How to Find Out Who Operates Where Globally

Here's an online place to help you unravel the maze of who operates where in the world marketplace.  Find American firms and their locations in other countries and firms based in other countries with locations in the United States.

Since 1955, Uniworld remains the most trusted source for up-to-date multinational business contact information with listings in over 200 countries.

In seconds, you'll have the list of firms you need without the clutter of useless data other products make you pay for.  It's free to search.  Pay for only what you really need or subscribe to unlimited access for an entire year.

Illustrations credits:  Uniworld Online

Startups Going Global

Michael Fertik is an Internet entrepreneur and CEO with experience in technology and law. He founded Reputation.com in 2006. You can follow him on Twitter at @michaelfertik and meanwhile, he knows how to write a great article on going global right out of the starting gate.

Read:  Go International, Young Startup

Illustration credit:  Harvard Business Review

Related articles:  Tips to Trading Globally and Taking Your Startup Global

Contemplating New Product Expansion Overseas?

Everybody loves an international success story.  It goes like this:

Your overseas venture is booming and delivering profits. Your next step might be contemplating new product expansion.  You wonder whether you should create an entirely new product for an overseas market.  What's involved?  What's the upside?  What's the downside? 

Here's a scenario  -- article -- that might help you decide.

Creating New Products to Expand Your Overseas Market

Photo courtesy:  stock.xchng

Are You World Ready?

Repeat:  Are you world ready?  I am.  So is Adobe.  In the article below, Adobe shows how they have been able to accelerate localization and hopefully, debunk the belief that localization takes six weeks.

Localization does not take 6 weeks—it takes an average of 7.8 hours.

Read:  Globalization Myth Series:  Myth 4:  It Takes Six Weeks to Localize a Product! || Adobe Globalization

The goal for Adobe is:

In these workflows, we can complete a localization cycle as quickly as within 24 hours.  Our ultimate goal?  We are preparing for the day when Adobe products get released multiple times a day!

 Illustration courtesy:  Adobe 

Chicago: Home of Historic Radio and Television

©Laurel Delaney 2013.  All Rights Reserved.  "MBC Media Tower"

I paid a visit yesterday to The Museum of Broadcast Communications (Chicago) where all the great communicators of the world -- from Mike Wallace to Larry King to Bill Kurtis -- are featured and honored.

The mission of MBC is:

The mission of the Museum of Broadcast Communications (MBC) is to collect, preserve, and present historic and contemporary radio and television content as well as educate, inform, and entertain the public through its archives, public programs, screenings, exhibits, publications and online access to its resources.

The photo you see above is that of an amazing Media Tower at MBC made up of old radios, televisions, computers and so forth.  Fascinating. It's located at the top of the staircase from the front entrance to the museum.  Admission is free from January 25th-February 28th.

First Step to Global Success? Companywide Commitment

Global success is directly related to a companywide commitment. That companywide commitment involves you alone if you are a sole proprietor, or in the case of a large corporation, the executive committee, finance, operations, marketing and sales, logistics, research, technology and culture.

Who do you look for on your team?

A new breed of communicator who pays attention to detail and who has great salesmanship qualities, persistence, integrity, an interest in international matters, bi- or multilingual language capabilities, cultural empathy, and good writing and speaking abilities. The individual must be  ...

Read the entire article here.

Illustration credit:  stock.xchng

Sell Globally Without Ever Leaving Home

How do you transition from local to global without ever leaving home? It starts online via a smart phone, tablet, laptop (as shown) or PC. You must have a connection to the Internet and then you are well on your way.

In a more traditional way and provided you have created a website:

On your homepage, state that your company welcomes inquiries from any country in the world and that you’re willing and able to ship outside of the United States. That will help foreign consumers, buyers and distributors find you and your products. If nothing else, it can start a discussion about potential sales.

To learn more read (February 2012): How to Go Global Without Going Abroad

Related article (July 2011): 9 Ways to Sell Your Products Internationally Without Ever Leaving Home

Photo credit:  ©Laurel Delaney 2013.  All rights reserved.

How to Get World Attention on Your Brand

©Jason Wu 2012 (www.jasonwustudio.com/)

Photo credit:  The New Yorker - Michelle Obama

Every entrepreneur and small business owner wants customers to find them.  In other words, to be discovered.  To know you exist.  How do you make it happen?

