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3 Tips on Conducting International Business from a Small Business Owner
CEO Jeff Barth Speaks at The Arizona Mexico Commission’s 2013 Plenary About Conducting Cross-Border Business
Has your small business been thinking about moving into international markets? As a company that does business around the globe, we’d like to share our insight with you.
In the past we’ve written blog posts about our recent endeavors to build relationships in Mexico. Back in December of 2012, Jeff made his 3rd trip out to Mexico in an effort to better understand the culture and build relationships with business owners in Hermosillo. Then in March, he participated in the Maricopa Association of Governments Bi-National Economic Forum where he was able to be a part of the initiative between Sonora and Arizona to create a more stable economic and business foundation across their borders.
Most recently, last month Jeff spoke on the panel at the Arizona Mexico Commission’s 2013 Plenary about his experiences as a small business starting to do business in Mexico. Here are 3 pieces of advice for other small business owners that Jeff shared at the event to give a better understanding of doing business with another country.
1) Doing business in Mexico, or any country, needs to be seen as a long-term, multi-prong approach. You have to have a steady, consistent presence in front of the people in that country and continue networking with both the citizens and business owners there. Don’t just invest all of your time into one area, try to see the bigger picture so you don’t miss any opportunities. Go in with a long-term mindset to create a strategy that is both practical and flexible.
2) We can’t stress enough how important it is to build relationships there through understanding the other side’s positions. It’s not just about business, it’s about building a mutually beneficial relationship where both side’s businesses and economies win. Part of that is evolving to meet each other’s needs. For example, we are currently in the process of making a Spanish version of our website to make it easier for those customers to get what they need with as few barriers as possible.
3) One of the common themes when discussing international business is concern for safety. Being a part of these events and visiting Mexico has shown that if you are smart, you don’t need to worry. Taking precautions like traveling during the day, making sure you have a full tank of gas, and staying on the main roads makes all the difference. Both the US and Mexico are taking steps to ensure that people conducting cross-border business can do so safely.
Read more about Jeff’s experience at the Maricopa Association of Governments Bi-National Economic Forum in our blog post A Small Business with Big Visions.
Read more about Jeff’s visit to Hermosillo in December 2012 in our blog post A Warm Welcome, A New Language, and Export Opportunities: A Business Trip to Mexico.
Have any tips or experiences you’d like to share about doing business in another country? Please leave a comment below!
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