remain the same or c) decrease with current global politics/economics?

A1 Countries always prefer to export more than to import but some really have to because of economic situation, like Brazil. #TradeElite

— Petra Benes (@PetraBenes) December 8, 2016

A1 there are a lot of variables to consider such as a country’s exchange rate, who are their trading partners #TradeElite

— Clarecia Christie (@ClareciaChriste) December 8, 2016

#TradeElite Despite Brexit and other economic and political developments, countries will increase their exports A1

— William Bush (@billkbush) December 8, 2016

#TradeElite While this economic environment may not be ideal for everyone, it has created the perfect opportunity for Canadian companies A 1

— William Bush (@billkbush) December 8, 2016

@craigaatkinson Are we likely to see a new set of cross border #Trade flows then? #TradeElite

— Adrian Mutton (@adrianmutton) December 8, 2016

@craigaatkinson @adrianmutton strongly agree. Issue is transition measures to cushion impact on protected sectors moving to free trade era

— John Treleaven CITP (@jht4x4) December 8, 2016

We will have to see but some political factors can definitely change the rules, for example with bans towards Russia. #TradeElite https://t.co/E2sZdm3ySj

— Petra Benes (@PetraBenes) December 8, 2016

How much should SME’s be following currency rates, and do they make a big difference to their export prospects?

A2. Currency rates greatly impact #buyerdecision so keep an eye out to determine priorities of where to #export your goods #TradeElite https://t.co/VORcL7BuPD

— bernadette fernandes (@on_the_varanda) December 8, 2016

A2: Both SME/large businesses, esp. those in GVCs, should be following currencies that impact operations and & where opps may be #TradeElite

— Craig A. Atkinson (@craigaatkinson) December 8, 2016

A2. Currency affect B2B transactions: selling price quoted to a buyer in a country where a drop in rates may be a loss to seller #TradeElite

— Clarecia Christie (@ClareciaChriste) December 8, 2016

A2 Currency is of huge importance to SMES, especially with globalized operations. #tradeelite

— ericaamurray (@ericaamurray) December 8, 2016

How aware are SME’s of FTAs (free trade agreements) and do these agreements really impact their import export potential?

A3 #TradeElite #CETA they’re definitely incentives for SME’s, however, its hard for governments to get feedback from SME’s and get…1/2

— Idalia Obregon (@idalia_obregon) December 8, 2016

A3 2/2 #TradeElite #CETA ..and get the right agts, plus is hard for SME’s to get the right info on agts from governments..

— Idalia Obregon (@idalia_obregon) December 8, 2016

A3 Lack of FTA should not be a reason not to/export. Must step up your game and it is then possible to get ahead of competition. #TradeElite

— Petra Benes (@PetraBenes) December 8, 2016

Q3 UNFORTUNATELY, SMES are unaware of FTA, but need to read more data to be well informed #tradeelite

— ericaamurray (@ericaamurray) December 8, 2016

A3. Most SME don’t know FTAs that exist I have had occassion where even an export promotion agency is not aware of one with Cda #TradeElite

— Clarecia Christie (@ClareciaChriste) December 8, 2016

A3 FTAs do facilitate trade but trade will happen with or without them #tradeelite

— Caroline Tompkins (@carolineFITT) December 8, 2016

Has exporting become a)harder b)easier c)much the same in the past 5-10 years? Why or why not?

A4 #TradeElite a)easier because of globalization, however we have new challenges too i.e. security, but we create new rules, we adapt & grow

— Idalia Obregon (@idalia_obregon) December 8, 2016

A4 #exporting is harder with increased competition; easier with FTAs & collaboration; the same cuz no nation is self-sufficient #TradeElite

— bernadette fernandes (@on_the_varanda) December 8, 2016

A4. According to EDC CAD Businesses can expect a 3% growth in exports of goods & services in 2017 @on_the_varanda @FITTNews #TradeElite

— Lynda Arsenault (@LyndaEllenA) December 8, 2016

A4 Its become harder and more difficult. At the same time there easier access to knowledge resources to support SME trade #tradeelite

— Caroline Tompkins (@carolineFITT) December 8, 2016

Will Donald Trump’s policies affect companies’ abilities to import supply chain components to the U.S.?

