Impact On International Expansion Can Be Significant

iStock/Thinkstock

According to The Motley Fool, in the first quarter of 2012, Netflix entered the U.K. and Ireland, and the quarterly international contribution loss spiked from $60 million to $103 million sequentially.  When Netflix began serving the Netherlands last quarter, it was accompanied by a sequential increase in the international contribution loss.

They go on to report:

While these numbers are "choppy," the impact of expansion on profitability is significant.

Can you still be profitable while you grow internationally?  I think so.

Netflix should not automatically shy away from international expansion just because it will be expensive. Indeed, if the company can secure a first-mover position in Internet video within its new markets, they should become quite profitable over time.

Netflix's International Expansion Will Be Expensive

100 Best Websites for Entrepreneurs: The Global Small Business Blog is On the List

iStock/Thinkstock

Forbes brings you the first annual list of FORBES 2013 100 Best Websites For Entrepreneurs and The Global Small Business Blog made the list. Whether you’re seeking advice on going global, scaling your business or looking for general industry insight, these sites, according to Forbes, are worth reading.

There are websites to help market your startup (Duct Tape Marketing) and think about taking it international (Global Small Business Blog). There are news sources and newsletters, as well as a bunch of question-and-answer forums (Stack Overflow, Quora, Reddit) to address the most specific entrepreneurial demands. Present, too, are sites like Startup Lawyer, which can help founders address the legalities of starting up.

 100 Best Websites for Entrepreneurs - Forbes

Holy Name Cathedral Chicago

©2013 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

World-famous Holy Name Cathedral Chicago.

Technology Is Changing the Global Landscape

Ingram Publishing/Thinkstock

This year Google opened its first “Winter Wonderlabs” in six U.S. cities to showcase its tablets, laptops and other gadgets. Customers can try out the products but must buy them online. The showrooms will close at the end of the holiday season.

Learn what else is different for retailers who have both a brick and mortar and online presence, including Amazon, Bonobos and prescription eyeglass specialist Warby Parker.

Read the entire article: Online retailers build brands by opening showrooms

Issuing a Commercial Import Invoice

iStock/Thinkstock

In this article, I talk about why a commercial import invoice is important and how to prepare one.

A commercial invoice, signed by the seller or shipper, or his agent, acts as a bill of sale between a buyer and seller, describes what you are importing and references important transaction numbers. It also serves as a vehicle for the seller to get paid as well as a device for you to receive your merchandise in a timely fashion and in good order.

Read the entire article:  What's Needed on a Commercial Import Invoice

Shine Bright This Holiday Season

©2013 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

May Your Holidays Be Bright

and Filled With Joy!

A Santa All Year Round and All Around the World?

Fuse/Thinkstock

Is it possible to have a Santa all year round, all around the world, and one who generates business?  In Finland, they're trying to do something exactly like this.

Read the entire article:  Finnish Santa Claus wants to go global, all year round  

To SMEs in China, The Whole World Can Be Your Market

iStock/Thinkstock

After China became a member of the World Trade Organization, twelve years ago, China claims "it’s fulfilled its commitments and made great strides in exporting its "Made in China" brand."

China promised to open the market by bringing down tariffs. The ensuing flood of giant multinationals put tremendous pressure on the country’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Yet, Li Mingliang, who runs a private fish processing company says:

"Today my products can not only be sold in China, but are exported to neighboring countries like Japan and South Korea. The whole world can be my potential market. We are all connected. A decade ago, that was unimaginable."

Read the entire article:  China makes great strides in exporting "Made in China" brand

The Purrfect Pet Food Store

©2013 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

This playful photo was taken at Urbanimal Chicago, the all natural pet food store owned by Daniel Irizarry where:

... [We] believe it's not enough for our furry children to simply survive. Instead we seek to educate and provide products and services that will allow them to thrive.

Pay a visit to Urbanimal to meet the biggest cat of all - and dressed up for the holidays!

Where Did Your Bacon and Eggs Come From This Morning?

iStock/Thinkstock

According to Joel Backaler, a contributor to Forbes, Chinese companies go global because of government encouragement as well as business necessity.  He goes on to say, "However, it takes more than international ambitions alone to succeed in developed markets."

The article, the first in a six-part series, begins with:

What did you eat for breakfast this morning? You may be surprised to learn which country it came from…or at least who owns the company that made it. If you had bacon and eggs and live in the U.S., you likely ate Smithfield Foods’ bacon—now owned by China’s Shuanghui International after its $4.7 billion acquisition of the Virginia-based pork producer in September 2013. If you live in the U.K., perhaps you ate a bowl of Weetabix cereal, which was acquired in May 2012 by China’s Bright Food for £1.2 billion (approximately $1.9 billion).

