Import Export Business

Import Export Business Questions And Answers

2012-01-29T18:28:00.000-08:00

In recent months one of the most commonly asked questions I have been receiving about the Import Export Business Toolkit training course is from non-USA residents who are rightfully concerned that the information provided in the course will not be helpful to them.

My general reply is that the Importing course part of the toolkit is more USA centric than the Exporting part. Overall the toolkit is composed approximately 30% on starting an Importing business and 70% on starting an Exporting business.

I feel the Exporting business holds far more opportunity for success in International trade in the USA right now and for that fact most of the world. There is far more help and assistance available for an exporter from both business and government organizations than there is for an importer.

One note I would also commonly answer to inquiries about how useful the exporting information is to someone outside the USA was that the only portion that would "not" be useful would be the USA government and business organizations that provide support to exporters.

Beyond these USA government and private organization office addresses, phone numbers etc that are in the course, the course covers everything anyone anywhere in the world needs to start and operate an exporting business. Period

Then an email arrived in my inbox about two weeks ago that made me question that I may be wrong about Non-USA persons not being able to benefit from USA government and private business organizations exporting business assistance.

I will post the body of the message I received at the end of this post and as you will clearly see when you click over to the USA government office that the email came from, you can benefit from their export assistance.

The short email received was about National Export Initiative Priority Markets: Vietnam and there is a short video at their website along with other information that is extremely helpful to "any" exporter looking for new markets or to expand into markets they may already be selling into.

So my view has now changed, primarily due to the Internet.

The evolution of the Internet has brought information that once had to be sent my mail or other means and in an effort to get the latest and best resources into the hands of exporters, both government and private organizations are posting it freely on their websites.

In many instances, you can sign up for free email notifications to be informed at the moment any new valuable resource comes available. With so many free email accounts being used, anyone with Internet access and an email address can now access just about ALL the resources that a USA exporter has available. The Internet has really opened the door to anyone in the world to benefit from the export business resources that were once exclusive to USA exporters.

So from now on, my answer will be different than before. Now here is the basic text of the message that brought about this post - remember, most of the resources listed in the course have websites and have email notifications or newsletters you can sign up for.....

National Export Initiative Priority Markets: Vietnam

The U.S. Commercial Service is the trade promotion arm of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration. U.S. Commercial Service trade professionals in over 100 U.S. cities and in more than 75 countries help U.S. companies get started in exporting or increase sales to new global markets. *So far this year, we have helped American business achieve 6,400 export success stories.* This is a featured video from the National Export Initiative Priority Markets series. Vietnam Download full video .mp4 (16MB) Vietnam is a true emerging market, offering ground floor and growing opportunities for U.S. exporters and investors. Vietnam’s economic...

Import Export Business And Trade Will Survive The Demise Of The US Commerce Department

2012-01-16T09:15:00.000-08:00

Thought I would make a quick post in reply to an anonymous inquiry posted as a comment to the post previous to this one.

The comment basically is the following with a link to an article on Yahoo news about the recent announcement of the possible demise of the US Department of Commerce:

Have a question. What do you think of this? The Department of Commerce coming to an end. I have a concern. How will this effect the Import/Export Trade business?

I wanted to reply in the form of a post -- basically I see no changes and if you read the article closely you will see that the responsibilities of the DOC will be roled into or combined with other departments with similar functions.

Of course there will the the usual bureaucratic overhaul of new phone numbers, new office addresses, etc., etc. but the overall functioning will still be there and the services they provide today will be provided then, but under a different office name.

My concern is that the comment poster would be so concerned as to how this change would affect the Import Export Business.

Importing and Exporting have been accomplished between men and women throughout the world since the beginning of time and in most instances it has achieved the goals of each of those participants without any outside assistance.

While the DOC is probably one of the most helpful govt agencies to businesses and business people, if it went out of business tomorrow, totally, international trade would still go on. There may be a hiccup, of course, because of some of the laws, regulations that they enforce but NO government agency is the be all to a successful business transaction.

Additionally, there are state agencies within each state in the union that work with importers and exporters so there is a great deal of redundancy.

I would say this to the person who posted the comment.....do not let the government prevent you from your goals in business. Move forward, do what YOU have to do and the business will work....it has for eons and it will continue for eons whether the DOC or whatever other department name they come up with exists or goes out of existence. Trade On!

Import Export Business News And Resources

2011-11-12T14:09:00.000-08:00

Import Export Business Updates to help you grow your international trade business.

The resources cited below are definitely some you may wish to bookmark or mark as
favorites in your browser!

Trade Deficit Decreases in September

The USA's international trade deficit in goods and services decreased to $43.1
billion in September from $44.9 billion (revised) in August, as exports increased
more than imports.

Exports increased to a record $180.4 billion in September from
$177.9 billion in August (revised) and imports increased to $223.5 billion in
September from $222.8 billion.

The overall record in exports was led by record exports of industrial supplies and
materials ($44.4 billion) and consumer goods ($15.4 billion) - for more details and
graphs on the trade deficit, visit here -

http://blogs.census.gov/globalreach/2011/11/trade-deficit-decreases-in-september.html

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Agricultural Commodities Price Watch

To know the U.S. market prices of agricultural commodities, consult the Commodity
pages of the United States Department of Agriculture - here is a link to their site -

http://marketnews.usda.gov/portal/fv

Also at the International Markets page you can find prices elsewhere in the world.

http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/ams.fetchTemplateData.do?template=TemplateO&page=InternationalReports

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Do you need to know the latest trade news from Singapore? Mumbai? France? Beijing?

Then the Directory of Online Magazines and Newspapers website is a resource you
need to check out today.

World-Newspapers dotcom has links to thousands of English-language online newspapers
and magazines, indexed by either topic or country....go have a look and browse their
resources.

http://www.world-newspapers.com

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Trade Show Notices and News
Learn how you can maximize your trade show success. Find tips, manage your
schedule, receive direct notices and news through their RSS feed at:

http://www.trade-show-advisor.com

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Regional Public/Private Partnership for Export Promotion

The District Export Councils contribute leadership and international trade expertise
to complement the U.S. Commercial Service’s export promotion efforts through
counseling businesses on the exporting process and conducting trade education and
community outreach. Worth checking out and marking as a favorite for revisits -

http://www.districtexportcouncil.com

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Doing Business In Mexico

Do not ignore the Mexican marketplace because of the main stream media's constant
bad mouthing about the bad news out of Mexico. There are many places just as bad,
if not worse in the USA that I would tell you to steer clear of for both business
and personal travel.