A.5 @realDonaldTrump will protect US businesses and jobs. Too early to tell what this platform means for the #supplychain. #TradeElite

— Michael Green (@MJGreen0101) December 8, 2016

A1 I agree Bill! Trump’s Trade War with #China & #Mexico provides an opportunity for non-US markets to step up their #exports #TradeElite https://t.co/Ap6IjCuME5

— bernadette fernandes (@on_the_varanda) December 8, 2016

A5 True. In addition to potential #supplychain impacts, we need to how the affects other country’s #trade policies & relations #TradeElite https://t.co/uBnCmClSbv

— bernadette fernandes (@on_the_varanda) December 8, 2016

Good question! I wonder whether @realDonaldTrump himself already has any idea? #TradeElite https://t.co/3OSPS0g2vV

— Petra Benes (@PetraBenes) December 8, 2016

Which countries are best placed to capitalize on global trade trends right now?

A6: As businesses trade, not countries, it is vital that gov ensures an enabling environment for trade #TradeElite

— Craig A. Atkinson (@craigaatkinson) December 8, 2016

I second that however government needs to engage business on expectation for international trade #TradeElite @carolineFITT @craigaatkinson

— Clarecia Christie (@ClareciaChriste) December 8, 2016

A6. I think Mexico could start to open up as I’m reading about how it’s trying to invest in infrastructure. #TradeElite

— audrey ross (@tresAudrey) December 8, 2016

A6 Countries that are positioned to trade #imports & #exports with #EmergingMarkets will see a reciprocal market capitalization #TradeElite https://t.co/3yMDdUIMUy

— bernadette fernandes (@on_the_varanda) December 8, 2016

Will Brexit and other political decisions make importing more restrictive/costly in the future?

A7. #Brexit will make us more creative to continue moving forward #TradeElite

— Idalia Obregon (@idalia_obregon) December 8, 2016

A7: Certain bilateral relationships will change, but multilateral efforts (esp. #Tradefacilitation) will net reduced risk/costs #TradeElite

— Craig A. Atkinson (@craigaatkinson) December 8, 2016

A7 Businesses are now hesitant to make major moves, opting to ’wait and see’… don’t wait, find an #InternationalTrade expert #TradeElite https://t.co/ok0KZl1TGR

— bernadette fernandes (@on_the_varanda) December 8, 2016

Is now a good time to start importing or exporting or both?!

A8 If you have the right strategy and the right people to implement it then its a good time to trade if it is profitable #tradeelite

— Caroline Tompkins (@carolineFITT) December 8, 2016

A8: It depends, but rhetoric is not a reason to dismiss opportunities associated with the promise of global #trade #TradeElite

— Craig A. Atkinson (@craigaatkinson) December 8, 2016

A8. Absolutely. More data available to help you make choices. More funding avail to help small biz get started. #TradeElite

— US Commercial Svc (@USCommercialSvc) December 8, 2016

A8 Now is the BEST time, but do ur homework 1st: do you know where ur buyers are, state of #freetrade agreements/tariffs, etc. #TradeElite https://t.co/8x0CK5Cjfb

— bernadette fernandes (@on_the_varanda) December 8, 2016

Read the rest of the chat and follow future discussions by following the #TradeElite hashtag. Stay tuned for the next #TradeElite chat, coming up Thursday, January 12 at 2:30-3:30PM ET.

The post Is now a good time to start importing or exporting? appeared first on Trade Ready.

Magali Bourdeilh, PACI|FPAI (the French acronym for CITP|FIBP) is the Coordinator, Procurement and Transportation Logistics for Mosaique Surface, a company specializing in custom stone mosaics.

After building up more than nine years of experience across the globe working in the U.S, China, Africa and Europe, she is excited to take on the new challenges of her latest role.

Putting the international in international trade

As she studied international trade in France, Magali took advantage of three incredible two month internship opportunities to get her career off the ground. First, she worked as a Production and Logistics Coordinator for a company selling tax and accounting software in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Next, she took on the role of Production and Distribution Coordinator at a company selling sculptures, gifts and tourist products based in Beijing, China. In the role, she studied commercial demand and took care of product management and stock control for the company.

Her final internship was as an Import Coordinator for a food and beverage company in Port Louis, Mauritius, the capital of the small African island nation located to the east of Madagascar.

Once she completed her diploma in International Business Management, the combination of her impressive international experience and linguistic proficiency (she is fluent in French, English, and has some knowledge of Spanish) made her an enticing candidate for many companies.

Her first full-time position was as a Pre-Shipping Inspection Coordinator for Bureau Veritas in Paris, one of France’s biggest companies and a world leader in compliance measurement, inspection and certification.

