Today in Global Small Business: The Importance of Exim Bank to the Competitiveness of American Exports

©iStock/Goldfinch4ever

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

• What are the 19 benefits to selling in international markets?
• How small businesses can tap into global talent.
• How to create blue-sky thinking.
• The importance of Exim Bank to the competitiveness of American exports.
• Five questions to ask for choosing the right structure for your international website.
• U.S. brands Ocean Spray and Carlson Labs enter e-commerce in China via free trade zones.

The Greater Danger For Most of Us

©2015 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"The greater danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short; but in setting our aim too low, and achieving our mark." -- Michelangelo

19 Benefits to Selling in International Markets

©2015 GSBB Media LLC.  All rights reserved.

With the Global Small Business Forum taking place today (10/23) in Chicago at the historic Navy Pier, it only seems fitting that Small Business Trends, one of our Major Partners on the event, would write a fantastic feature on "19 Tips to Take Your Small Business Global" by Annie Pilon.  We love that our headliner on the event, Marc Schulman, President of Eli's Cheesecake is quoted.

Are you looking to expand your business internationally?  These tips should help you get there faster.  A BIG thank you to Small Business Trends for supporting small businesses, including ours, that wish to take on the world with their businesses.

How Do You Manage Cash Flow in Multiple Currencies?

iStock/Maxsattana

What's the toughest part of managing cash flow in multiple currencies?  The fact that small businesses may not know exactly what they are paying or being paid at any given moment.

For a small to medium enterprise [SME] that conducts part of its business overseas, currency stability is something that can never be taken for granted. A volatile exchange rate is the hidden profit killer – the past few months alone have demonstrated this with the Euro moving against the pound by as much as 17% at times - yet SMEs do not always have the in-house expertise needed to protect profits against such fluctuations.

What do you do?

Read more:  Managing cash-flow in different currencies

Is There a Lack of Confidence in the Global Market?

©iStock/Meshmerize

In the UK, nearly a third of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) delayed their investment plans in the third quarter as a result of uncertainty in the EU.

“Ongoing macro-economic issues, such as a potential 'Grexit' [referred to as Greek exit] and a lack of confidence in the global economy, as well as national challenges, such as less friendly dividend tax rules introduced in George Osborne’s Summer Budget, appear to have contributed to a drop in the Smith & Williamson Enterprise Index to 114.4, five points lower than its record high of 119.4 three months ago,” said Guy Rigby, head of entrepreneurial services at Smith & Williamson.

One other finding:

“87% of SME owners [in the UK] thought the government should provide more support to help businesses export,” said Stephen Drew, head of international services at Smith & Williamson.

Read more:  Third of small businesses delay investment plans over EU uncertainty

How Do You Conquer the World with Your Shiny New Product?

©iStock/Iqoncept

How do you conquer the world with your shiny new product?  Let me count the ways.  First, try some blue-sky thinking.  Next, get out your compass and develop a roadmap on where you want to go.  Lastly, ask yourself this:  Who is ______________________________ (fill in the blank with your company name); What do we stand for ______________________________________?  Does your brand stand for what your customers want to feel?

The painful truth is that it’s a big bad world of big-name brands out there. So if you’re a start-up entrepreneur with big dreams and an even bigger desire to conquer the world with your shiny, new product but without the marketing budget of the bigger international brands you need to be clear at what your brand is, what differentiates you, and what why consumers should go to you instead of the competitors. Armed with a strong brand, you’re on your way to winning big in the global marketplace.

Read more:  How small businesses can win big with branding

Today in Global Small Business: Why Unilever's Online Sales Are Zooming

©iStock/rvisoft

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

• 3 days left to sign up for the Global Small Business Forum held in Chicago at Navy Pier on Friday, October 23 (only a few seats left -- don't miss out on learning a brave new way of doing business with the world).
• How does a U.S. business protect its rights when merely trying to shop online in China?
• Why Unilever's online sales are zooming at twice the rate of the global ecommerce market.
• Why New England firms fear loss of international sales.
• The small business guide to growth hacking (would like to have seen more talk about global growth here in the article).
• Can ecommerce giants deliver during festive season?

Delicious Autumn

"Delicious autumn!  My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns." -- George Eliot

Photos courtesy:  @2015 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

Major Marker of Success: Going Global

©iStock/timurock

Are you in need for real-time translation?  Microsoft claims Cortana is the ultimate international business partner and is available on all Windows 10-enabled devices and laptops.  But let's back up a bit.  For many small business owners, going global is one of the major markers of success — proving their business model is bullet-proof enough to be effective on a larger, more diverse audience scale. But taking a company overseas can also come with challenges that can quickly knock the wind out of a business owner's sail

What does Cortana do?

