Today in Global Small Business: Rise of the Rest Road Trip

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

• President Obama's Export Council in June discussed letters of recommendations to be delivered and adopted soon.
• Discover four ways to achieve new growth in developing countries.
• The reasons to go global and why so many small businesses are choosing to do so.
• Is something getting lost in the Hello Kitty translation?
• Why Yahoo is going back to the drawing board on its e-commerce strategy.
• The Rise of the Rest Road Trip with AOL founder and investor Steve Case.

What Is Genius?

©2014 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration." - Thomas A. Edison

Here's Why You Should Go Global

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I was thrilled to become a LinkedIn Influencer and contribute articles in the area I am passionate about:  global small business.  LinkedIn Influencer is invitation-only, so Influencers must be invited to contribute.

Here's my latest article.  Pulse picked it up as a top selection!

10 Reasons To Go Global

Everything You Want to Know About Doing Business In Poland

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Poland and the United States have a close bilateral relationship, fostering strategic and commercial cooperation. U.S. companies are active in Poland and have invested heavily since 1989 when the country transitioned to a market-driven economy. Abundant opportunities remain for U.S. firms in Poland.

To learn everything you want to know about doing business in Poland, read the U.S. Department of Commerce's Country Commercial Guide 2012:  Doing Business In Poland

In addition, the World Bank Group offers an even more current economy profile on Doing Business in Poland.

The Demand for Creative Global Entrepreneurs

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Even if you come from a long line of entrepreneurs in a family it doesn't necessarily mean you are cut out for entrepreneurship or will become a successful entrepreneur.  Here's what one international student - Vikas Jagwani - studying in the United States has to say:

Being an international student for the past couple of years has made me more educated about the U.S. and some of the policies that are different from my home country. Growing up in a family full of entrepreneurs meant entrepreneurship is not a new concept for me, but becoming one is a challenge.

Vikas, from the United Arab Emirates, is a sophomore at Drury University, where he majors in accounting, finance and economics.  Find out why he thinks entrepreneurship is a good path of study for international students.

Pursue an Entrepreneurship Major, Minor as an International Student

4 Special Reports: Understanding Emerging Markets

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GlobalAtlanta partnered with Georgia State University’s Center for International Business Education and Research (CIBER) for a series of special reports aimed at helping businesses understand emerging markets.  You can access them below.

1.  India:  Land of Contradictions

2.  China:  Beyond the Hype

3.  Ghana's Gold Coast: Don't Let Tarnish Fool You

4.  Mongolia: Gold Mine or Money Pit

Today in Global Small Business: How to Deliver to Customers Globally

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

• What you should consider before setting up an e-commerce site.
• How to reach and deliver to customers globally with an e-commerce site.
• Avoid these importing mistakes at all costs when sourcing a product.
• Why exchanging gifts the right way in Japan is the finest expression of appreciation.
• Tips from a European perspective on expanding a business into the United States.
• What role affiliates play in international expansion.
• Why global business schools aren't producing ethical graduates.

Free: Sunrises and Sunsets

©2014 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"There's a sunrise and a sunset every single day, and they're absolutely free. Don't miss so many of them." – Jo Walton

Globalization Reconsidered: What Global Flows Mean in a Digital Age

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According to McKinsey & Company, global flows are creating new degrees of connectedness among economies—and playing an ever-larger role in determining the fate of nations, companies, and individuals; to be unconnected is to fall behind.

A new McKinsey Global Institute (MGI) report, Global flows in a digital age: How trade, finance, people, and data connect the world economy, examines the inflows and outflows of goods, services, finance, and people, as well as the data and communication flows that underlie them all, for 195 countries around the world.

Learn more:  Global flows in a digital age | McKinsey & Company

4 Executives Share Their Experiences Managing Global Organizations

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Harvard Business Review asked four executives to share their experiences managing global organizations.

1. Luc Minguet, head of group purchasing at Michelin, a global tire company based in France, describes how the tire maker trains managers to embrace cultural understanding and flexibility.
2. Eduardo Caride, regional director for Spanish-speaking countries in Latin America at Telefónica, the Madrid-based fixed and mobile telephony company, explores the benefits of moving managers across borders.
3. Takeo Yamaguchi, corporate officer for human capital at Hitachi, a Tokyo-based conglomerate with operations worldwide, details the conglomerate's efforts to create standardized HR practices across 948 companies.
4. Shane Tedjarati, president and CEO, global high-growth regions at Honeywell (Shanghai-based), discusses how the industrial powerhouse is shifting its strategy toward new regions, such as China, India, Vietnam, and Indonesia.