Here is a link to a website that will help you better understand how BIG the Mexico
marketplace is both for finding low cost products as well as selling your products
and services into -

http://www.promexico.gob.mx/en_us/promexico/Empresario_Extranjero

and although this website has a great online trade directory, if you are going to be
doing any kind of direct marketing to businesses or business people in Mexico, then
having a targeting business list or database is your best resource. To help you
compile the most up to date list of Mexican business owners, Presidents, CEO's and
TOP executives, check out the Mexico Business Directory

Remember, there are over 5 1/2 years of posts in this blog and you are encouraged to
use the archive date links located on the lower right side of the navigation bar
where they are listed by Month/Year to access them or you may wish to use the search
box located in the upper left side of the blog to search for specific words or
phrases.

Until next time.

Ron Coble

Import Export International Trade Business News Updates

2011-11-05T20:08:00.000-07:00

Import Export International Trade Business News Updates

Quick reminder - there are nearly 6 years of posts within this blog - many containing very helpful information - just scroll down and you will find the links to the archives listed on the right by their Month and Year originally posted.

This post consists solely of news and updates regarding various resources for your International Trade and Import Export Business.

First resource update - The FREE electronic trade magazines offered on our site has a NEW addition - One that used to be quite expensive if you purchased a paper copy - it is a Quarterly trade directory in electronic format of KOREA PRODUCTS.

Remember these are FULL COLOR PDF electronic trade magazines and you get DIRECT contact details of the manufacturers and suppliers.

You can sign up for just the Korean Products emagazine or any of the other product specific trade directories you will find on the following website - the Korea Products magazine is quarterly but the others are monthly and they will be automatically sent to you once you sign up AT NO COST - Please Note: The Emagazines are a FREE service and any specific one may be withdrawn at any time so if you are interested I would suggest you sign up now.

Korean Products

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As you read the other posts within this blog you will learn how much emphasis is placed on using the Internet to help you promote your products internationally.

You are doing yourself and your business a GREAT disservice if you do not utilize the greatest marketing equalizer in human history. So when I recommend something, I do not take it lightly.

The following Ebook was just updated on 11/3/2011 and is one you should download and save to your PC today.

Written by the owner of a business who has built a multi-million dollar empire and a business that is one of the FEW that eBay has certified as a solutions provider - it is FREE so put your wallet away but just because it is FREE does not mean it should be taken lightly.

Titled - Starting Your Internet Business Right - this valuable 78 page ebook will show you how to start your own Internet Business the right way, without falling into the traps that are out there waiting for you EVERYWHERE.

The Internet has become a Fantasyland of get-rich-quick schemes, scam artists and is laced with other pitfalls that are just waiting to take your money and leave you with nothing to show for it.

I am not going to repeat everything that is stated on the download page, go read the download page then download the ebook and save it to your PC - this is a GREAT resource and YES it is helpful to international traders -

FREE 78 Page Ebook - Start Your Internet Business Right

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Last, but certainly not least, GlobalSources has extended the dates on their Hong Kong Sourcing Fairs - the new expire dates are listed below:

China Sourcing Fair: Hong Kong phase 1 - End Feb 10, 2012

· Electronics & Components

· Security Products

· Solar & Energy Saving Products

· Korea Sourcing Fair: Electronics & Components

China Sourcing Fair: Hong Kong phase 2 - End Feb 15, 2012

· Baby & Children's Products

· Home Products

· Gifts & Premiums

· Medical & Health Products

· Christmas & Seasonal Products

· India Sourcing Fair: Home Products

China Sourcing Fair: Hong Kong phase 3 - End Feb 23, 2012

· Fashion Accessories

· Underwear & Swimwear

· Garments & Textiles

· India Sourcing Fair: Garments & Accessories

That is it for this post. Hope you find value and if you are aware of other resources that may be of value our visitors, please feel free to use the contact link located on the right side of this blog.

Wishing you the best of health and success!

Ron Coble

Import Export Business Q&A And Warning

2011-10-23T11:00:00.000-07:00

Import Export Business Questions-Answers-Warning

1) Use the search box in the upper left side of this blog to help you in search through this blog and the many years worth of valuable posts.

2) There are nearly 6 years of posts in this blog, you are encouraged to use the archive date links located on the lower right side of the navigation bar --> --> --> - they are listed by Month/Year.

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QUESTION Part 1: I have no experience and/or knowledge of import/export business.

Answer: I had no experience when I got started - that is why we offer a self study course, the best one that "I" believe is available and I could offer you any number of courses that would earn us a lot more money than the one we offer does, however, I like to sleep at night and know that I have provided you with the BEST course I feel is available.

QUESTION Part 2: I was born in the Philippines.

Answer: Great! You have an advantage over other Americans in having connections there or the ability to speak the native language - think of this fact as an asset instead of a liability.

QUESTION Part 3: What is my chance to be become successful in this business?

Answer: Subjective question that I cannot answer - I would be lying to you if I told you everyone becomes successful who purchases the course we offer - as I told you above, I like to sleep at night - I simply cannot answer this question because it is up to you. I strongly suggest you take advantage of all the free materials we offer on our website and blog and after you have digested that information, then consider purchasing the course we offer ONLY if you feel the business is something you REALLY wish to pursue.

This isn't buying a lottery ticket, it is a training course and how you apply what you learn and how persistent and patient you are in doing so has more to do with your success than anything else, but MOST of all you have to WANT to succeed in this business. It is NOT an opportunity, it is a BUSINESS.

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QUESTION: I am entering an agreement with a company in Belize, CA and will be shipping Solar Products to them. The bank is asking of an Export Contract. Is there a form for this contract? I looked in Forms.gov but could not find an official form.

Answer: There are various places on the web that you should be able to find an example or an explanation of what goes into an export contract.

But, first and foremost, ask your bank what they expect to see in the form of an agreement and ask if they have any examples - no use going thru the motions if what you present them with does not meet their requirements.

Pro-forma invoices often spell out the payment, products, quantities, delivery etc. and may suffice, however, in today's strict financial lending rules, your bank may need more. Pro formas are the easiest form of contracts to work with, but again, your bank may not deem that sufficient.

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Import Export Business Job Market Fraud Warning!!!

I receive an email every day with links to the latest new information available on the Internet relating to import, export, international trade, international business, etc..

On an increasing level I am seeing ads being posted to many of the free classifed ad sites online, especially Craigslist for entry level Import Export agents, clerks, whatever. Most cite legitimate daily activities that an agent or clerk might perform but they never give ANY type of direct contact information for the prospective employer.