Magali became part of the company’s Nigerian department, and she was placed in charge of import licenses, pre-shipping inspections and ensuring importers get their Clean Report of Inspection (CRI) to obtain the necessary customs clearance.

“I would typically validate about 180 import licenses and amendments per month, and offer information and advice to exporters and suppliers. Verifying and certifying the final documents for customs clearance and storage documentation became my responsibility. I also got to train and supervise a team of six people to help with my work.”

I had to learn quickly, but it helped me learn how to be a leader in international business, and to adapt to any new situation that comes my way.

Reaching extraordinary heights in import export

After two years with Bureau Veritas, Magali moved up to an interim role as Import-Export Manager with Proengin, an American company (the head office is based in Florida) whose subsidiary is located in France, manufacturing equipment to detect harmful chemical or biological agents.

Their equipment is marketed and used in over 45 countries by various national armed forces, civil security personnel, first responders and customs agents.

Her responsibilities included dealing with the French military to ensure all regulatory approvals were met and all import/export paperwork met the proper criteria. She also managed and monitored air exports of the company’s products.

At the end of her four months, she transitioned into a new role as International Logistics Manager for Sogea-Satom, which is part of Vinci SA, the world’s largest construction company, employing over 185,000 people.

Responsible for arranging exports and major procurement projects in countries such as Madagascar, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo and Gabon in Africa, Jamaica and the French overseas departments and territories: French Guiana on the South American continent, Martinique and Guadeloupe in the Atlantic Ocean, Mayotte and Réunion in the Indian Ocean and New Caledonia in the Pacific Ocean, her experiences diversified further.

In fact, one of her experiences went far beyond global trade into outer space!

For one of my projects, I was responsible for the delivery of construction materials, various equipment, and spare parts for vehicles and construction site equipment in order to carry out the launch pad for Soyuz spacecraft in Kourou, French Guiana.

“In total, the budget for the project was U.S. $212 million.”

Magali frequently dealt with a great deal of logistical issues, from import licenses and pre-shipment inspections to creating export invoices for customs, managing air and sea exports and dealing with freight forwarders.

Through these efforts, Magali and her company were able to produce some amazing results.

“We built infrastructure and buildings that improved a lot of lives in many countries: hospitals, schools, buildings, roads, a desalination plant and a wastewater treatment plant are all examples that come to mind.”

Building a well-rounded skill set through import-export training

With extensive experience in many areas of international trade already, Magali wanted to continue to expand her horizons, and found FITT courses to be the perfect opportunity to do so.

It seemed essential to go back to my studies and take FITT courses last year to update my knowledge, especially in regard to international law, international finance, business management, logistics and international transport.

After completing her courses, she was excited to apply for her elite PACI (CITP) certification, knowing it will help her to pursue future opportunities.

“I’m very passionate about working in this dynamic and rigorous field, and I feel that I have all the skills and leadership abilities to take on any challenge that comes my way.”

She recently started in her current role as Coordinator, Procurement and Transportation Logistics, and enjoys the chance to work with the company’s over 100 distributors across Canada, the U.S. and England.

With such an extraordinary range of experience already, Magali will undoubtedly help her new company grow and will continue to thrive in her career for many years to come.

The post Magali Bourdeilh, PACI|FPAI – Coordinator, Procurement and Transportation Logistics appeared first on Trade Ready.

Karla Cecilia Tripp, CITP|FIBP is a Publisher with Best Version Media, a company that focuses on producing private, family-oriented neighbourhood-specific magazines for homeowners associations, residents, local businesses and villages.

After working as a public servant and for one of the world’s most recognizable beverage brands, she has amassed over sixteen years of logistics, sales, product development and marketing experience.

She enjoys leveraging her knowledge and experience in the industry to find new ways to build relationships and successful opportunities for her company.

A fittingly international start to a global business career

Cecilia went to Texas to study English right after she started her first year of International Relations, and then moved to Canada in 1995 to continue her language studies.

“I came to study English and one thing led to another. Twenty years later, I am still here, happily married with a three year old daughter.”

Following her passion, Cecilia secured her first job in international business as a Trade Specialist with the Trade Commission of Mexico in Toronto. After nearly two years, she was promoted to the role of Assistant of the Trade Commissioner.