Read:  Voices from the Front Lines - Harvard Business Review

Avoid These 9 Common Importing Mistakes

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Ready to source that new product idea of yours?  You can feel the excitement and want to shout out to the world "wait until you get your hands on this product!"  But then you realize, oh, I have to find a manufacturer for it first.  As you begin the process, keep these nine common importing mistakes top of mind.  By addressing these potential pitfalls, you will save yourself time and money, enjoy peace of mind and manage a flawless import.

Read:  9 Importing Mistakes to Avoid When Sourcing a New Product

Understanding Global Trade Flows

Today in Global Small Business: 10 Great Books on Globalization

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

• How to find someone to make the product you just invented.
• What to consider before you set up an e-commerce storefront platform.
• Ten books on globalization you shouldn't miss.
• The pros and cons to taking a business global.
• Business owners can learn the benefits to taking a business international.
• Four mistakes small businesses make with e-commerce.
• Google features you should consider using for your small business (translation is one).

Unthink the Ordinary

©2014 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

Are you curious about the foot sculpture at Oak Street Beach (Chicago)?  Me too. That's why I took the photo above and then did a little research. Here's what I found.

Read:  Giant Foot Sculpture at Oak Street Beach

The purpose of the sculpture is to create buzz for Magritte: The Mystery of the Ordinary, 1926-1938 exhibition at the Art Institute of Chicago (through October 13, 2014) and challenge you to unthink the ordinary.

Third-Party (3PL) Internet Platforms Offer Stepping Stones to Export Success

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Third-party (3PL) Internet platforms such as Amazon, eBay, Rakuten, Etsy and CafePress all offer stepping stones to export success provided its visitors are in line with your ideal target market. They are easy to use, have a global reach, and can help you sell more goods worldwide at a profit.  These platforms also allow you to test the salability of your product on someone else's proven successful infrastructure before making a substantial investment to set up an e-commerce site from scratch.

In "Amazon Helps Mom-And-Pop Store in Barcelona Reach Global Village," the reporter talks about how small businesses in Spain use web-based platforms to escape domestic slumps or to drive additional growth to their existing business.

According to Javier Alvira, head of [Amazon's] the country's third-party operations in Spain:

"Spain is the fastest-growing market for the Amazon logistics service which handles deliveries for retailers"

Pictured:  Barcelona port

Please Join Me in Utah on September 24th For an Export Readiness Discussion

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For those who are in the area, please join me on September 24th in Utah for the Utah Global Forum where I will be speaking on how to get export ready.

Any company leader with an intent in growing or starting their company in exporting should attend the Utah Global Forum (UGF), presented by Governor Gary R. Herbert. UGF is Utah’s premiere international event organized to connect Utah business owners with the global market and to showcase what makes Utah great for foreign investors. The event will attract a broad domestic and international business audience and will inspire attendees to start or increase global trade and investment. The forum will be held Sept. 24 in the Salt Palace, Grand Ballroom. 

For more information and to register, visit:

GlobeTrade Founder to Speak on Increasing Exports at Utah Global Forum

There's Plenty of Room For Improvement On Small Businesses Selling Abroad

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In Jeff Kearn's article published by Bloomberg Businessweek, "Wine-Infused Ice Cream Boosts U.S. Small Company Exports," he talks about how small companies build global brands, why there's plenty of room for improvement to help small businesses sell abroad and how skepticism is the main challenge in working with small firms to expand beyond the nation’s borders.

A hat tip to Jeff for including my comments:

Some business owners have doubts about repayment, a consideration when one big unpaid bill can threaten their future, said Laurel Delaney, the Chicago-based founder of GlobeTrade who’s been helping entrepreneurs sell abroad since 1985. Still, she says insurance can cut risk.

‘Growth Potential’

“They’re just not realizing their growth potential,” she said. “You need to develop a global mindset.” 

Read the article:  "Wine-Infused Ice Cream Boosts U.S. Small Company Exports"

Today in Global Small Business: The Loss of a Great Global Comedic Genius

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

• The loss of a great global comedic genius -- may Robin Williams RIP.
• Why there are completely new forms of small businesses emerging.
• A primer on global sourcing.
• Why BuzzFeed is getting a $50 million investment with plans for international expansion.
• What is the one thing the ultimate e-commerce site must-have?
• Why the size of Russia's economy suggests a limited impact on the global economy.
• Thirteen things a global freight forwarder can do to move export cargo.