They will generally ask you to either contact them for an interview which is through Craiglist's email system which protects their identity and many will be brazen enough to ask you for your resume because they know many people are simply so trusting of their fellow human beings that they will send it.

If your resume has your social security number and other personal identity details, you have just handed an identity theif what they need to steal your identity. If it doesn't contain this information and they will generally evolve the conversation by email, phone or skype as a means of getting it.

In some instances they may forgo stealing your identity to steal from you via your bank account, even if you do not have much or any money in your account.

I have explained the fake cashier's check or money order scam elsewhere in this blog so rather than repeating what is stated elsewhere, understand that jobs like they are offering, simply do not exist. They are going to potentially make you financially liable for thousands of dollars that you "will" have to pay so be smart, use the search engine box in the upper left of this blog and search for either the word(s) scam, fraud, fraudulent and read how the real world works and remember I am simply the messenger.

Inspiration For Import Export Business Success

2011-10-06T12:59:00.000-07:00

Inspiration For Import Export Business Success

I hope you will take a few minutes to read this post in it's entirety because it will hopefully provide you with some inspiration to succeed whether in the import export business or any business.

When I read the commentary provided below in an electronic newsletter I subscribe to this morning it really hit me that much of what was being quoted was so important to everyone searching for success in this business, any business or life in general.

The commentary posted below is appropriate to you if you are considering the import export business or any business and includes some of the BEST quotes about business and life in general that I have read in some time so I hope you will find them as inspiring as I did.

I have never owned an Apple computer or an Iphone, Ipad or anything that Steve Jobs helped bring to the world but when I learned of his passing last evening and the accomplishments that have helped literally millions of people around the world it really hit me that we have lost what can only be equated to our generation's Thomas Edison.

It is sad that our illustrious government leaders from all parties are not declaring what a true American and World hero Steve was? The real creation of jobs is having government get out of the way and allow entrepreneurial ingeniuty move forward with out the heel of government bureaucratics squashing it from existence before it has a chance to flourish.

It is also sad that we elevate people who are great at one sport or another to 'hero' status when in reality they have done nothing to elevate the level of mankind for anything other than a period of game played.

So to conclude my intro to the excellent, excellent commentary below I simply say Steve Jobs, may you rest in peace and know that the world is a far better place because of the time you were here and know to that not only were you the hero of those younger than you those older than you (me).

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The following is the word for word commentary by Mr. Simon Black, Senior Editor for SovereignMan.com and is published with the authorization of his organization:

Sovereign Man
Notes from the Field

Date: October 6, 2011
Reporting From: Hong Kong

You've undoubtedly heard by now that Steve Jobs passed away yesterday after a long battle with cancer; it's been all over the news with wall-to-wall coverage, and iCandle vigils have sprung up all over the world. Jobs is being remembered as a pioneer, a technological revolutionary, a visionary. Rightfully so.

But it's important to give credit where credit is due, and the world owes a tremendous debt to Steve Jobs for something else. He was perhaps the greatest living example of 'philanthropy' in action.

While people like Warren Buffet are pleading with the government to raise their taxes and give away their wealth to sycophantic bureaucrats, Jobs showed time and time again that the best way to improve people's lives is to create value and be productive.

Steve Jobs was one of the most productive human beings to have ever lived; he started several successful companies which directly employed tens of thousands of people. Indirectly, his businesses improved the livelihoods of millions across the globe, from Chinese factory workers to iPhone app programmers to Apple shareholders.

In building an empire and unimaginable wealth for himself, Steve Jobs enriched the lives and livelihoods of others by creating value. Not by forced redistribution. Not by giving things away. By creating value.

Ironically, just as I write this I am watching President Obama on Bloomberg Television trying to explain how many jobs his new plan will create-- 1.9 million in his estimate:

"We're just going to keep on going at it and hammering away... until... something gets done. I would love to see nothing more than Congres act... so aggressively."

Politicians would do themselves and their constituents a great service by comparing their own track record for enriching people's lives against Steve Jobs' performance, and then kindly stepping out of the way. The path to prosperity is not paved in votes, but rather in freedom: the freedom to create, produce, risk work hard... and be rewarded for your efforts.

If you have the time, I'd encourage you to take a few minutes and read some of Jobs' own words; there are boundless sources online that will praise his creativity, drive, and intellect, but perhaps no one is better suited to explain Steve Jobs than the man himself.

Below I've pasted in some key quotes taken from his 2005 Stanford commencement address, and an old 1985 interview with Playboy magazine that the folks at Zero Hedge dug up. Enjoy.

Jobs on -not- following the crowd:

"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma-- which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary."

Jobs on change and politics:

"We're making the largest investment of capital that humankind has ever made in weapons over the next five years. We have decided, as a society, that that's where we should put our money, and that raises the deficits and, thus, the cost of our capital."

"I think it takes a crisis for something to occur in America. And I believe there's going to be a crisis of significant proportions in the early Nineties as these problems our political leaders should have been addressing boil up to the surface."

Jobs on charity... and the importance of failure:

"And that's the problem with most philanthropy-- there's no measurement system. You give somebody some money to do something and most of the time you can really never measure whether you failed or succeeded in your judgment of that person or his ideas or their implementation. So if you can't succeed or fail, it's really hard to get better."

Jobs on careers:

"Sometimes life hits you in the head with a brick. Don't lose faith. I'm convinced that the only thing that kept me going was that I loved what I did. You've got to find what you love. And that is as true for your work as it is for your lovers. . . As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it. . . So keep looking until you find it. Don't settle."

Jobs on making it count:

Most of the time, we're taking things. Neither you nor I made the clothes we wear; we don't make the food or grow the foods we eat; we use a language that was developed by other people; we use another society's mathematics. Very rarely do we get a chance to put something back into that pool. I think we have that opportunity now. And no, we don't know where it will lead. We just know there's something much bigger than any of us here.

Jobs on [the blue screen of] death:

"[D]eath is the destination we all share. No one has ever escaped it. And that is as it should be, because Death is very likely the single best invention of Life. It is Life's change agent. It clears out the old to make way for the new."

Well done, Mr. Jobs. Be thou at peace.

Simon Black
Senior Editor, SovereignMan.com

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Remember, there are over 5 1/2 years of posts in this blog and you are encouraged to use the archive date links located on the lower right side of the navigation bar where they are listed by Month/Year to access them or you may wish to use the search box located in the upper left side of the blog to search for specific words or phrases.

Until next time.