“I loved working with importers and exporters. Generating leads, and especially promoting Mexican importers in the Canadian market, was something I loved to do. I had the opportunity to meet government representatives from the Canadian and the Mexican world. Being part of the process of having exporters meetings and trade shows was a real highlight for me.”

Finding success with a major global brand and joining the trade elite

Cecilia found the experience to be a truly fascinating one, and realized that she wanted to spend the rest of her career in the world of international trade.

To further that goal, she decided to develop her global business skills and credentials by taking FITTskills courses at Ryerson University.

Taking FITT courses gave me so much knowledge for international trade. All those courses helped me to grasp a great knowledge of those areas unknown to me before, like international trade law and international logistics.

“I recall that when I started those courses, the global trade world was changing, and I found it fascinated to be learning as that world was evolving. I can tell you that I was able to not only be better in my job, but also to understand this new world of doing business internationally. Countries are closer than ever now.”

As she completed her courses, she took a new job as a Sales and Marketing Assistant with Corona Canada, specializing in importation, distribution and marketing Corona’s brand across Canada.

Cecilia participated in the company’s strategic marketing planning, giving presentations on annual plans and new initiatives, and coordinating events and trade show exhibits.

She also put together regular reports on key statistical indicators, prepared listings for the Liquor Control Board of Ontario to ensure compliance with all regulations, and assisted importers with issues like transportation, purchase orders, packing and payment.

“I was extremely happy to be part of one of the most successful Mexican companies.”

Corona was being exported to more than 180 countries in the world, and I was part of the great success in Canada. During my time there, Corona was the number one imported beer in Canada.

Cecilia finished her courses and completed her diploma in 2002, and then earned her elite Certified International Trade Professional (CITP®|FIBP®) designation in early 2004.

“I was extremely overwhelmed when I earned my CITP®|FIBP® designation. It was a great achievement and I can proudly use my CITP®|FIBP® designation at all times. The designation helps when I am applying to different jobs. It adds more value to my career.”

Making her mark by helping a big brand grow even bigger

In early 2008, Grupo Modelo (the company who owned the Corona Brand), and Molson Coors Brewing Co. created a joint venture called Modelo Molson Imports Co. to sell Modelo’s products in Canada.

As part of the new joint venture, Cecilia also received a promotion to Marketing Coordinator. With over seven and a half years of experience already, she was able to easily transition to her new, elevated responsibilities.

Along with managing the marketing budget and assisting with the national retail programs to all points of sale, she also coordinated new product launches and managed their online content and email communications.

The next year, in 2009, she completed her program at Seneca College in Business Studies, further adding to her resume.

By 2011, she received another promotion and became responsible for supporting the National Marketing budget, planning, execution and management of all retail marketing programs for the company, particularly those related to new product launches or in-store product promotions.

Her efforts managed to boost sales by over 10%, and some of the promotions she helped launch, such as the extremely successful “Find your beach” campaign, singlehandedly led to sales increases of hundreds of thousands of cases.

Looking back at her time with the company, Cecilia noted “I was able to learn about marketing, sales, product development and logistics during my fourteen years in the company. I saw the company grow and met wonderful people through my career with Modelo.”

In 2014, however, when the company was sold to beer giant InBev, she made the decision to move on.

Using her skills to bring communities and business owners together

Cecilia quickly found a new temporary position as an Assistant Manager, New to Market with Corby Spirit and Wine Ltd., who are best known for producing Wiser’s whisky and Polar Ice Vodka.

“I wanted to take that time to really think of my next career move. I learned throughout that year about product compliance, gift packs and value added promotions. It was very rewarding seeing a product from the start to the end at the store’s shelves. I was handling all the new imported products that came into Canada.”

She stayed in the role for just over a year before taking on her current position with Best Version Media, which has been a great experience for her so far.

I enjoy meeting new people every day and, through the advertising campaign, helping to build brand awareness and long term relationships between these local communities and business owners.

“I’m proud to utilize all my past experience and my personal skills in my everyday life. Every day is a new day.”

We wish her all the best as she continues to grow and excel in her current role, and finds more ways to hone her international trade skills.

The post Karla Cecilia Tripp, CITP|FIBP – Publisher appeared first on Trade Ready.

Christina Connelly, CITP|FIBP, is a Trade Commissioner with Global Affairs Canada at the Consulate General of Canada in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota.

With several years of experience working at both the state and federal level in the U.S., Christina now plays a key role in promoting Canadian agri-food, ag-bio and infrastructure products and services across the American Midwest.