The Cloud Is Redefining the Small Business Playing Field

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Will small businesses embrace the cloud for efficiency and global growth purposes?  A few experts -- Steve King, Partner, Emergent Research who we've been following for a number of years, Terry Hicks, Vice President and General Manager, QuickBooks Online Ecosystem, Intuit and Joshua Reeves, CEO & Co-Founder, ZenPayroll -- have an answer for us with their new report "Small Business Success in the Cloud."  The authors say "the cloud is redefining the small business playing field."

If you are on a fence about whether to get in the cloud, read: Dispatches from the New Economy: Small Business Success in the Cloud.

Watching Things From Another Perspective

©2014 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"I like to turn things upside down, to watch pictures and situations from another perspective." - Ursus Wehrli

Bad Move on Russia's Part

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By now you've heard the latest news - Russia bans food imports from U.S., E.U.  So if you are exporting meat, fish, fruit, vegetables and milk products from the United States to Russia, your business will more than likely be impacted for a year.

This move by Russia has come in retaliation for sanctions we ("we" equals United States, European Union, Norway, Canada and Australia) imposed on Russia, which is accused of providing weaponry and other support to pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine.

The Russian shoppers may feel biggest impact. 

Although the U.S., Canada and the European Union together will take more than a $17.5 billion hit, Russian consumers may feel it more than Western farmers.

For the record, the United States exports about $1.2 billion in food and agricultural goods to Russia, less than one percent of total U.S. agriculture exports.   We'll take the smallest hit but nonetheless, according to US News:

The largest U.S. export to Russia is poultry, mainly chicken, followed by tree nuts such as almonds, and also soybeans. In a statement, the National Chicken Council and the USA Poultry and Egg Export Council said Russia buys a little more than $300 million in U.S. chicken annually, about 7 percent of the industry's total exports.

The good news on US poultry based on the National Chicken Council (NCC):

"We do not expect that a Russian ban on U.S. poultry imports will have a great impact on our industry," the NCC said in a statement. 

In the grand scheme of things, a small blip on the international trade radar.

Photo:  What Russia produces lots of ... sugar beets (seeds).

A Global Effort to Understand the Ebola Virus

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The world is scared.  The fears surrounding Ebola are those of the unknown, as a concerted global effort is under way to better understand the virus, contain it and treat victims in the absence of an approved vaccine or drug.

According to Knowledge@Wharton:

Beginning in March this year, Ebola has thus far claimed 867 lives in the four West African nations of Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria; another 1,603 people are suspected of, or have a confirmed, Ebola infection, according to latest updates from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It is the worst Ebola outbreak since the virus was first discovered 38 years ago in Sudan and Congo.

Learn more on Kent Brantly, the 33-year-old American doctor infected with the Ebola virus and 59-year-old Nancy Writebol, another Ebola-infected American aid worker.

Read:  Weighing the Risks in the Ebola Battle

Are you scheduled to travel internationally any time soon?  Be sure to check the U.S. Passports and International Travel before you book your flight to consider very carefully whether you should go to a country at all.

More on what's happening with the Ebola virus:

• Ebola virus:  British experts urge US and WHO to 'give Africans experimental cure'
• Death Toll in Ebola Virus Outbreak Reach 932
• Ebola Virus Obsession
• Ebola Virus Outbreak 2014:  NYC Mount Sinai Patient Tests Negative
• Ebola drug likely saved American patients

The World's 25 Largest Marketing Research Firms

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Formerly titled the Honomichl Global Top 25 Report, the AMA Gold Global Top 25 Report was launched some nineteen years ago to track the revenue growth and organizational size of the world’s largest market research firms. Through the years, only a handful of firms came to dominate the marketing research industry.

According to the report, the firms in this year’s Global Top 25 list have grown over the years, together reaching an estimated $21.5 billion in annual revenue in 2013, which represents about 54% of total worldwide expenditures on marketing, advertising and public opinion research services for all for-profit firms as estimated by ESOMAR.

From a global standpoint:

In 2013, 55% of the Global Top 25 firms reported revenues from countries outside of their home countries, down slightly from 54% in 2012. Only one firm—Video Research in Japan—reported revenue only from inside of its home country. At the other extreme, 93% of Ipsos’ revenues came from outside France.