Ron Coble

Import Export Business News Updates

2011-09-13T12:02:00.000-07:00

Import Export Business News Updates

1) There is a search box in the upper left side of this blog that will assist you in searching throughout this blog and it's many years worth of entries.

2) There are over 5 1/2 years of posts within this blog, there is a search box to search box located in the upper left side of the blog that you may use to search for specific words or phrases or or you are encouraged to use the archive date links located on the lower right side of the navigation bar - they are listed by Month/Year.

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If you purchased The Import-Export Business Training Toolkit or The Computer User's Guide to Running Your Own Importing Company training courses within the last year (September 2010 to present) you are encouraged to visit the membership site and download the updated version of the Importer's eBay and Mail Order Handbook, which is included with The Import-Export Toolkit and The Computer User's Guide to Running Your Own Importing Company. All the links have been updated and amended, changes have been addressed and some new success stories have been added.

The new guide is now available for download at the to clients who have ordered either The Import-Export Toolkit or The Computer User's Guide to Running Your Own Importing Company. Simply login at Trade Tools client site and scroll down to "Importer's Mail Order Handbook" to read or download the new book. It's usually found at the very bottom of the page.

This is a free update for current clients who purchased either of the above mentioned training programs since September 2010. We hope you find the updated information useful.

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Web Wholesaler is the leading B2B publication for e-Tailers, Dropshippers, Online Marketplace Sellers, Store Owners/Buyers and Wholesalers and best of all, it is currently accepting NEW FREE subscribers from the USA ONLY.

Web Wholesaler offers the latest in new products and merchandise sources, ideas and statistics on what is selling online NOW, as well as up to the minute news and information on industry trends, e-business growth and management strategies, and methods for increasing your revenues.

Located in the USA? Then sign up for your FREE Web Wholesaler subscription today!

http://tinyurl.com/67hqnyr

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Global Sources, the world leader in product sourcing trade shows, is organizing a number of China Sourcing Fairs in Hong Kong, from 20-23 October, 2011 ( http://tradeshow.globalsources.com/TRADESHOW/CHINA-SOURCING-FAIRS/HONGKONG.HTM?period=2&WT.mc_id=3003009 ). There will be over 2,300 booths for the 6 shows held concurrently: China Sourcing Fairs: Baby & Children's Products, Home Products, Gifts & Premiums, Medical & Health Products, Christmas & Seasonal Products and India Sourcing Fair: Home Products. The trade shows are a great way to meet 'real' professional suppliers face-to-face and see the products before you place an order.

While you are there, be sure to attend the conferences ( http://tradeshow.globalsources.com/TRADESHOW/HONGKONG-HOME-PRODUCTS/CONFERENCE.HTM?WT.mc_id=3003009 ), which are co-located with the China Sourcing Fairs! These conferences are free, first-come-first-served and highly popular (often with standing room only). Learn China sourcing strategies straight from industry professionals, plus be updated on the latest trends in your industry!

You can register for the fairs at http://tradeshow.globalsources.com/TRADESHOW/CHINA-SOURCING-FAIRS/HONGKONG.HTM?period=2&WT.mc_id=3003009

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Last, but certainly not least, we finally got around to adding contact links on this and the Importers Exporters trade leads blog - if you need or want to contact us about anything, please feel free to use the Contact Us link on the right side or click on the small graphic with the operator - include details of what you are inquiring about - I will not call someone who does not tell me what they are inquiring about - sorry, too many time wasters and flakes out there in the wide, so again, unless you tell me what it is you are asking about, don't expect me to call you.

Until next time.

Ron Coble

2011-09-04T11:00:00.000-07:00

Just a friendly reminder - 5 1/2 years of archived posts in this blog are shown in the lower right of the sidebar area (scroll down to see them) - These posts contain IMPORTANT information you need to know - after reading this post/page, go visit the archives, bookmark the blog so you may easily return as more valuable and important events occur - real world information and REAL experiences are posted here, ignore them at your own peril.

This post is another in response to a comment (and follow up comment to my reply) that was left on a previous post - here is the original comment --

Ron, thank you for the time you have put into making this awfully informative blog. It has been a huge help to me in my pursuit of becoming a successful export agent. I have done my due diligence and have identified the two productss I want to export and the companies I want to help export. I have also identified the foreign companies who I know need and want the products I want to export. My question to you is "how do I present myself to these foreign companies introducing my self and purpose"? The method of contact will be email initially. Any advice on what to include in my first few emails? Thank you again for all your hard work. You have helped so much.

Initially I sent an email to the publisher of the Import Export training course we offer for some feedback on how he would answer this inquiry, the following is 'part' of his reply, I am not going to publish part of the information because it contains information that is included in the course and it would not be equitable to those who have paid to get it then see it freely published in this blog -

"This is an involved question and neither of us knows all the particulars. Is he selling one-sies or container loads? Has he prepared a pro forma invoice? How is he handling servicing? Is it even an issue with his product? How is he going to get paid? Without knowing any more, I would suggest he contact (portion redacted to ensure Import Export paid training customer value). He might be well advised to get our trade training materials so he doesn't come across as an amateur who will be dismissed out of hand."

I initially posted a short reply to the original comment as follows:

I will try to post a longer reply as a regular post to the blog shortly so be on the lookout. In the interim I must tell you that you need to read thru "all" the posts of this blog and most of your questions will be answered...if you do not find the answer the first time, read through them again...the arhcived posts are available by Month/Year links on the right side navigation area at the main blog page which you may find by clicking on the title then scroll down and look to the right side for all the dates going back to 2006.

To which the following was posted by the original commenter:

thanks for replying, I had a feeling you might have already posted the answer on your blog. However, its rather difficult going 5 years of posts.

Is there any search functionality for the blog? That would save a ton of time and make finding pertinent information so much easier for your readers.

to which I replied:

there is a search box in the upper left corner of the blog as provided by blogspot the blog platform provider. Also, quite frankly, I personally feel going through all the posts, with the exception of the announcement types that have become outdated, ALL the information I have posted should be viewed as worthwhile taking the time to read and digest otherwise I would not have taken the time to post it.

I apologize for the length of this post lead in but in order to better understand my overall reply you need to read the exchange completely.

Working backwards in the comments, I wish to emphasize again that if I post something on this blog, "I" view it as being important to anyone who is seriously interested in succeeding in the import export business. Yes, there are announcements that are now outdated that you may easily skim past but the blog is filled with "REAL WORLD" experiences.

