Global Expansion Simplified

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“Internationalization” can seem an overwhelming concept for SMEs, but the relationship between the two has never been so significant. In the face of worldwide economic disruptions, SMEs’ role in the global trade ecosystem has remained resilient, contributing significantly to economic growth, innovation, and job creation.

In this article, find out:

• How to develop a structured pathway for business growth
• Nine key building blocks for international expansion
• Free whitepaper: Global Expansion Simplified: The Ultimate Guide for SMEs

It's all here.

Today in Global Small Business: The Next Wave of Sustainable Global Growth

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What's affecting me, my clients, my colleagues and other global small business owners:

• Six business models piloted in Asia offer lessons for global leaders in any market – and just might be the key to the next wave of sustainable growth.
• Energy economics expert Michael Pollitt explains why the most muscular solutions to the world’s energy transition are global.
• Quote of the week:  "Watch the walls come down, whether it's in the South or on Wall Street. When the walls come down, what do we find? More markets, more talent, more capital and growth. Which means that the race and sex discrimination stunt economic growth. It's not good for capitalism. It's not good for America's growth. And it's not morally right." – Jesse Jackson
• Visa and Stripe plan global expansion of stablecoin card issuance product to over 100 countries.
• Japan’s music industry is in a particularly unique position. Find out why.
• The perfume houses of tomorrow are scaling up today – priming a brand for global expansion.

Note:  The Global Small Business Blog has been in operation since 2004 and is ranked number one in the world for entrepreneurs and small businesses interested in going global.  As of February 1, 2026, we have more than 900,000 readers on a monthly basis.

Today in Global Small Business: Global Expansion Simplified for SMEs

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What's affecting me, my clients, my colleagues and other global small business owners:

• Global expansion simplified for SMEs.
• FAQs for tariffs and customs regulations.
• Shein’s and Temu’s prices will get hit even harder by the new de minimis rule.
• Quote of the week:  "Don’t be afraid to give up the good to go for the great." — John D. Rockefeller
• How to sell on eBay in 2025.
• reddit member asks:  Etsy Sellers: How many of you ship worldwide? Is international selling that easy?

Build a Global Growth Strategy

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Global growth holds immense promise for small businesses seeking a competitive advantage in today’s increasingly interconnected economy.  While understanding the intricacies of global expansion is an important first step, navigating this journey alone can be daunting. However, by working with industry leaders, companies (like GlobeTrade, wegg® and other resources) – regardless of scale – can expedite your global journey and access new markets swiftly and compliantly.

Here's a beginner's guide to global business expansion.

Fabletics Is Transforming Supply Chain to Support Global Expansion

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Activewear fashion brand Fabletics operates more than 100 stores in the U.S., Canada and Europe, with expansion expected into Mexico in 2025.  They are in the process of transforming supply chain to support global expansion.

Fabletics is deploying the Blue Yonder SaaS-based supply chain planning suite, including solutions for demand planning, allocation & replenishmen, merchandise financial planning, and size scaling, to help support expansion of its global footprint. 

Read more to learn how Fabletics is transforming supply chain to support global expansion.

FINAL CALL: 9th Annual Global Small Business Forum 10/18/24 in Chicago!

©2024 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

Ready.  Set.  Let's go global!  There is still time to sign up for the biggest and best 9th Annual Global Small Business Forum, "Global Success Within Reach – The Bigger Picture," held in Chicago on Friday, October 18th from 8:00-11:30 AM CT.  Hear from a cast of experienced speakers who know the ins and outs to global expansion.

Our cast of speakers – like an Academy Award lineup but for experts and business owners who drive results through global expansion – is as follows:

• Angie Kappel, VP Foreign Exchange, Capital Markets, Associated Bank
• Tami Lange, Founder and President, Save the Girls
• Ellen Wheeler, Partner and Litigation Attorney, Foley & Lardner LLP
• Marc Schulman, President, The Eli's Cheesecake Company
• Amy Mills, Owner and President, 17th Street Barbecue
• Donald J. Lloyd, Senior VP, Manager:  Capital Markets – Foreign Exchange, Rate Swaps and Commodity Derivatives, Associated Bank (Moderator)
• Kirk Samson, Global Business Leader, Co-Founder, Samson Worldwide LLC and Global Business Consultant
• Richard Paullin, Executive Director, International Trade Association of Greater Chicago
• Yvette Laugier, Chairman Emeritus, Housewares Association Board of Directors
• Diamond Young, AVP Foreign Exchange | Capital Markets, Associated Bank
• Rajiv Khatau, Managing Director, LODAAT Pharma
• Valarie King-Bailey, CEO, OnShore Technology Group, Inc. 