Cortana retrieves and processes information. So instead of wasting time searching the Internet for the currency of Brazil or shipping regulations in Russia, users can simply ask Cortana a question and she'll [not sure how Cortana is a female] comb the Internet to find the best answer. Cortana can also make web browsing easier: Now featured within the Edge browser, Cortana can quickly make sense of any unfamiliar words or concepts with a simple click.

Think of Cortana as a new personal assistant.  You'll have to test it out yourself to see how global "she" is.  Meanwhile, have a look at "Businesses Try to Fix Machine Translation."  And we still love Eriksen Translations for real people doing real translations (small plug).

Note:  The above on Cortana is an advertorial on Mashable.

Learn more:  How Cortana solves the issue of 'lost in translation' for small business owners

Only 9 Days Left to Register for the Chicago-based Global Small Business Forum 2015

©2015 GSBB Media LLC.  All rights reserved.

Anyone who wants to cross borders with a product or service must attend this event at Chicago's historic Navy Pier on Friday, October 23rd.  Here’s a snapshot of who plans to participate as moderators, panelists and speakers (http://globalsmallbusinessforum.com/speakers/):

1. Richard Paullin, Executive Director, International Trade Association of Greater Chicago; Chairman, IL District Export Council
2. Kevin Drost, Director of International Strategy, Reverb.com
3. Bo Steiner, District Director, U.S. Small Business Administration, Illinois District
4. Rajiv Khatau, Founder and Managing Director, LODAAT LLC
5. Kati Suominen, Founder and CEO, Nextrade Group, LLC — keynote speaker!
6. Marc Schulman, President, Eli’s Cheesecake Company — headliner! -- love this post!
7. Lisa Bitsky, President, Automated Design Crop.
8. Zach Person, Program Manager, IL International Trade Center for Entrepreneurship, College of DuPage
9. Sophia Leaguedi, President, Ameroc Export Inc.
10. Jim Snediker, Co-Founder and CEO, Stock Manufacturing Co.
11. Roy Donoso, President, Sumac
12. Timo Lukkarinen, CEO, Horizon Educational
13. Sergei Kozyrenko, Co-Founding CTO, Parknav
14. Rob Wray, CEO, mp3Car
15. Morgan Coghill, International Sales Manager, Simmons Knife and Saw
16. Doris Nagel, President, Blue Sky Consulting Services

You won’t want to miss this!  More than 16 experts/practitioners talking about what it takes to grow a business globally.  The program can be found here:  http://globalsmallbusinessforum.com/program/  To learn more and to register, visit:  http://globalsmallbusinessforum.com/tickets/

We thank our generous and supportive sponsors and major partners:
http://globalsmallbusinessforum.com/sponsors/

I'll be there.  Will you?  (Hashtag:  #UpYourGlobalGame)

Increasing Awareness on the Importance of Entrepreneurship in Tajikistan

©iStock/NickolayV

A Youth Entrepreneurship Forum involving around 200 young people recently took place in Dushanbe, the capital and largest city of Tajikistan, with support from the World Bank Group, as part of the Government of Tajikistan’s National Entrepreneurship Week. The purpose of the event was to increase awareness on the importance of entrepreneurship for job creation and economic growth and exchanging ideas around entrepreneurship for youth in Tajikistan.

At the forum, international and local experts introduced key concepts of entrepreneurship such as how to set up and manage a business, how to make entrepreneurial decisions and identify new business opportunities. 

The World Bank’s ongoing portfolio in Tajikistan includes 24 projects (including regional projects and Trust Funds) with a net commitment of US$ 383 million that aim to support economic growth through private sector development, while investing in better public services for people, such as education, health, municipal services and social protection.

Read more:  World Bank Group Supports Youth Entrepreneurship Forum in Dushanbe

The Argument for Open Borders

Remember the song "Born Free?"  It's lively and moving (as featured) and pretty much in line with the discussions about the case of getting rid of borders.

According to The Atlantic:

To paraphrase Rousseau, man is born free, yet everywhere he is caged. Barbed-wire, concrete walls, and gun-toting guards confine people to the nation-state of their birth. But why? The argument for open borders is both economic and moral. All people should be free to move about the earth, uncaged by the arbitrary lines known as borders.