Read on to learn about the growing internationalism of research firms, and the continued best practices they implement.

The 2014 AMA Gold Global Top 25 Report

Imagine a Paperless Fast-Payment Future

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Taulia provides cloud-based invoice, payment and dynamic discounting management solutions.  It also makes it possible for AP departments to operate in a virtually paperless environment - from eliminating paper invoices to storing supplier documents electronically.

As Taulia states on its website:  "With Taulia, you can have more efficient processes, faster communication and more secure information – without ever wasting a single tree."

(One quick comment, talk about the "Old Boys Network:" http://www.taulia.com/en/about/management)

Additional press on Taulia:

• Taulia Raises $27M to Go Global with Fast Payments for Small Biz
• Taulia gives businesses discounts for paying their invoices early, gets $27M

Learn more about Taulia.

Today in Global Small Business: Innovative Wearable Technology Brand LeChal

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

• Pastry and confections inspired by nature:  Le Dix-Sept 
• E-commerce in India through flipkart (established in 2007 and modeled off Amazon)
• Wearable technology brand, LeChal, with interactive haptic footwear.
• Why Facebook is effective for small businesses, too.
• PayPal will expand lending outside US including to Australian and UK small businesses.
• Global 3D scanning market is forecast reach $4.9 billion by 2020.

What Are You Materialistic About?

©2014 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"Cars and cameras are the two things I let myself be materialistic about. I don't care about other stuff." - Louis C.K.

Photo:  The classic Ford Thunderbird

China's Power: It's Overtaking the US as the World's Largest Economy

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As Euromonitor International says, "China and the USA may be economic rivals, but beyond the headline figures, divergent trends are apparent in both countries. This white paper provides a glimpse into both markets, highlighting the complexities of doing business in each."

Download the white paper (requires quick registration) to see what the impact of China's power will be on industries and consumers worldwide:  China Overtakes the US as the World's Largest Economy

International Trade Finance Webinar (SBA)

What You Need to Know About Anti-Bribery and Corruption in M&A

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If you are considering venturing overseas, it would behoove you to review what processes you have in place for managing bribery and corruption risk.  For example, with a new, unknown market, you may not recognize the red flags in dealing with the government and third parties.

As Bill George, author, Harvard Business School professor and former CEO of Medtronic said, "To build a truly great, global business, business leaders need to adopt a global standard of ethical practices."

While conducting business across borders, companies have to be mindful of ethics and laws, especially as they relate to exporting and other methods of global expansion.

For more information on what directors at firms need to know about anti-bribery and corruption in M&A, read:  Venturing Overseas?  Pack the Domestic Rulebook

Related article(s):  Canada:  Hidden Dangers in M&A:  Bribery and Corruption; How to Avoid Bribes in International Business and past blog posts on corruption and bribery can be found here.

Connecting Buyers Worldwide with Chinese Manufacturers

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Made-In-China.com claims to connect global buyers with Chinese suppliers and has recently launched iCredit. This business line of credit is a "buy now, pay later" program that enables small businesses to receive shipments from Chinese suppliers and delay payment until after products are delivered.

Learn more:  Global Trade Website Launches Business Line of Credit

Other resources for connecting global buyers with Chinese suppliers:

• Alibaba.com
• Global Sources
• Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC)

Today in Global Small Business: Google Can Listen to Multiple Languages At the Same Time

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

• An interview with Kati Suominen on catalyzing cross-border commerce
• Why Facebook and Twitter are both aiming at the e-commerce market.
• Google can listen to multiple languages at the same time and be able to process them at the same time.
• Why American steel companies, executives and workers want to punish countries for illegal dumping tactics.
• How a trade mission to Mexico opened doors for leaders in business and education.
• Why global trade might become less important.
• Understanding what a FCC certificate is and why it is important.

Listen to the Murmur of the Water

©2014 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

“Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under trees on a summer's day, listening to the murmur of the water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time.” ― John Lubbock, The Use Of Life

By The End of 2014, There Will Be Almost 3 Billion Internet Users

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According to Brahima Sanou, Director of the ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau, "By the end of 2014, there will be almost 3 billion Internet users, two-thirds of them coming from the developing world, and that the number of mobile-broadband subscriptions will reach 2.3 billion globally."

The question becomes:  Are you ready to serve them?

Note:  By end 2014, 55% of all mobile-broadband subscriptions are expected to be in the developing world, compared with only 20% in 2008.  Close to one out of three people in the developing countries are online.