Taking her interests from the classroom to the office

When Christina started working on her Master’s in Public Policy, she came to an important realization that shaped the rest of her career.

“I started my master’s education in foreign policy – but was soon drawn to the macroeconomic issues of international trade, and further focused my degree in that direction.”

I was fascinated by many nations’ dependence on one another for goods and services, and the impact that trading relationships and deals can have on virtually all other foreign policy issues.

Upon graduating in 2005, she took a job at the U.S. Government Accountability Office as a Policy Analyst, reviewing programs within the State, Defense and Energy Departments.

At the same time, she also worked on an International Trade Certificate, keeping that option open as well.

Christina says her varied interests and experiences helped teach her a crucial life lesson.

“It’s good to have a plan, but okay to divert from it as well. I always tell students with an interest in international work to be motivated, flexible, and curious. Great surprises await if you can be open to them, and work hard at whatever project falls in your lap.”

Early on, I think I worried that I needed to know exactly where I was going in my career–but often found myself going in a different direction because something unexpected piqued my interest.

One of those directions was from the federal government to the Minnesota state government, a move she made in 2007 to take a new role as a Senior Program Evaluator. Her main responsibility was examining energy and education programs to make recommendations to the Minnesotan legislature.

Just over a year later, her previous experience in energy policy and current agricultural focus both came into play in her new role as Bioenergy Manager, Agricultural Marketing & Development for the state of Minnesota’s Department of Agriculture.

It gave her the opportunity to work directly with bioenergy companies seeking to grow their operations, manage grants in the field and promote development in the industry across the state, while retaining policy elements from her previous work.

She also earned the McCloy Fellowship in Environmental Affairs, which is designed to promote partnership and learning between the U.S. and Germany, and afforded her the opportunity to conduct research and work on a project of her own.

“My fellowship took me to five cities in Germany over about a months’ time to conduct independent research on biofuels policies in that country.

Minnesota has always been at the forefront of US biofuels programming and policy-making; Germany is a leader in this sector for Europe. I wanted to compare the two and highlight opportunities for knowledge-exchange.

I arranged meetings with various government officials (national and provincial), stakeholder organizations, and companies—as well as toured relevant biofuels facilities throughout the country.”

Experiencing the world through international trade

In 2011, Christina continued her path towards her current role, moving into a position as International Trade Manager for the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.

As she’s travelled the world to promote the state’s food and agricultural products, promote FDI in the state’s agri-businesses, and help those companies through work like organizing trade shows and conducting research, she’s had a lot of fun opportunities.

“I traveled frequently to Southeast Asia to help Minnesota companies export feed products to that region.”

A few times, I took missions there around the Christmas holidays, and was delighted by the abundance of decorations and Santa-centric activities taking place so far from home. One of our hotels in the Philippines even had a “Welcome Santa” party for all the kids staying there!

In her current Trade Commissioner role, her responsibilities are very similar, and also allow her the chance to work on some projects she’s very proud of.

“I recently helped to coordinate a mission of U.S. craft beer brewers to British Columbia, Canada.”

This industry is incredibly passionate about their work-and uniquely collaborative, even among would-be competitors.

“It was uplifting to be in such a gorgeous place, surrounded by hops fields and mountains, helping connect buyers and suppliers to further grow this burgeoning industry.”

Making a commitment international trade by earning her elite designation

Christina has now worked as a Trade Commissioner for just over a year, and enjoys all of her roles and responsibilities helping Canadian agri-businesses expand across the Midwest.

To help her do that, however, she wanted to augment her existing knowledge with FITTskills courses.

“I had a great opportunity to take the courses via Global Affairs Canada.”

It’s always important to expand knowledge and grow one’s professional network, so I jumped at the chance. I feel like it solidified my knowledge of some key international trade concepts as well.

With the training experience now under her belt, she was excited to finalize the process by applying for and earning her CITP®|FIBP® designation.

“My certification is quite new, so I’m still learning what it can mean for my career. It’s great to have the certification, since it’s well-recognized in my field. Certainly it provides great connections, early on, to others in this field as well.”

This commitment to her field will help propel Christina towards continued success, and we wish her all the  best as she continues to help Canadian businesses excel.

The post Christina Connelly, CITP|FIBP – Trade Commissioner appeared first on Trade Ready.