Today in Global Small Business: U.S. Export-Import Bank Will be Reauthorized (Prediction)

©iStock/Joebelanger

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

• Seats are going fast for the Global Small Business Forum held in Chicago on 10/23.
• Is cross-border e-commerce underdeveloped in Europe?
• Are you a rare female (entrepreneurial) bird?
• How the next generation can capitalize on an international MBA.
• How on October 26, 2015 we will know where Exim stands on reauthorization.
• Why it's important to keep an open mind on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).

Magnificent and Popular: That Could Be Anything in Chicago

©2015 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

Trump calls his building in Chicago, "magnificent and popular."

What It Takes to be a Successful Small Business Owner in the Global Digital Age

©iStock/John North

Key:  Don't accept the status-quo!

Robert Herjavec, entrepreneur and host of ABC’s Shark Tank, talks about the newly released documentary film Small Business Revolution (#SmallBusinessRevolution) and what it takes to be a successful small business owner in the global digital age. The documentary profiles 100 small businesses around the country and covers the essence of what makes these individuals successful.

Read more:  Shark Tank Star on Small Business Success

Fighting For Revenue in a Sluggish Global Economy

©iStock/Milosducati

In 2015, many companies in the U.S. and abroad are fighting for revenue in a sluggish global economy and Ex-Im Bank's closing doesn't help matters.  A strong dollar and weaker growth hamper export efforts.  For example, U.S. exports of goods and services were down 3.5% from a year earlier in the first seven months of 2015.  Exports fell 3.2% in August, according to the Commerce Department.

Many foreign companies say they can't secure financing from commercial banks without some kind of government-backed financing or guarantee, which most developed countries offer through their own Ex-Im banks.

And yet there are alternative financing methods out there ...

Read more:  Ex-Im Bank's Closing Creates Gulf

Africa: A Continent of Possibilities

©iStock/Borgongniels

Which continent has some of the highest rates of female entrepreneurship?  Sweden, United States or Australia?  Try Africa.  Afua Osei, founder of She Leads Africa, is working to fix the perception that Africa only churns out owners of small farms or roadside stands.  She's on a mission (so is WEGG) to prove that women with drive and talent can launch a global start-up —just like she has.

Osei, a consultant for McKinsey, became interested in supporting African businesswomen after spending a summer working at a mobile technology company in Lagos, Nigeria. There she learned that her female coworkers had far less access to professional development opportunities than Osei had at Booth [The University of Chicago Booth School of Business].

Read more:  A continent of possibility | The University of Chicago Magazine

SMEs Declare the Importance of Global Trade

©iStock/Danielfela

The Trans-Pacific Partnership, between the United States, Japan and 10 other countries in the Asia-Pacific region, stands to reduce many of the barriers that smaller businesses struggle with in particular, have reached a final agreement on the largest regional trade accord in history, bubbling up what could be a tough fight for U.S. President Obama because he has to secure approval from Congress.  Further, the deal still has to be ratified by lawmakers in each country.   The TPP would affect 40 percent of the world economy.

Many business leaders -- big and small -- have said that increasing access to international markets would enable them to hire more workers to keep up with new demand.

Need more background on TPP?  Visit Trans-Pacific Partnership - At a Glance and The Trans-Pacific Partnership -- USTR.gov

Read more:  Business Leaders Applaud Trans-Pacific Partnership

Today in Global Small Business: Apple Watch Goes On Sale at Target

©iStock/TraceyMedia

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

• How to improve your international social media communications strategy.
• What a weak jobs report may mean for interest rates.
• High-end Apple merchandiser Angela Ahrendts prepares for Apple Watch to be sold in Target.
• Workers in Waukesha, Wisconsin are losing jobs as GE takes strong stance in Ex-Im Bank dispute.
• Google's new holding company Alphabet drops 'Don't Be Evil.'  What should you be dropping?
• How to turn a 'worldly view of new ideas' into a global business.

All Things Beautiful Are Worth Chasing

©2015 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

©2015 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

“Today was about chasing sun-rays, beach waves, & sunsets. All things beautiful that give you peace are worth chasing.  Everything else isn't.” -- April Mae Monterrosa

Rwandan-born Jean Bosco Nzeyimana Wins International Award

Jean Bosco Nzeyimana's idea to compost household trash into cleaner cooking fuel for poor families have won him several international innovation awards.  He is the founder and CEO of Habona Limited, a Rwandan start-up trying to address the lack of electricity in his rural village of Kitabi.