Read the entire report:  The World in 2014 ICT Facts and Figures

Related article:  The G20 e-Trade Readiness Index:  Good and Bad News for SMEs

Learn About the U.S.-Canada Regulatory Cooperation Council (RCC)

What's the Key Driver Leading to Overseas Outsourcing?

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According to a 2012 survey from Duke’s Fuqua School of business, nearly three-quarters of respondents indicated labor cost savings as one of the three most important drivers leading to overseas outsourcing.

This was twice the rate of response for any other option. But according to research from the Hackett Group, the cost gap between the United States and China has shrunk by nearly 50 percent over the past eight years, and is expected to stand at just 16 percent by 2013. Labor costs in China and elsewhere are rising, and coupled with rising fuel prices raising shipping costs, the economic argument for sending jobs overseas may be becoming less persuasive.

Oh really.  Currently, a lot of politicians are still using the "sending jobs overseas" as a hot button issue to pin against a favorite candidate. Take the case of Republican Gov. Scott Walker (WI), who is running a campaign ad hitting Democratic candidate Mary Burke (WI) for her family’s company where she used to work, Trek Bicycle, for sending jobs overseas.

Read more:  Walker ad used Trek sending jobs overseas to rip Burke

A little more on global leader Trek bikes.

Are You An American Maker?

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If you make your products in America, this is your chance to be recognized as one of the 2014 Martha Stewart American Made Winners.

Martha, her panel of judges, and the American Made community are selecting the next generation of American Made entrepreneurs: those who are creating beautiful, inspiring, useful products; pioneering new industries; improving local communities; and changing the way we eat, shop, work, and live.

Nominations:  June 3 - August 29, 2014

Turn your passion for quality craftsmanship and well-designed goods into a way of life.  Nominate yourself but first, learn the ropes and rules here. Then get started.

Meanwhile, find out why small businesses should 'sell American' locally and globally.

Today in Global Small Business: eBay Shuts Down Small-Business E-Commerce Software Products

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

• Stuck on how to craft an export business plan?  Look no further at the LEBP.
• Even large deals support small businesses through Ex-Im Bank financing.
• How do we get globalization right?
• Why eBay is shutting down small-business e-commerce software products.
• Why Google+ dropped profile photos.
• Don't know too much about Alibaba?  Here's a short course.

110 Real Recipes for Serious Fluffernuts

©2014 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

OK, I admit.  I love the combination of Marshmallow Fluff and peanut butter (throw in a couple of sliced bananas too and I am in food heaven).  If you are in the same camp, then you will love this book.

By the way, my copy (as the photo shows) says 110 recipes yet the Amazon listing says 50 - so shop around to grab the more comprehensive book!

10 Factors to Consider Before You Import

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Here are ten factors to consider before you decide whether to import products from overseas for your global small business.

Here's a snapshot of one example:

4. Is importing actually cost effective?

Once you have an idea of the final landed cost of an item, you’ll be able to check whether importing will be a cost-effective option for your business. There are a lot of additional charges you’ll need to pay over and above the cost per unit from a factory overseas, and these can add up. You’ll want to be able to make a reasonable return on investment after all these costs have been taken into account.

It is a good idea to get your accountant, business adviser or customs broker to go through your calculations to make sure you’ve included all the costs you’re likely to incur.

Read the entire article:  Ten tips before you import

Taking On Global E-Commerce

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Taking on global ecommerce is not an easy process for merchants, small business owners and newbies – and can be quite challenging to say the least.  Language barriers, payment methods, cultural differences, not to mention regulatory requirements vary dramatically from country to country.

Digital River World Payments lays out four distinct strategies for making “going global everywhere” work with its recent white paper, “Going Global, Selling Local: Preparing Your Business to Grab Its Share of the Online Market" (requires quick registration to download).  It also provides a checklist for what ecommerce businesses should do to make the most of the global opportunities that are before them.

Read the entire article:  The Four Ways To Win At Cross Border Commerce

A Few Insights From Global Marketers and Localization Experts

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Check out the first special edition of Brand Quarterly where they have gathered insights from global marketers and localization experts - from companies such as Cisco, SAP, Lego and Mastercard.

Yes, you can learn a thing or two from the big guys when it comes to international expansion.