Fadi Ghaby, CITP|FIBP is a Supply Chain Analyst/Senior Coordinator at ALDO Group, based out of Montreal, Canada, where he supervises the complete customs operations group, including five supporting employees.

He is a highly skilled professional with over ten years of experience in the import/export and supply chain fields. With his exemplary abilities to organize and pay attention to detail, Fadi excels at managing multiple projects, as well as providing guidance and managing risks within supply chains.

Getting the right tools for the job

When Fadi decided global trade was the right industry for him, with an international background and language proficiency, he looked for the best education he could find to help him develop the skills he needed to break into the field.

After some careful research, he decided to pursue the International Commerce Import Export program, which delivers FITTskills courses, at LaSalle College in Montreal, Quebec. The program helped Fadi master the techniques, practices and laws he would use in his future career to develop strong, efficient supply chains.

FITTskills courses were very practical, and I use what I learned in the FITTskills program every day in my work in the import-export department at Aldo Group.

Wasting no time climbing the corporate ladder

Fadi got his big career break in March 2010, shortly after completing his FITT Diploma in International Trade, when he was offered the position of Export Administrator at ALDO Group.

After nearly two years in the role, Fadi decided to apply for the CITP®|FIBP® designation to show his commitment to the profession, as well as showcase his skill set and experience.

I decided to apply for the CITP®|FIBP® designation because I wanted to apply my knowledge and expertise in international business, and because the CITP®|FIBP® designation is the only comprehensive global trade credential recognized by the World Trade Centers Association.

Joining his fellow global trade experts was a dream come true for Fadi, and he sees it opening many doors for him in the future.

“I am very proud to have earned the CITP®|FIBP® designation, and I believe that it will help me to advance in my career as an import export and supply chain professional.”

In fact, he immediately began reaping the benefits of his new title by being promoted to a management role within ALDO Group. He started his new position as Customs Operations Coordinator in March 2012.

Shipments don’t go out without his stamp of approval

As Customs Operation Coordinator, Fadi was charged with coordinating all daily tasks and training for the export group at his company. He was ultimately responsible for ensuring his team met performance targets, and stepped in to solve any operations issues quickly and efficiently.

He reported his team’s results by performing statistical analyses and continually developing KPI’s to improve his team’s performance. He was also the last line of defence, reviewing customs documents, maintaining CIFTA, CCFTA and NAFTA compliance, and dealing with suppliers, brokers and carriers for each daily shipment from Canada to the U.S.

Fadi has recently been rewarded for his achievements by being promoted, yet again, to his current position as Supply Chain Analyst/Senior Coordinator.

This promotion gives him an elevated role in establishing and administering supply chain operations in order to improve global lead time performance.

To do this, he conducts research in collaboration with support departments to better understand logistics requirements, and communicates with partners, other logistics teams and freight forwarders to better achieve their goals.

Fadi is also involved in contract negotiations with freight forwarders and suppliers, and works with subject matter experts to resolve any supply chain problems.

Gazing into the future of logistics

An exciting aspect of Fadi’s work, is assisting in designing and implementing models and analytical reports – not only to evaluate and track current operations, but also to project future situations in order to identify opportunities for improvement.

On top of his international business training, Fadi has also received diplomas in Human Resources Management and Administration from the University of Quebec. He is currently completing a Professional Development Certificate in Logistics and Supply Chain Management at the University of Waterloo.

Fadi was promoted to Manager, Business Navigating and Reporting in fall 2017.

Fadi enjoys getting involved in the global trade community and was proud to have been selected to take part in the Steering Committee for the International Trade Competency Standards (ICS) project, led by FITT and the Canadian Government.

He hopes to soon get involved in supporting the World Trade Organization.

Fadi has a bright future ahead of him in the supply chain industry and strives to someday open his own international business. We look forward to seeing what innovations his team achieves in the future.

The post Fadi Ghaby, CITP/FIBP – Manager, Business Navigating and Reporting appeared first on Trade Ready.

If I’m selling to you, I speak your language. If I’m buying, dann müssen Sie Deutsch sprechen!

– Willy Brandt, former German Chancellor

Content marketing, in a nutshell, is the process of creating and freely sharing relevant material that your target audience will find valuable in some way. It could be educational, entertaining or inspirational.

The idea of content marketing is nothing new, of course. At its best, content marketing is simply good storytelling and avoids being “salesy”. As human beings, we all love a good story – no matter where in the world we live or which language we speak.