Global Peer-to-Peer Bitcoin Lending Platform

©iStock/FabianCode

Bitbond is a global peer-to-peer bitcoin lending platform. Small businesses similar to eBay sellers who need to finance working capital and inventory list their loan request on Bitbond after going through a credit check. The loans get funded by individual and institutional lenders who thereby earn interest with their bit coins.

Bitcoin lending platform Bitbond today [9/30] announced the launch of its new global affiliate program. The affiliate program is designed to open up the services Bitbond provides, and allow the vibrant Bitbond community to share in the revenue of the company. By providing a financial incentive, affiliates promoting Bitbond will now be able to profit financially for every active user they refer.

Learn more:  Bitbond Launches Global Bitcoin Affiliate Program

Insights From Pope Francis on Globalization

©iStock/Nico_Campo

In this article, I reference Pope Francis's remark on "one-dimensional globalization" and touch on some other interesting quotes that were made by him during his first-time historic trip to the United States.

Read more:  Globalization is Good and Can be Noble

Use Mobile Applications to Boost Efficiency Worldwide

©iStock/Leadinglights

How do you tap economic global potential?  Use mobile applications to boost efficiency by cutting travel costs and allowing workers to share information and have online meetings.  That's what Google Australia head of small business marketing Richard Flanagan says.

“Going online opens up nat­ional and global markets for businesses restricted to local buyers, as well as accessing ser­vices and labour markets that aren’t local for specialised workers,” he said.

Read more:  Online strategy turns bush [Australian] business global

Today in Global Small Business: Pope Francis Weighs In On Benefits of Globalization

©iStock/Nico_Campo

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

• Why big shipping giants are snatching up global e-commerce service providers.
• The Pope gives impassioned remarks on globalization.
• Pope Francis weighs in on benefits of globalization.
• Microfinance brings impact opportunities and new markets for companies.
• How Arizona connects to the world.
• Eli's Cheesecake President Marc Schulman to give keynote talk on taking his business global 10/23.

Prohibition-Era Gem of a Bar in Chicago

©2015 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

The Hideout Chicago (pictured) is a prohibition-era gem of a Chicago bar in a small space that hosts all kinds of live music and dancing on Saturday night.  I had the opportunity to be at the Hideout Tuesday night (9/22) to listen to the incredibly talented Eagle Rock Gospel Singers.

Leveraging the Growing Internet Usage

©iStock/Scanrall

According to eMarketer, the Asia-Pacific region is projected to capture 33.4 percent share of global e-commerce sales by the end of 2015.  Embracing e-commerce will accelerate access to international markets, promote innovation, create jobs and expand customer reach for business owners.

“We need to leverage on the growing Internet usage, burgeoning middle class, and the increasing accessibility and affordability of technology to enable our micro, small, and medium enterprises to enter the global market. E-Commerce has evolved into a regular marketplace option for many buyers,” she [Doris Magsaysay-Ho, 2015 chairman of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Business Advisory Council (Abac)] added.

Read more:  'Free and open trade should benefit small businesses'

What Happens When International Expansion is High On a List?

©iStock/Maselkoo99

You can start out a year by saying "We will develop the absolute best social media campaign," or you can declare, "International expansion will be our number one priority this year."  Whatever you say ends up guiding your directives throughout the year.

In this case, Onfido, a London-based background-checking startup established by three Oxford graduates, has put international expansion high on their list of strategic priorities for 2015.

Onfido's technology allows companies to carry out remote background checks and is used by everyone from Airbnb rival Onefinestay to on-demand cleaning business Handy.

Ed Ungar, Google's former head of channel partnerships in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, has been named COO of Onfido.

Read more:  Onfido hires Google's Ed Ungar to lead expansion

Globalization Presents Growth Opportunity for Businesses

©iStock/Elen11

Global payment and currency risk management solution company AFEX surveyed more than 450 of their SME client base worldwide, to explore their experiences and attitudes towards global trade, and their approaches towards managing currency risk. The responses offer a fascinating insight into the concerns and expectations for growing businesses trading beyond their domestic borders.

Biggest finding?

... "almost half of their clients (48%) are expecting to increase their level of international trade in 2015, compared to just 38% planning to do so in 2014. As a result, and against a backdrop of global economic uncertainty, one in five (19%) of clients also plan to increase hedging activity to mitigate currency risk."

The question becomes:  What portion of your revenue is exposed to currency fluctuation and how are you mitigating that risk?

Read:  AFEX Currency Risk Outlook 2015

Creating the Next Billion Global Jobs

©iStock/Yellowcrestmedia

At the 2014 Social Good Summit last year, Dell provided a strategy for achieving the next billion global jobs through a program known as Goal 8, which has been suggested as a goal for the 2015 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) created by the United Nations.