Read the 68-page free report:  Brand Quarterly July 2014 - Global Marketing Special Edition By Vesey Creative

How to Make Sure Worker Protection Worldwide Doesn't Fall Through the Cracks

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British-based global specialty food ingredients business Tate & Lyle has production facilities and research centers throughout the Americas, Europe, and Southeast Asia. The company’s operating philosophy is, “We always put safety first; nothing is more important.”

To enhance safety performance across geographic boundaries Tate & Lyle has introduced a requirement for a “permit to work” that spells out risks and safety requirements for all non-routine jobs. 

Note:  Don't confuse this permit-to-work (good example can be found here) with a document that allows an employee to work legally in the United States, which is commonly used in Britain and Europe.

The value of the permit-to-work system?  It brings contractor teams together and it provides accountability.

Read the entire article:  Global businesses are crossing borders to find safety solutions

Gateway to Asia: Hong Kong

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Are you interested in conducting business in Asia?  Then consider entering Hong Kong which serves as a gateway to that part of the world.  In getting started, I have referred many colleagues and clients to the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC).  It's a wonderful organization for helping companies do business in Hong Kong, source products, find partners, attend trade shows and more.

Give it look:  7 Benefits to Working with the Hong Kong Trade Development Council

Barefoot On a Beach and Happy. What About You?

© 2014 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"A simple life is good with me. I don't need a whole lot. For me, a T-shirt, a pair of shorts, barefoot on a beach and I'm happy." - Yanni

Got an Idea? Get a Road Map. Go Make It.

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Wrestling with a new product idea?  The first step is to determine if there is a demand for the product (conduct market research, for example).  Next is to create a prototype.  After that it's sounding the market with a few select buyers.  From there, if all goes well, it's full scale production.  Last, it's managing logistical, supply-chain and fulfillment processes.

Now how do you do all that without knowing where to turn and how to finance it?

Highway1

Highway1 does all the above and more.  It helps you build a global business.

Learn more by reading a related article:  The connected kitchen start-up poised to go global

Export Inspiration: Bassetts Ice Cream

Are We In a Slump In the History of Global Capitalism?

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David McNally is a Canadian socialist and activist, and the author of numerous books, including Global Slump: The Economics and Politics of Crisis and Resistance and Monsters of the Market: Zombies, Vampires and Global Capitalism. He was interviewed by Andrew Sernatinger and Tessa Echeverri.  The interview transcript was first published in two parts at New Politics, and is republished below.

Here's the elephant on the table:

What is the state of the economy, in the U.S. and around the world, seven years into the global crisis--and, more importantly, what is the prospect for further resistance to develop?

Read the entire interview:  Global slump and the new normal

10 Things Web Globalization Will Allow You To Do

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LinkedIn invited me to contribute articles on global business.  Here's the first one.

10 Reasons Why You Should Translate Your Web Site

Today in Global Small Business: Tips to Execute Better Global Marketing Campaigns

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

• Are there financial implications to opening shop in Switzerland?
• Things to consider when expanding your business internationally.
• Why successful companies tend to have a multinational presence.
• Why the remote 24/7/365 connected world, better known as the freelancer industry is booming.
• Five tips to execute better global marketing campaigns.
• Is an international quality seal necessary for commerce in Europe?

Assuring the Success of Liberty

© 2014 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty." - John F. Kennedy

4th of July: The Best Day of the Year Because It's About Liberty

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Independence Day, or 4th of July, is a national holiday in the United States that celebrates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.

To all Americans, I wish you day filled with fun, reflection and a little reading (The Declaration of Independence). Happy 4th of July!

Setting Up Shop in Switzerland

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What a small world we live in.  Michael Shrum, owner of Talencium LLC, reached out to me because he believes Switzerland is a good bet for small business owners interested in setting up shop outside their own borders for the first time.  Why?

Find out through the interview I conducted with him.  It's a two-part series so be sure to catch both parts.

Part I:  Why Should a Small Business Owner Set Up An Operation in Switzerland?

Part II:  The Financial Implications of Opening an Operation in Switzerland

My Shadow

©2014 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves." - Buddha

Oh Happy Canada Day!

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Today is Canada Day.  To celebrate Canada's birthday, Daniella D'Alimonte at the Forum for International Trade Training (FITT) put together a wonderful article offering practical and playful insights into how to do business in Canada.  She pulled on some leading experts - from Jim Foley, Director at the Turner Center for Entrepreneurship at Bradley University to John Yunker at Byte Level Research and we are happy she asked us to participate too :-).

Read the entire article:  O it's great to do international trade with Canada!