My experiences and those of others I have talked or corresponded with in some way over the past 23 1/2 years and much of what I have posted here is really to help people save themselves "from themselves". There have been many people who try to enter this business without having some formal training only to get burnt severely which translates into $$$$ lost. These experiences are posted in this blog and if you are serious about this business, you need to read them and learn from them.

Reading the posts in this blog or other posts found in other blogs or websites does not make you a ready for prime time trader.

This blog will help those who are not ready for prime time by learning that if the blog is too much to take the time to read then you really should not bother purchasing any paid training because you will not commit the time and effort necessary to read and understand it...so in that sense this blog is a public service, freely given of my life's valuable time.

Yes, I am a grumpy old man "sometimes", and quite frankly I sometimes feel my time would be better spent taking a nap than posting new information here since it seems to be ignored by those who need it the most.

Getting back to one of the original commenters questions regarding making initial contact with a potential buyer....the question refers to using "email".

This part of the comment, in and of itself, proved to me that the commenter had not read through my blog completely because had they done so, they would have found that in several posts I recommend against using email as a means of making initial contact with a buyer. In those posts I give the best methods that will bring success and not have your email summarily deleted along with what the receiver thinks is junk email.

Additionally, I provide a set of agreements, letter formats and other valuable bonus resources for people who purchase either the exporters master training package or the import export business toolkit. These are resources that I have used and continue to use in my business and which I will not share freely with the general public but only those who are committed enough to read the blog in it's entirety and who then purchase one of the courses mentioned above.

So the bottom line reply to the commenters question - "Any advice on what to include in my first few emails?" is don't use email to try to make initial contact - read why in this blog - then read the rest of the blog, then if you are serious about moving forward, get the export training course or import export training course, study it, and only then move forward with making contact with potential buyers and sellers.

For anyone reading this blog....please take the time to read past and present posts...they were made to 'hopefully' help you from making the mistakes others have made, including me. The blog is also what works and what doesn't, it is about current and past events in international trade, it contains links to resources and much, much more.

Import Export Business Questions And Answers

2011-08-14T11:27:00.000-07:00

The following was a comment made to a post I made back in June 2010 and rather than having the answers to the commenter's questions buried in the comments I decided to make my answers and reply a new post.

As a reminder - the links to 5 1/2 years of archived posts in this blog are located in the lower right of the sidebar area (you will have to scroll down to see them) - These are IMPORTANT posts with IMPORTANT information you need to know - after reading this post/page, go check them out, bookmark the blog so you may easily return as we update when valuable and important events occur - real world information and REAL experience.

Commenter's Post and Questions:

This is a very informative blog you have written and I do agree that you should motivate yourself and make your own decisions to determine your own success. I am very impressed at your honesty in a business where many will bend the truth to make an easy progress. However, I have two questions:

1. Are you saying that great mentors are hard to find in this business?

2. Why shouldnt you be in this business for the money? Of course i am interested in travel and succesful business building, but are you saying that I should still have a motivation to participate in international trade even if i am without a comfortable profit?

3. Is this a business that can be done part time until you have fulfilled your obligation of your current full time job? (Im on a contract)

Please forgive me if I have taken anything into misconception. I am a hard worker with a mind of an aggresive leader, however I believe that money is the ultimate reward for such an attitude.

Thanks alot sir for an honest blog and great knowledge.

My Reply with Answers to the questions above:

First, I must emphasize that you should read ALL the posts within this blog - the archived posts are available by Month and Year and are listed in the lower right side of each page of the blog (or should be) - many of these types of questions have been answered since I began the blog in February 2006.

OK, in answer to your questions:

1. Are you saying that great mentors are hard to find in this business?

In reality finding "great" or "real" mentors are hard to find in any business based on my definition of a mentor which is where you and I may part ways.

A mentor (in my view) is someone that you actually (physically) work with in an office environment and those types of situations are virtually unheard of today. So onto the online type of mentor.

At the http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mentor website you will find the following as some examples for the use of the word mentor:

After college, her professor became her close friend and mentor.

He needed a mentor to teach him about the world of politics.

We volunteer as mentors to disadvantaged children.

Young boys in need of mentors.

So again, in my interpretation of the above, a mentor is someone who is "physically" present or available to answer your specific questions.

There are some high priced courses offered some I have seen for as high as $8K to $30K which offered to provide you with a 'mentor'....unfortunately, most of these do not live up to what the customer believes they are paying for when commiting this unecessaryily high amount of money to learn this business.

In most instances people get nothing more than someone who has earned a very nice commission off of you who is reading from the same materials that they have already sent you.

I addressed the need for someone to have someone to discuss their options with about a particular deal several times over in the blog, primarily under the subject heading of "making decisions".

A mentor is not there to make your decisions but should have provided you with the knowledge so that you can make an informed decision based on your own research and abilities....it is NOT their business, it is yours after all.

In regards to the course of instruction we offer - I consider it to be your 'mentor'. It is an 18 year work in progress that includes most, if not all, the questions that both we and the publisher have received over those years that may not have been covered at the time....with updates to the 'mentor' course, those questions and answers to them are now included.

The step-by-step instruction of a mentor is provided by the course....the decision making is provided by you!

2. Why shouldnt you be in this business for the money? Of course i am interested in travel and succesful business building, but are you saying that I should still have a motivation to participate in international trade even if i am without a comfortable profit?

I think there may be some misunderstanding of what I was trying to say about "being in the business for the money".

The problem that I see with MOST people who look at the import export business is they are "opportunity" seekers who when faced with having to operate a "real" business will never succeed and ultimately base their failure on the course because "it did not work for me". They are ultimately searching for the magic button (or book or course) that after they read it, everything will go exactly right for them and they will be rich and famous within months.

They jump from one business opportunity to another, usually the more hyped it is, the more people fall for it because they are looking for the easy.

The Import Export business is that - a business! Our course is your mentor, it provides you with the step by step instructions that are needed to succeed in the business.

Back to your question, yes, MONEY is the absolute motivation, otherwise why bother, but again, don't look at this business like a magic carpet or genie in a bottle.

3. Is this a business that can be done part time until you have fulfilled your obligation of your current full time job? (Im on a contract)

Most people start the business on a part time basis and that is what both the publisher and I recommend....whether you can evolve it into a full time income by the time your contract is up? I cannot assure you of that, nor can anyone else and this is something that I also addressed elsewhere in the blog....please read the entire blog, the entire course page and linked to pages in the course page, then make the most informed decision possible, it will be your first major decision in this business.