Goal 8 is focused on achieving specific agenda items that will work toward ending poverty by increasing lending for small businesses, offering access to more technology, eliminating child and slave labor, enabling equal opportunity employment and pay, fostering green initiatives and improving working conditions.  

To help ensure that Goal 8 makes the final cut, Dell formed a community to champion it.  Go to Entrepreneurs UNite (https://entrepreneursunite.com) to sign up. #EntrepreneursUNite

Today in Global Small Business: Amazon Hands Shopify a Big Win

©iStock/Killerbayer

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

• Three focus areas to strengthen your global business.
• How woodworkers can go global.
• Does being a big reader make you a better (global) leader?
• A discussion on the digital economy's potential.
• What five experts say about the future of e-commerce.
• How Amazon has handed Shopify a big win.

Birds and Spirits of the Dead

©2015 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

Some birds (as shown atop the lighthouse) are known to carry the souls of the dead to the “next world.”  Is there a relationship between birds and the spirits of the dead?  Or are birds more commonly associated with life, fertility, and longevity?

Last Chance For Early Bird Discount on Global Small Business Forum Held in Chicago 10/23

Don't miss out.  You have until close of business today (Central time) to receive a discount on our Global Small Business Forum.  If you plan to attend, why not grab a savings while you can?  The Global Small Business Forum guarantees you will learn how to boost your business through exports and network with your peers.

To learn more and to register, visit:  http://www.globalsmallbusinessforum.com  See you there!

Are Small Businesses Plugged Into the Internet?

©iStock/Szepy

According to a landmark global survey commissioned by GoDaddy, most very small businesses aren't fully plugged into the Internet.  Why is that?  Could it be that the businesses are just too small for the Internet?

There are over 200 million small businesses in the world, but for many, making the leap to have their own website is challenging: survey respondents said they hadn't had the time, money or expertise to create a website.

These small businesses -- 59 percent of them -- claim that they don't have their own website.

Read more:  Very small businesses poised to go online for first time, with huge expectations

A Rare Glimpse of Steve Job's Vision, Aspirations and Managerial Approach

And the Winners of the Global Technology Competition Are ...

©iStock/Rypson

Who's out there tackling problems in our world?  First, you must spot a gap and then fill an opportunity.  In this instance, Sir Richard Branson has crowned the winners of global technology competition, the Talent Unleashed Awards, at a high profile event in Sydney last week.

The Awards recognize disruptive entrepreneurs who utilize innovative technology solutions to improve communities, social problems and the environment.

Read more:  Game-changers:  Winners of global technology competition announced  Shortcut to winners here.

Today in Global Small Business: Are Grads Ready for Their Jobs Globally?

©iStock/Lanolan

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

• What California's new 'Made in USA' legislation means.
• Whitebox launches a fully automated ecommerce solution which helps manufacturers and brands scale globally.
• Does the Bitcoin community need another wallet?  Find out.
• Are grads ready for their jobs globally?
• Globalization in a small Southern city.
• Up your global game by attending Forum held in Chicago on 10/23.

Explore Chicago's Rich History

©2015 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

How do you explore Chicago's rich history, famous architecture and amazing skyline?  Consider Shoreline Sightseeing.

Intuit Gets Lean in India

©iStock/Noppasin Wongchum

US accounting software company Intuit has retrenched at least 440 employees globally and the wave has hit Indian shores, too.

According to officials in the company's Bengaluru office, 35 employees including developers, sales and marketing staff were asked to leave last month. The employees were told in July that the company needs to get leaner and a reorganisation was on the anvil.

Read more:  Intuit Fires 440 Staff Globally, 35 in Bengaluru

Customers Love Roasting Coffee Beans On the Spot in Kyoto, Japan

©iStock/Frank Mirbach

% Arabica, a Kyoto, Japan based coffee shop, is the brainchild of Kenneth Shoji, a trading company boss who’s been investing heavily in specialty coffee.

In addition to owning a coffee farm, his company, Asiamix, is a distributor of high-end Slayer espresso machines and the sole exporter of the Japan-made Tornado King roaster. (The first branch of % Arabica opened in 2013 in Hong Kong, where Asiamix is headquartered.)

How does % Arabica have a steady stream of multinational customers?

While overseas visitors tend to discover % Arabica via the TripAdvisor website (where it’s currently ranked as the fourth-best “Restaurant in Kyoto”), Yamaguchi says that Japanese customers often come after word-of-mouth recommendations. Social-networking app Instagram is another major lure: Yamaguchi and his latte art have attracted more than 33,000 followers.