If you’re expanding your business into foreign markets, however, your approach to content marketing can be the difference between success and failure.

Never forget the first rule of marketing

What works in your domestic market may not be the right fit for your target markets abroad. So how can you adapt your content strategy for a more international context?

No matter where you’re planning to do business, the first rule of marketing still applies: know your target customer.

If you’re looking to enter foreign markets, you need to do your research ahead of time.

Enlist the help of local experts who have first-hand knowledge of the particular markets you’re targeting. Make sure you understand the cultural values, preferences and communication styles of the local people.

Invest in relevant content

Be prepared to connect with them on their terms: use their preferred digital channels and communicate in their native language. Yes, this means investing in the translation and localization of your content.

You may even consider transcreation, which is the creation of entirely new content for a particular region.

Chances are, your business is already producing content of some sort.

Whether it’s blog posts, a podcast, YouTube videos or image galleries, ideally, the format you’ve chosen reflects your audience’s content preferences.

From that main platform, you can then share your content strategically via digital channels: email, social networks, messaging apps, etc.

Done well, content marketing can be the most effective way for your business to find, convert and retain customers. In turn, global content marketing can grow your business to the next level – as long as you understand the importance of adapting your content for each regional market.

Your audience is online – meet them there

Did you know that in 2011, the United Nations declared access to the Internet to be a basic human right? We live in an increasingly connected world.

According to Internet World Stats, nearly half of all the people on the planet are now active Internet users. 600,000 more users are joining those ranks every day – many of them via mobile devices.

In fact, there are now 3.734 billion mobile users worldwide, which is actually more than half of the global population.

With this growing Internet community comes a steady increase in the usage of social networks and messenger apps. We Are Social has reported that as of August 2015, the average global penetration rate for social media usage was 30%, an increase of 8.7% over the previous year.

What does this mean for your business?

Ready or not, we’re all living in a new age of digital, mobile and social marketing

There’s no going back.

Both at home and abroad, businesses need to take a more transparent, interactive approach than they did in the age of traditional mass media.

People consume information from a much wider variety of sources than ever before, and they are no longer passive recipients. They communicate with each other online, and they expect brands to respond to their feedback, good or bad.

Even if you have a small business, your competition is now global. Fortunately, so is your potential customer base.

But a 2014 report by Common Sense Advisory makes it very clear that investing in translation and localization is more than just good business sense. It’s essential for building an international brand.

“55% of the 3,002 respondents buy only at websites where information is presented in their language. For those with limited English, the preference for mother-tongue purchases increases to 80% or more.”

Furthermore, “87% of consumers who can’t read English don’t buy products or services at English-language websites.”

Don’t get left behind in language limbo

In multilingual Europe, marketers have always understood the benefits of translation and localization. In Canada, where both English and French have official language status, bilingual marketing is standard practice – besides being legally required for certain types of content, such as food labels.

Meanwhile, U.S. marketers have some serious catching up to do when it comes to adopting a multilingual strategy. In a recent poll by Smartling, most of the U.S. companies surveyed were not translating their content at all, or, if they were, it was only into one other language.

Given that nine out of ten Internet users are now based outside of North America, this means a lot of companies are missing out on global growth opportunities.

International marketers should be the first out of the gate

The challenge for today’s international marketers, then, is to offer engaging content to regional audiences in their preferred language. Currently, about 54% of all published web content out there is still in English (according to W3Techs).

This can be a seen as an advantage for international marketers. While it’s becoming increasingly difficult to stand out in the overly saturated realm of English-language content, there is still a lot of room to make an impression in other languages.

And international marketers have much better tools at their disposal than ever before, which can be used in a very targeted way.

Email, social media, mobile messaging – these are all digital channels which allow your business to share tailored content with highly segmented, regional audiences.

So ask yourself:

What kind of content do your foreign audiences want?
In which languages?
What are customers’ questions, frustrations, or aspirations?
How can you help them?

Your goal should be to establish credibility, create good will and build a relationship of trust. This takes time, consistency and a commitment to quality.

It also takes a willingness to be human. Some things haven’t changed since the days of the market square: people want to do business with people they know, like and trust – not with logos or corporate brands.

In this age of mobile social technology, brands have no choice but to be more transparent with their customers. The reality is: you don’t control your brand anymore. Your brand is what other people say about it, especially when you’re not around.

In the case of international audiences, they’re probably not having those conversations in English. So make sure you speak their language, and participate in the conversation.