Forum is sponsored by Associated Bank and hosted by Foley & Lardner.  

To learn more and to register, visit: https://globalsmallbusinessforum.com/.  I [Laurel Delaney] hope to see you there!

#successwithinreach

Today in Global Small Business: The Backstory on Globalization

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What's affecting me, my clients, my colleagues and other global small business owners:

• The world has undergone a transformation in the structure of the global economy – known as "globalization."  This commentary examines the why and how behind it all.
• The global economy's 200-year growth spurt – and what comes next.
• Quote of the week: “Globalization for a startup is exciting; you have to learn so fast about the different cultures of the world." – Adam Neumann
• Marriott International is expanding its global footprint for future growth.
• Three key aspects to get in line when expanding globally.
• Mews secures $100 million to fuel global expansion and accelerate strategic acquisitions of hotel technology

Women Entrepreneurs Have the Fastest Growing Businesses in the United States

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From small shops to bold startups, women are trailblazing into entrepreneurship and making things happen on their own terms. But the playing field isn’t quite equal yet. Behind the breakthroughs, female founders still see more doors closed than opened regarding funding and fair chances. The percentage of women who started a business in the last year was 47%, compared to 44% for men.

Businesses owned and operated by black females in the United States between 2014 and 2019 increased by 50%. About 2.7 million enterprises in the United States are owned and managed by black women.

Learn more about the top major women entrepreneur statistics.  And see how many women entrepreneurs are turning to global expansion for growth.

Alibaba Courts the U.S. and Europe to Get Global Growth

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Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba is ramping up its global expansion with new services aimed at attracting small businesses in the U.S. and Europe.

Alibaba.com — the company’s business-to-business platform which sells to companies outside China — is launching “Alibaba Guaranteed.”  The new service will provide buyers with greater certainty on delivery, payments and dispute settlement.

Korea Promotes SMEs' Global Expansion

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The chiefs of Korea’s largest business groups gathered with President Yoon Suk Yeol to garner support for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in their overseas expansion efforts in an annual meeting on Thursday.

President Yoon presided over this year’s conference of SMEs held on the front lawn of the presidential office in central Seoul, joined by Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong, LG Group Chairman Koo Kwang-mo and Hanwha Group Vice Chairman Kim Dong-kwan.

The president vowed to come up with specific support measures based on the Support for Small and Medium Enterprise Establishment Act, which was passed in February.

Massive Area of Growth: Global Expansion

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Shopify President Harley Finkelstein wants to make your customer base global.  So do we.  Simple as that.

"International is a massive area of growth for us,” he [Finkelstein] said. “So not only can any brand of all sizes use Shopify, but once they start selling with us, we want to make it default global, meaning we want their customer base to be global.”

We are all for it!  Yes!  Bolster your global business.

Global Expansion Is the Future for Small Businesses

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According to Courtney Kincaid, President and CEO of the Indiana CPA Society, global expansion is now easier than ever. She says studies show businesses are more successful in the long term when they spread their reach to new countries and markets. 

As the world becomes more connected, small business owners should look for ways to expand their reach overseas to find new customers, follow this blog, access resources like this one and Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global®.

You have one shot at life. Give it your best.  Reach for the stars.  Go for global growth.

Considerations When Taking a Business Global

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There are many considerations to be made when taking a business global.

On the payroll and human resources end, important considerations involve understanding the potential labor costs, making sure the company’s culture and employee experience are in sync to avoid high rates of turnover, ensuring the business is in compliance with many new tax and labor laws in the country(ies) where the employer wishes to expand, and applying new and emerging technology in ways that will aid the scope of the payroll and human resource expansion.

These are just a few.  There are more.

What Role Does Digitization Play in Global Expansion?

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Apurva Palnitkar, Senior Director Marketing, GoDaddy India says that in today's technology-driven world, the adoption of digital tools and strategies has become paramount for small businesses seeking to thrive and expand their presence beyond local boundaries.