Read the entire article:  Why Do Companies Want to Go West?

Exports Thrive in a New Facility for Madagascar Chocolate Company

Purestock/Thinkstock

The African island nation Madagascar had some of the best chocolate in the world, but didn’t export any of it.  That's about to change.  Two Peace Corps volunteers Tim McCollum and Brett Beach are on a mission to import and sell both chocolate and vanilla products that are entirely made in Madagascar.

Their company can be found by visiting:  Madécasse

Read the entire article:  Former Pfizer factory trades medicine for chocolate

Facebook For Business Goes Global

Wavebreak Media/Thinkstock

Facebook for Business goes global; it will be made available in 11 more languages, as well as looking to publish regular content including case studies, tips and trends.

The site will be available in Korean, Japanese, Taiwanese, Chinese, simplified Chinese, UK English, German, French, European Spanish, Italian, Brazilian Portuguese, and Latin American Spanish.

Read the entire article:  Facebook For Business set to go global following launch in 11 new languages

Exporting: The Definitive Guide to Selling Abroad Profitably Is Available for Sale Now!

Photo courtesy:  Apress

It's official -- my new book, "Exporting:  The Definitive Guide to Selling Abroad Profitably" is ready to order as of December 17, 2013!  Order the book here:  ExportingGuide.com.

Some pre-press news:

What Entrepreneurs Should Know About Exporting Now

Authors Publish (the latest)

The Definitive Book on Exporting Has Arrived!

I hope you like it!

News release (added 12/17/13 at 11:00 a.m. CST):

Enter the International Marketplace with "Exporting" by Laurel Delaney - Released by Apress Media

Digital SMEs, Let's Go Global with Unilever

Hemera/Thinkstock

Unilever's Go Global initiative started earlier this month and is open to digital marketing start-ups in the area of content, mobile or other connected devices.  The seven digital companies selected will be awarded $100,000 and their technology will be incorporated into a Unilever brand’s marketing campaign in the UK, US, South Africia, Indonesia, India, Brazil or Argentina.

The Unilever brands involved are: Magnum, Surf, Flora Pro-Activ, Hellmann’s, Vaseline and Clear.

Learn more here.  Apply here (deadline:  January 17, 2014)  Make your global dream come true in the new year!

Happy Holidays from The Global Small Business Blog!

©2013 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

Wishing you a holiday season

filled with joy

and special moments.

Note:  Macy's Walnut Room Chicago, established in 1907, is one of Chicago's most beloved landmarks.

From Dishwashing Soap to Diapers, California Will Export it

Image Source/Thinkstock

The executive director of the new California-China Office of Trade and Investment, Diane Long, a veteran member of China's expatriate business community, plans to help California entrepreneurs navigate doing business in China.

Her mission:

 ... helping boost the Golden State's exports to the world's second-largest economy, now about $14 billion a year.

Read the entire article:  Diane E. Long helps California boost exports to China

Seven Social Media Global Career Killers

Wavebreak Media/Thinkstock

In the article, "Six Social Media Career Killers, Sylvia Pennington talks about blunders one can make while using social media platforms.

I've added one more misstep to make it seven:  Be culturally sensitive to your audience!  With the Internet, you now must understand, appreciate, and work with individuals from cultures other than your own so be aware, accept cultural differences and adapt accordingly.  (For example, would every person in the world identify with the photo shown above if you placed it on your LinkedIn account, a more business-oriented site?)

Read the entire article:  Six Social media career killers

Is Yahoo! Truly Global?

Fuse/Thinkstock

Yahoo! has rolled out a new home page globally in the UK, Ireland, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and South Africa.  But does this make them truly global?

Read:  Yahoo!'s New Homepage Starts Going Global

Duty Free Model is Going Global

iStock/Thinkstock

Qatar Duty Free is preparing to expand internationally, with Senior Vice President Keith Hunter saying the company will look at opportunities around the world.

“We’ll [says Hunter] be looking all around the world [for] any opportunities where it may be a business opportunity for us or a partnership or an association.”

Read the entire article: Qatar Duty Free Signals Ambitions For International Expansion

Pack Light On Your Digital Devices When Traveling Internationally

iStock/Thinkstock

Oh how difficult it is to leave our digital devices behind when we travel internationally for leisure.  But that does not need to be the case.  You can travel overseas and still stay connected with the world.  Here's how - with some tips on considering a lightweight digital device packing mentality.

What to do (and not to do) when traveling overseas with Apple gear

(Note:  In my new book, "Exporting:  The Definitive Guide to Selling Abroad Profitably," I cover an entire chapter on international travel and security tips (Chapter 26).  The book will be published by Apress in nine (9) days!