Try designing not once, but twice, the First Lady Michelle Obama's inaugural gown and you are sure to become a worldly household name.  And that name is Jason Wu.

Read:  First Lady in Red:  Michelle Obama Repeats Jason Wu for Inaugural Ball

Photo credit (top):  Jason Wu Studio

Photo credit (right):  The New Yorker

Tips to Expanding Your Business Internationally

According to Eugene Laney for The Washington Post, here's what you must do before you can make a success of your business internationally:

1. Identify markets.
2. Know the rules.
3. Find a logistics agent.

Get a handle on the opportunities that exist and avoid some of the potential pitfalls.   Learn more here.

Illustration credit: The Washington Post || Small Business

The United States of America: The 57th Presidential Inauguration

President Obama sworn in to second term serving as President of the United States (1/21/13).

Learn more here.

Illustration credit:  The White House

Export Opportunities Exist in Brazil

Brazil is a ripe and robust market offering excellent growth opportunities on exports. It is also part of the emerging -- or developing markets -- which include large economies such as the BRICs: Brazil, Russia, India and China.

If you’re looking for a country to expand, Brazil might just be the answer.

Learn more here.

Illustration courtesy:  Brasil.gov.br

Happy Weekend from Chicago!

©2013 Laurel Delaney "Chilly Chicago."  All rights reserved.

Have a great weekend everyone!  Back with you on Monday. ~ Regards, Laurel

Road Ahead Remains Bumpy for the World

Show me the money!  Where is the beef?  Or how about:

"We can’t wait for a return to growth in high-income countries,” says World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim.

Meanwhile, see why the road ahead remains bumpy for the world here.

More according to The World Bank:

The World Bank estimates global GDP grew 2.3 percent in 2012, compared with last June’s expectation of 2.5 percent. Growth is expected to remain broadly unchanged at 2.4 percent growth in 2013, before gradually strengthening to 3.1 percent in 2014 and 3.3[1] percent in 2015.

[1] Using 2005 purchasing power parity weights, global growth would be 3.0, 3.4 and 4.2 percent for 2012, 2013 and 2015, respectively.

Full report:  Prospects for the Global Economy

Illustration credit:  The World Bank

U.S. Census Bureau Offers a Boatload of Import/Export Training Videos

Did you know that the U.S. Department of Commerce, United States Census Bureau offers tons of information on importing and exporting?  Now you do.  Here's a sampling on some of the items they offer:

• The Fundamentals of Exporting Webinar Series
• Export Compliance and Regulations
• Reporting Electronic Export Information (EEI)
• Using Trade Data for Export Planning and Strategy
• Trade Agreements
• Mandatory AES

Learn more here.

Illustration credit: U.S. Census Bureau, Video A8: What Is a Freight Forwarder?

Give Your Head of International Business a Raise

Why should you give your head of international business a raise?  I suggest that only if you are interested in taking on the world with your business and beating out your competitors.  If that is the case, spark some life into your international business -- revitalize it!  That's what Orbitz is doing.

Just three days after Orbitz Worldwide’s latest CFO left the building for good, the company quietly gave the head of its international businesses his second raise in less than six months.

Find out why here.

Illustration credit:  Orbitz Worldwide

Collecting Online Payments Worldwide

When you get that first bite -- real buying interest -- from an overseas customer, how do you handle getting paid?  Do you leave it to chance (referred to as open account), ask for a wire transfer of funds in advance of the sale or talk to your banker to figure out your best payment options?

Here we outline how PayPal can be effective collecting payment on smaller international transactions.

PayPal:  A Way to Pay or Get Paid Across Borders 

Illustration credit:  International Payments - PayPal Worldwide

Have You Bookmarked Eurasia Review?

According to Chrissy Burns for Eurasia Review, ER covers important financial news worldwide.

Whether it is the expanded search for gas in Saudi Arabia or the Google executives’ trip to North Korea the features and analysis provided by Eurasia Review is the perfect way to start your day and set you on the path of proper financial decision-making.

Read the entire article:  A World Connected Through Economics

Illustration credit:  Eurasia Review

In Our Interconnected World, Let's Get Closer

©Laurel Delaney 2013, "Get Closer"

In our ability to make connections in heartbeat via LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Google+, what have you done lately to get closer to your worldwide constituency base?

Photo courtesy:  ©Laurel Delaney 2013, "Get Closer"

Are Global Trade Winds Blowing Toward America?