SMEs are successfully integrating digital tools into their operations in order to gain competitive edge, improve efficiency, reach a wider customer base, and most importantly in order to go global more effectively. 

Discover the few advantages of going digital as a global SME and make sure to assess your needs, budget, and resources when selecting and implementing digital tools to ensure they align with your business goals. 

Today in Global Small Business: Betting on a Lifestyle Brand to Go Global

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What's affecting me, my clients, my colleagues and other global small business owners:

• The Italian Made in Italy apparel and accessory brand Vicario Cinque is ready to further expand globally through a series of strategies in-keeping with its own identity, expertise, love for the environment, quality, savoir-faire.  It's a bet on a lifestyle brand.
• A triple-shot reinvention strategy with multiple paths for long-term [global] growth.
• Full-blown gym Everlast plans for global expansion.
• Quote of the week:  "My guiding principle is that prosperity can be shared. We can create wealth together. The global economy is not a zero-sum game." – Julia Gillard
  
• Global economic growth will slow in 2024, say banks.
• A different perspective than from above says that the global economy will perform better than many expect in 2024.

IP Assets Are the Heart of a Tech Company's Competitive Advantage

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It goes without saying that intellectual property assets are the heart of a tech company's competitive advantage. So, you have to value them accurately to make informed decisions during global expansion.

Before scaling, you need to conduct a thorough IP audit first. By assessing the strength, uniqueness, and market potential of your IP assets, you can determine your value in a global marketplace. This should include, for example, new product designs, manufacturing equipment, and process recipes for making your new products.

The bottom line in any such analysis is to determine the financial benefits that your IP assets are expected to deliver to a new venture that you may license or otherwise partner with. 

As young tech companies set their sights on global expansion, the wisdom and guidance of an experienced IP investor can make all the difference.

Some Like It Hot and So Does wegg® at Its Next wegginar® 11/1/23

©2023 Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global®.  All rights reserved.

We 🧡 Stacy Moritz, the owner of the Secret Aardvark Trading Company because she has a great sense of humor and knows a ton about exporting.  And her products are hot, too (they kick you in the mouth as her company claims)!  

We can't wait to hear her wegginar presentation on Wednesday, November 1, 2023 at 11 AM CT on: "Exporting: Is It Just a Way to Get Free Travel?" – https://bit.ly/45cTavP.

In her wegginar, you will learn whether exporting is just a way to get free travel 😉 and ...

• How to do your research for global exporting
• The importance of running and embracing the numbers – metrics matter!
• How to be agile in an ever-changing market 

Please join us! To learn more, connect with others, and grow your business to the next level via global expansion, register here:  https://bit.ly/45cTavP

See you there!

Powered by: Associated Bank, FedEx, Bluedog Design, 1706 Advisors, and Union Pacific 

Today in Global Small Business: On Labor Day, America Honors and Celebrates the Labor Movement

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What's affecting me, my clients, my colleagues and other global small business owners:

• Labor Day is a federal holiday in the United States celebrated on the first Monday in September to honor and recognize the American labor movement and the works and contributions of laborers to the development and achievements of the United States. 
• How outsourcing technology can lead to greater global business expansion.
• Why global expansion is a good idea for your business.
• Quote of the week:  "Labor Day is seen as a day of rest for many hardworking Americans." – James P. Hoffa
• September 1, 2023 is a sad day; Jimmy Buffett left our world and enters another.
• A global search for Paul McCartney's 1961 Höfner guitar.

What to Choose When Expanding Your Business Globally: Local Entity or PEO?

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You can establish a presence in a new and unfamiliar market yourself by setting up a local entity.  Alternatively, you can partner with a Professional Employer Organization (PEO) to expand into the new market far more quickly with less risk and without needing a full-fledged local presence. 

Here are some tips to help you decide whether a local entity or PEO is right for your business's global expansion. 

Create and Customize Quality Trips From A to Z From All Over the World

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Start creating and customizing quality trips from A to Z all over the world in the blink of an eye with the next generation connected-trip operator Worldia, a B2B2C connected-trip company.

The Paris-based startup plans to continue its mission of “transforming the travel industry” for travel professionals and consumers, said Grégoire Pasquet, the company’s co-founder and CEO. 

A key player in the French market, Worldia has also successfully expanded into the German, Belgian and Spanish markets and has done a first pilot in the US.