Putting aside the legal reasons why I cannot answer this question, there IS no guarantee you will earn any money at all in importing or exporting. Just like there's no guarantee a new restaurant will make money, or a guarantee that you'll get a job in your major after graduating from college. There's also no guarantee you won't die 5 minutes after ordering the course.

I hope the above will better clarify what was stated in previous posts within this blog?

Ron Coble
Import Export Business Help Center

Important Import Export Business Resource

2011-07-28T17:55:00.000-07:00

Just a quick reminder to advise you about the links to the 5 1/2 years of archive posts in this blog - IMPORTANT posts with IMPORTANT information you need if you are involved or considering getting involved in the import and/or export busines - links to the archived posts are located on the lower right side of this blog page - check them out - real world information and experience.

Don't ever say I don't tell you about incredibly valuable FREE international trade resources - this is one of the BEST!

The USITC’s "The Year in Trade 2010" is 234 pages of the U.S. government’s most comprehensive reports of U.S. trade-related activities. This is an OUTSTANDING international trade resource for anyone working in or covering the field of international trade (or considering entry into this field of endeavor) or covering major multilateral, regional, and bilateral trade developments. (OH, by the way, you guys and gals outside the USA, yes, you can get it too, just keep reading).

This incredible electronic publication reviews U.S. international trade laws and actions under these laws, U.S. free trade agreements and negotiations and U.S. bilateral trade relations with major trading partners activities of the World Trade Organization [WTO].

"The Year in Trade 2010" provides you with complete listings of countervailing duty, safeguard, antidumping, intellectual property rights infringement, and section 301 cases undertaken by the U.S. government in 2009. In addition, the 2010 report also covers:

The report provides an overview of USA trade in goods and services during 2010.

Statistical tables highlighting U.S. bilateral trade with all major USA trading partners and trade under USA trade preference programs.

The operations of USA's trade preference programs, including the U.S. Generalized System of Preferences, the African Growth and Opportunity Act, the Andean Trade Preference Act, and the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act

significant activities in the WTO, including its dispute settlement mechanism, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum.

The negotiation of the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement.

Developments in the USA free trade agreements, including activities under the NAFTA and negotiation of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement.

Discussion of bilateral trade issues with major U.S. trading partners, including the European Union, India, China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Canada, Brazil, Mexico and Russia.

Your copy of the USITC's report is awaiting you to download it now AT NO COST at:

http://www.usitc.gov/publications/332/pub4247.pdf

Ron Coble
B2B Marketing Lists
International Business and Trade Help Center

Export Import Business Q & A

2011-07-09T15:45:00.000-07:00

You will find this Export Import Business blog contains important information, including many questions and answers to those questions from nearly 23 years in this businesss. This blog has posts going back to February 2006 that contain valuable knowledge for both individual international traders as well as company owners who are seeking to enter or expand their business operations - be sure you visit and read the archived posts listed by Month/Year on the lower right side navigation area of this blog and bookmark them so you may reference later.

Today's export import business question is:

What if I have no formal business education, business experience, and very little sales experience? Does interest in foreign cultures/languages and prior residence overseas help?

My first suggestion for you is to visit our Export Import business blog (this blog) at the link below and spend a day or two or however long it takes to read the posts that are not outright advertising.

Over the past years I have posted most of the best questions that I have received over the past 23 years along with the answers to those questions. You will serve yourself well to spend whatever amount of time necessary to read all those Q&A posts as well as others related to the business. I will try to answer your questions in reverse order.

Does interest in foreign cultures/languages and prior residence overseas help?

Yes, but simply having lived there and simply having an interest in their culture does not guarantee you success in international trade, it merely gives you that advantage in your business over someone who does not have the interest or living experience.

And, by the same token, someone who has the business educations, experience and sales experience is at a disadvantage to you by not having the experience you have. Am I making any sense??

"Business education" is often sold for more than it is worth - most courses that are taught in universities are done so by professors who have 'never' sold a single item of anything, whether into the domestic or foreign market.

Most of your formal courses get into technicalities that simply make the business seem unattainable or at a minimum, incredibly complicated.

What if I have no formal business education, business experience, and very little sales experience?

Some of my answer to this question is posted above but in regards to experience or sales experience let me state that more important than either one of these factors is "your will to succeed" and "your interest in doing so in this business".

The "your interest in doing so in this business" is probably the more important of the two.

The business has to interest you. You cannot focus on the money, you have to have an interest in bringing about business between two parties and getting paid for your efforts and time in doing so.

You need a seller and you need a buyer.

The seller's products has to be needed by a buyer. Their product has to be competitively priced. It has to be a quality product. The buyer may be looking simply for price, quality or both.

I will not get into repeating some of the information that is already posted on our import export business blog but suffice it to say, our self study course teaches you how to export and import. At what level you work in those businesses is your decision and believe me there are MANY levels in which you can work. And yes, it is WORK but it is YOUR work and YOUR business, remember that.

Many people also ask, which business is best to get started right now. Again, this is your decision but in my opinion, exporting is the better of the two to focus your attention on now. You can always get into importing later and it is really better to focus on one and become successful before trying to get into the other.

In closing, I cannot emphasize enough my suggestion that you read all the information (non-advertising) posts in the blog. Do not make a decision about our course until you have read through those posts.

If you have any questions after reading any of the posts, please put them alltogether in one email and send them to me and I will "try" to answer them.

Hope this email and blog will help YOU make a more informed decision about your future in regards to international trade

Import Export Business News and Views

2011-06-30T13:05:00.000-07:00

This blog has posts going back to February 2006 and contains many posts that are useful to you because most contain real world experience and actionable resources that will help you get started or expand your international business - be sure to visit the archived posts listed by Month/Year on the lower right side area of this blog and bookmark so you may easily return later.

First some Import Export Business News -

In the first eight months of fiscal year 2011, the Export-Import Bank approved $20.3 billion in financing for businesses of all sizes, which is a figure that is up from $16.3 billion over the same period last fiscal year. It also states that the US Export-Import Bank is on pace to back 5,000 new small-businesses exporters by 2015.

So I have to ask anyone reading this blog and hesitating on getting started in international trade, what is holding you back? International trade has been going on since the beginning of time and will continue to go on until the end of man's time on this Earth.

If you have been considering it, do yourself a favor, make a decision to get started or stop wasting your time and thought processes and move on. Really, what kind of kick in the ass does it take to get you to take action?? Anyway, here is the link to the article:

More Small Firms Exporting

Now onto some import export business views.

Many people email or call me about getting started in the import and export business. Most are just curiosity seekers who have nothing better to do with their time but ask the same questions over and over again that have been answered in this blog in the past 5 1/2 years.