How do you speed up development from an idea to a finished product to market?  Head to the United States.  Think I'm kidding?  Guess again.

Near the end of this year’s second presidential debate, Candy Crowley of CNN pointed out that iPads, iPhones, and other globally sought-after Apple products are all made in China. What would it take, she asked both Mitt Romney and Barack Obama, to “convince a great American company to bring that manufacturing back here?”

As James Fallows, Atlantic national correspondent points out, "Still, the U.S. economy is so much larger than our manufacturing sector (referring to China), even in its battered condition, remains the largest in the world.

Read the comprehensive article:  Mr. China Comes to America

What do you think? 

Illustration credit: Amazon.com, "China Airborne" by James Fallow

Women Entrepreneurs Provide Optimism in Africa

What will it take to bring more women entrepreneurs into the global marketplace?  Start with greater access to finance and business coaching services, and you will see the number of women engaging in entrepreneurial endeavors only increase.  And that's not just in Africa.

The World Bank recently stated; “The rate of women’s entrepreneurship is high in Africa—higher than in any other region”. A point extenuating the inroads Africa’s women entrepreneurs have made on the path towards gender equality in the past decade.

The Women in Business Challenge -- the business plan competition seeking women entrepreneurs presenting businesses with the potential for high growth and impact -- returns in its fourth edition.

Learn more about what's happening with women entrepreneurs in Africa here.  Sign up for the Women in Business Challenge 2013:  Empowering Women Entrepreneurs to Drive Growth.

Illustration credit:  Nuba Foods (finalist in the Women in Business Challenge 2012)

Related article on women entrepreneurs:   Enterprising Women 2012:  Women Entrepreneurs Energize Economies (Page 3)

How About An Award For Your Exporting Efforts?

SBA has you covered with an award recognizing a small business that is successfully engaged in exporting!  Is that you?

A new award has been added by the U.S. Small Business Administration in celebration of National Small Business Week 2013.  The Small Business Exporter of the Year award will recognize a small business that is successfully engaged in exporting.  A national award winner will be selected from among state award winners from each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Guam.

Deadline for submissions:  January 31, 2013

Go here for guidelines.  Go here for the nomination area.  Read the entire SBA press release here.

Illustration credit courtesy:  SBA

Why Export?

The Global Small Business Blog Made the List: 12 Best Blogs of 2012!

The Global Small Business Blog made the "12 Best Blogs of 2012!"  Thank you BuyerZone.  We are honored to be included.

The "best of the best" blogs not only stayed on top of current trends, but also predicted what trends were coming next.

Go here for the entire list.

Illustration credit:  BuyerZone

Grow Global

©Laurel Delaney 2013 "Grow Global!"

Global: 

15 Ways to Find New or Hidden Markets

in the World Marketplace

Are You Ready to Go Global?

The New York Enterprise Report asked some of the smartest people they know what will happen for business in the coming decade. Here's what they said.  And remember: You read it at The New York Enterprise Report first!

Fast Forward:  The Year 2023

We are honored to be included in this feature under the Globalization category.

Illustration credit: The New York Enterprise Report

2013: Developments in the Global Economy

In Building Blocks for the Global Economy, students from the Joseph H. Lauder Institute of Management and International Studies present new perspectives on some of the latest developments in the global economy.

The articles cover a wide variety of topics related to consumer markets around the world — including online dating and consumer credit in China, e-commerce in Brazil, retail chains in Russia and tourism in Colombia — showing how advances in technology and traditional market forces blend together to produce new opportunities for companies.

Download the entire 88-page PDF report (1 MG) here.

Illustration credit: Joseph H. Lauder Institute of Management and International Studies

How to Sell Artisan Shoes Made of Recyled Materials in 55 Countries Within 8 Years

Ethiopian entrepreneur Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu (pictured) started soleRebels in 2005 in order to create jobs and sustainable prosperity in her country.  Eight years later, she is now selling in more than 55 countries, considered the largest African footwear brand and fast becoming a global competitive brand.

Read:  The Rise of Ethiopia's Sole Rebels

Illustration credit:  soleRebels

50 Ways to Go Global in 2013

What's your new year's resolution?  I'm hoping it's to take your business global.  Here are 50 ways to get started.

Happy New Year!  Happy Year 2013 of Going Global!