Have you found success with international content marketing? What types of content work best for your audience?

The post Have Content, Will Travel: Marketing to Today’s Global Customers appeared first on Trade Ready.

1. Monopolies

A monopoly situation represents a very serious entry barrier. A monopoly occurs when one company is the main provider of a product or service in a market. Monopolies might be state owned or can be created through takeovers of competing companies.

Monopolies often block entry to competitors by using patents and licences to prevent the development of possible substitutes, by controlling distribution routes, resources or suppliers, or by using pricing strategies.

One example of a monopoly-type situation is the provision of Internet services in North America. Because of the way Internet signals are carried (through cable or phone lines), consumers usually only have one of two choices for how they obtain their Internet service: through their phone company or through their cable provider. In rural areas where cable has not been installed, the phone company will be the only provider of Internet services for most customers.

If entering companies cannot access an efficient or cost-effective distribution system because incumbent companies control distribution networks, their goods or services are unlikely to be successful.

If supplies and resources in the target market are cut off because of an exclusive deal with incumbent companies, an alternative supplier from another market will need to be identified if possible, although this will be more expensive. In the case of the Internet providers described above, a new company wishing to provide Internet service would have to install new wiring to all areas it was targeting. This would be prohibitively expensive. Incumbent companies can also charge lower prices than new entrants and often use this as a strategy to dissuade competition.

2. Legal protection

Poor legal protection available to foreign companies also acts as a barrier. If a company cannot assume protection of its intellectual property (copyrights, patents, trademarks) and fair and effective dispute settlement mechanisms, it is likely to suffer losses in the market. In some countries, resorting to legal action over a commercial dispute can be futile, because neither the law nor the courts favour the foreign exporter.

3. Bribery and corruption

In many countries, business activities are commonly sped up or made possible through the payment of bribes.

Corrupt practices can be used to induce a government to adopt measures that are favourable to an industry or to influence government purchasing decisions.

In other cases, key officials and decision makers will demand some form of payment to allow a transaction to proceed. Although public opinion in the target country may be against such practices, they remain a reality. While local companies in such countries treat bribes as an everyday business occurrence, foreign companies can face severe civil and criminal penalties for paying bribes. This puts them at a disadvantage in the market.

Strategies to consider

Companies should remember that no matter how different the conditions, there are business people who thrive and prosper in virtually every country of the world.

Therefore, one strategic response is to partner with local business people who do understand the system and can work it to commercial advantage. When entering a market dominated by a monopoly, companies must understand that they have a high chance of failing and be prepared to lose substantial amounts in sunk costs.

Perhaps the most successful strategy is to differentiate their product or service from that provided by the monopoly. Companies should limit their exposure in countries that lack legal safeguards, especially when they have valuable intellectual property that is essential for their success.

The post Top three potential barriers to foreign market entry appeared first on Trade Ready.

Product design can also address the costs involved with transportation and inventory. These are often critical supply chain cost drivers, especially when inventory levels must be kept high to ensure service levels.

Product design can address these supply chain issues using the following three key components:

• Packaging and transportation
• Concurrent and parallel processing
• Standardization

Packing and transportation

One of the most important areas of product design is ensuring that products can be packed and stored efficiently. Goods that can be packed compactly are obviously cheaper to transport. A common example of this use of product design is flat-pack furniture.

As well as cost reductions, retailers are more likely to choose a supplier with products that take up less storage space and that can be stacked easily.

Weight is also a product-design issue that will affect transportation costs. A company might find that more expensive, lighter materials are cost effective when reduced transportation expenses are taken into account.

Concurrent and parallel processing

Lead times associated with suppliers, manufacturing processes and deliveries are a major interruption to the flow of the global supply chain.

In many manufacturing situations, a series of products or components are produced and then put together to make a final product. Delays can occur between each stage in the manufacturing process.

In concurrent and parallel processing, the manufacturing process is redesigned so that all production steps take place at the same time. This reduces manufacturing lead time and reduces inventory costs.

Standardization

Companies can standardize product components or processes. In product standardization, common components are used in many different products. This reduces the requirements for extensive component inventories and reduces costs.

In process standardization, the manufacturing process is standardized as much as possible for all different products. Products are only customized and differentiated late in the production process.

Process standardization usually involves redesigning products so that they can be customized late in production.

The post How adapting product design can lead to supply chain improvements appeared first on Trade Ready.