Some get kinda pissed off when I tell them to go read the blog and the archived posts and then, if they have a question(s) that are not answered there to feel free to call or email me. Most are never heard from again?

Bottom line is this, most people are not cut out to be in this business or any business and if this blog or my attitude saves them from investing in a training course from us or other company, then my attitude and my blog has saved them a lot of money and wasted time. Right?

Let me share two recent examples.

One was from an African country that is known for being the biggest source of fraud in the world, most of you know which country without me naming it. Most inquiries I get have the sender's IP address included which allows me to see what country they sent it from and in most instances I delete these emails without bothering to respond (time is to valuable, sorry).

Anyway, this one in particular was well thought out, the English was very good and understandable so I decided to read and reply.

He basically asked about what the price was on our Import Export Training course and for me to send him a link to the 2nd free training lesson that is referenced on the web page about the course and he asked how he would receive the course materials once he purchased.

Here was my reply:

Dear Sir,

Please note that attention to detail is one of the most important aspects of
doing business internationally - you apparently have not read the entire web
page describing our course or you would have found both a link to the 2nd
lesson/resource and the price - suggest you revisit the web page and
read it in it's entirety - Start An Import Export Business

Course materials are made available via a password/userid member site.

His reply was such that he seemed a bit upset and asked if I was insinuating that he does not 'pay attention to detail'. I basically replied that he should take my email for what I have stated. Although his closing remarks were a bit more conciliatory, I knew that he would never order the course and quite frankly if he does not pay attention to the detail of a web page, then he most likely will not pay attention to the need to know information within the course.

The last example was a man who had called me many times over the course of the last year. Finally, in March or April of this year he called and wanted to order the training course.

I began to fill out an order form and the last thing on the form is the method of payment. He only had a Discover card. Now granted, our web page cited above does not have the types of cards accepted, our online order forms do so after nearly a year of inquiries you would think he would have looked at that but I will give him the benefit of the doubt and take some blame for not having it on the web page.

Now International trade requires that you be able to adapt and although he could not order at that time, he surely could have used his discover card to get a money order or cashier's check, if he were really ready for prime time, that is.

Here again was someone who was saved from ordering a course that he most likely would never have either read or followed through with had he read it. If that person is reading this, well that is simply how after 23 years of dealing with people internationally, I know who is ready for prime time and who isn't. If one small matter is going to throw you off your game like not having an acceptable credit card, well then what do you think would happen when you are dealing with a multi-million dollar or higher business?

So bottom line, ARE YOU READY FOR PRIME TIME? Attention to details and not letting the little stuff throw you off your game are extremely important for success in this business or any business!

Is US Exporting Climate Worse/Better Or About The Same

2011-05-23T09:54:00.000-07:00

This blog has been in existence since February 2006 and contains important posts you do not want to miss - be sure you check out the archived posts listed by Month/Year on the lower right side navigation area and bookmark so you may reference later.

OK, to the Question for this post:

Do you think the climate for US exporting is worse/better / substantively any different than when you wrote that blog answer Jan 2009? - Here is a link to that post: Import Export Business And The Economy

The question was sent as a follow up to an email that asked: "Your best guess on how this could affect / not Exports from the US?" - Specter of trade war looms as G-20 nations gather

My Answer To The Follow Up Question that is the subject of this post:

Every exporting business is different. Each deals with different products, each exports to different parts of the world. Each exporting situation has been affected differently.

1. I believe it is easier today to establish yourself as an export agent or broker or to get manufacturers to deal with you than it was two years ago because US manufacturing, what's left of it, is desperate, whereas before they were fat, dumb and happy and now they are competing with India, China, Brazil, Vietnam, you name it.

2. There is a car exporter who has advertised on our site for about 3 years now. I do not recall the exact numbers but when he first started advertising the Euro was about 1.60 to the dollar and he was exporting 20-40 vehicles a month (i believe that was the number) at a markup of $1000 per vehicle or a pro-rated basis if they purchased 5 or more down to $500 a vehicle.

In February of 2009 he called me to renew his ad and asked me if I had any idea how many cars he exported the previous month - I said 5 or 10 thinking it would not be that bad and he responded ZERO/NADA/ZIP.

The market in Europe had dried up not only because of the dollar improving somewhat but the fact Europe's economy was (and is) in a shambles.

In the interim, he began getting inquiries from China. Guess what? His business with China is booming. They want both new and used "luxury" cars and because he has been an established exporter, with exposure in the marketplace, they came to him. I have not really asked him about his Europe business but I know if it has come back at all it is a fraction of what it was.

Adapting. Exposure. Doing something and not allowing the government to freeze you in place waiting for them to save you. They won't, they screwed it up and business is what will bring it back.

3. In all the years I have worked with various vitamin manufacturers (about 12-13 now) the very best "long-term" customer for any of them came from a lead I generated from our website about 15 months ago during one of the worst parts of the past 24 months in the current economy. I mention in my blog post about adapting in dealing with 'how to pay' - this customer is in Thailand and they use 5 different credit cards to pay the manufacturer - whatever works.

4. I just received an email today from another company we work with for sourcing manufacturing in China. One of the leads we sent them, I cannot disclose their name but you would definitely know it as they are a old, long time brand name in a particular industry, has sent a sample to sourcing company's office in Beijing and for review of their engineers for pricing and they are very seriously working with the company on pricing the units out.

TRADE moves on and will find a way to adapt and there is always indirect exporting, meaning you do not need to export from the USA, you can export for a manufacturer in another country.

I think there was another post I did but I cannot remember the date in which I cited the number of LARGE brand name businesses that were started during the depth of the 1930's depression which are still in business today. International trade is either in your blood or it isn't and all I can say is move forward, adjust and continue to move forward, that is all there is to it.

Have a good evening.

Ron

Import Export Procedures - International Business Resources

2011-04-29T09:08:00.000-07:00

I just made an extensive post on our Importers and Exporters blog about How to Find Manufacturers and Suppliers and how and "why" the Yahoo Directory section of Yahoo is extremely valuable to Exporting entrepreneurs - the link to that blog is located on the right side bar under links.

Briefly, however, I point out how the Yahoo directory has far better targeting of sources and WHY THESE SOURCES ARE BETTER THAN ALL other directories on the Internet.

To see how categorized the Yahoo Directory is, you can see from the following link how they break down into multiple sub-categories different business groups, in this example Direct marketing and Direct Mail -

Direct Marketing Advertising Direct Mail

I bring up the subject of direct mail because most business people ignore this means of advertising and/or making contact with other businesses now that they can "email".