Read more:  Roasted-on-the-spot coffee from Kyoto is going global

Up Your Global Game

©2015 GSBB Media LLC

Global TradeSource, Ltd. invites startups, entrepreneurs and small business owners to learn the secrets to financial global success at a one-of-a-kind forum with the theme "Up Your Global Game" at the historic Navy Pier in downtown Chicago on Friday, Oct. 23, 2015.

The Global Small Business Forum will inspire attendees to get out of their own backyards and transition from local, regional or niche-market players into global titans. Event attendees will gain the knowledge and insights they need to market, sell and fulfill orders internationally by taking full advantage of the Internet and the opportunities it creates. Attendees will be able to boost their revenues by learning how to expand beyond borders.

For more information and to register, visit:  The Global Small Business Forum 2015 (http://www.globalsmallbusinessforum.com)

Is Global Uncertainty Taking Its Toll?

©iStock/Devonyu

Confidence in smaller firms is "cooling," with increasing caution among business prospects, while global economic uncertainty is taking its toll on Britain's manufacturers, according to new studies published by the Federation of Small Business (FSB).

Read more:  Small firms and manufacturers report dip in confidence

Today in Global Small Business: How to Take Advantage of Significant Duty Savings On Imports

©iStock/Emarto

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

• How do you predict the future?  These 8 tips might help.
• The Global Small Business Forum held in Chicago on 10/23/15.  Have you registered?
• Would you recognize DHL Global Forwarding as a top employer?
• How U.S. importers can take advantage of significant duty savings.
• Trend for female entrepreneurship is significantly up globally.
• The best supply chain and logistics blogs on the web (according to Freightos).

Happy Labor Day to all Americans who have contributed to the strength of our economy.

Mickey Mouse Sitting on the Sand

©2015 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

You never know what you will find on the beach.  In this case, Mickey Mouse is sitting on the sand in Rogers Park, Illinois (Pratt Beach), waiting for his/her owner to bring him safely and lovingly back home.

Listen In: Illinois Exporters Say It's a Struggle With No Export-Import Bank

©iStock/Marcoscisetti

WBEZ morning shift on August 31, 2015 interviews Richard Paullin, Executive Director, International Trade Association of Greater Chicago on the impact for Chicago business owners concerning the lapse in the reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank of the United States.

IL exporters say it's a struggle with no Export-Import Bank

Meanwhile, our Global Small Business Forum 2015 (registration OPEN) held in Chicago at Navy Pier on Friday, October 23rd, will help small business owners boost their exports and gather alternative methods for financing their sales.  Richard Paullin will be participating in the event.

In Pursuit of Development Opportunities Outside the United States

©iStock/BlueRingMedia

Despite challenging economic conditions, a competitive environment and severe currency headwind, Rolling Meadows, Illinois-based Boston Scientific managed to post better-than-expected second-quarter 2015 results.  How is that?  They continue to strengthen their core businesses and invest in new technologies and global markets.

An important aspect of the company’s growth strategy is its pursuit of development opportunities outside the U.S. by expanding global presence, inclusive of the emerging markets. 

Read more:  Boston Scientific Expands Globally, Fights Currency Woes

Private Capital Access Project: Small Business Optimism on Upswing

©iStock/A-Wrangler

Dun & Bradstreet and Pepperdine University has released the Private Capital Access (PCA) results for Q3. In addition, Dun & Bradstreet will be at the upcoming WBDC 29th Annual Entrepreneurial Women’s Conference on Wednesday, September 2nd at McCormick Place West in Chicago moderating the morning breakout session focusing on access to capital issues for small businesses in addition to co-hosting the 1:1 Lender Matchmaking session.

To learn more about the WBDC Conference and D&B's morning breakout session, visit:
http://www.ewc29.org.

To learn more about D&B and Pepperdine University's Private Capital Markets Project, visit:
http://bschool.pepperdine.edu/about/people/faculty/appliedresearch/research/pcmsurvey/pca-index/

Read the press release:  Small Business Optimism Continues Along Three-Year Upswing, According to Dun & Bradstreet and Pepperdine Graziadio PCA Index

Disruptive Innovation in the Cargo Space

©iStock/Prasit Rodphan

Cargo shipments are coming into the Internet age and promise to reshape the transportation industry.  Find out how in the following article I authored for the About.com Import and Export site.

Shipping Global Cargo in the Internet Age