Yes, you should have a website - it is your BEST 24/7 advertising billboard to the world but why not focus some attention on other advertising methods that most are now ignoring, i.e., direct mail?

In a direct mail letter you can introduce your business and provide the receiver with the URL to your website. Based on various marketing newsletters and publications I read, over 70% of all emails never reach the intended party so even though they are FREE, email is a terrible method of trying to make first contact with another business.

The MOST lucrative contracts I have ever concluded have been by means of direct contact, either by mail, fax or phone.

WORD OF CAUTION: Sending unsolicited FAX messages within the USA can get you some VERY HEFTY FINES - Faxing another business is only recommended now from one country to another. A fax message to a potential buyer/seller in another country stands a far better chance of being read by the intended receiver than an Email ever will.

In rounding out this post I want to pass along two resources that I cam upon while doing some research online yesterday using Yahoo, which by the way I recommend over Google since they changed their programming algorithm two months ago they and now return crappy results.

My Yahoo research took me to two blogs about Doing Business In Mexico that I found extremely interesting and have bookmarked them for future visits - Mexico is a HUGE market for products and services - ignore all the negative press designed to keep you off balance from what is going on around you in your own country - here are the resources -

Doing Business In Mexico

and

Doing Business Internationally - Mexico

Online Trade Leads Board Memberships - Are They Worth It?

2011-04-14T19:05:00.000-07:00

Some of this Q&A is edited but with a savvy bit of use of the Internet and actually following the reference links in this post, you should be able to figure out what has been edited, names have been left out to protect the privacy of those individuals.

QUESTION: (Received the week of April 10th, 2011)

Ron:

I recently bought your Import-Export training course and have found the information/guidance highly useful, thanks for putting this together. I have a question for you on (the online trade leads platform considered by most to be the best). They have a pretty good feature now, wherein they are asking suppliers to pay $2000 to become (background checked) suppliers.

This group is also verified (background check etc) by the website. There are some current (background checked) suppliers who claim to only work with other (background checked) members. I am wondering, once I do start the business in a few months (I am still in the research stage), if becoming a (background checked) member of a site like this is worth spending $2000 on.

There are a number of sites like this, but (the online trade leads platform considered by many to be the best) seems pretty well knit and also offers a number of useful features. I would love to hear your thoughts on this.

Thanks

G.......

*******************************************

ANSWER:

Hi G.....,

The problem with answering most questions of the nature you have posed is neither the import export training course publisher, nor I, know all the details of what you are considering as to "why" you think this service would be good for you and your business.

This answer is much longer than I tend to provide but there is much to say about what you are asking, so please read carefully and check out the references.

We do not know if you are considering it because you are looking to "import" or export, that is an important consideration in either case. Everyone who purchases the courses has their own set of ideas and neither the import export training course publisher nor I can assume to know or be a subject matter expert on all reasons you are considering this service.

With that said..... there is a lot more to this answer but for some reason my blog formatting kept crapping out on me and jumbling everything together so I have posted both the question above and the ENTIRE answer (quite detailed and from both myself and the publisher) on our website, here is the link to go read the entire email exchange about Import Export Trade Leads boards and to learn if they are really worth the now thousands of dollars a year some of them charge...just click here...Import Export Trade Leads

Ron Coble International Business And Trade Services Center

Starting An Import Export Business Q&A

2011-03-20T09:06:00.000-07:00

Question:

I have just read your "Due Diligence" resource and have found it enlightening and scary.

Based on that information, as a new business in this industry, I would fail just about every check. No longevity, no old web site, no established bank information, no BBB background information, no back links by reputable organizations.

How would I overcome this?

Thanks

Answer:

The sooner you get started the sooner you begin building those bits of reputation.

Understand that most manufacturers are not going to check you out using these
resources. These resources are made available primarily for anyone who is
entering into the international trade business through the purchase of one of
our courses.

The resources are meant for you to use in evaluating a potential manufacturer,
whether it is one based in the USA or in a foreign country. The resources are
also meant to help you evaluate and determine the viability of a potential
"buyer" or "importer" that you may bring to the table of a manufacturer.

Granted a manufacturer may "happen" upon our resources but it is "very"
doubtful considering the size and scope of the Internet.

The Due diligence resources are meant to help you build the reputation
you may not have in the beginning by being able to bring only viable
prospects to the table and not a bunch of sample seekers or importer
wannabees who will waste your time and that of your client which will
then set your reputation back.

But, getting back to the beginning, the sooner you get started, the sooner
you will have these resources which you can then refer someone to, if
they are interested in checking you out and are smart enough to have
found our website and resources.

Hope this answers your question?

Ron Coble

REAL USA Importers And Their Suppliers

2011-02-23T13:16:00.000-08:00

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Their database contains genuine U.S. Customs records that reveal the truth about trading connections between American firms and their overseas suppliers. By indexing more than 50 million ocean freight shipping manifests, they have created a powerful competitive intelligence and supplier research tool that lets you:

Look up your suppliers to view their U.S. customer lists

Monitor competitors to see what they're importing and from who

Identify new sources for virtually any product

Find prospects to buy products and services based on their shipping activities

Find the importers of products you would like to sell and deal with them direct saving middleman markups

Your competitors are already accessing this data. Don't be left behind.

This is a REAL service with a REAL cost. Subscription plans begin at $99 USD a month and range higher based on the amount of usage your company may require. This is a service for SERIOUS international traders and trading companies only.

If you are interested in complete details, use either the contact link or the contact banner on the right side of this blog to contact us and BE SURE to tell us what you are inquiring about. Blank inquiries will be automatically deleted.

Import Export Business Do's And Don'ts

2011-01-13T10:08:00.000-08:00

I have to post this while my thoughts are still fresh on the subject - the do's and don'ts of this post apply not only to the Import Export Business, but ANY business.

1. LISTEN TO YOURSELF ON A VOICEMAIL MESSAGE - DO IT TODAY!

Now I readily admit I have a hearing problem that has taken about 90% of my hearing from my left ear so I often have to play voice messages back 2 or 3 times to get all the information someone is relating, however, when I have my wife stand there and listen 2 or 3 times and she too (who has no hearing loss!) cannot understand what the person is asking or especially what their telephone number is, then the caller is clearly at fault of not speaking clearly and concisely.

Most voice message systems allow you to speak 2-3 minutes, so right NOW, go leave yourself a message of up to one minute and do so in the small tone of voice, rhythm like you normally do, don't think about it, just do it. Then have someone that you normally do not speak with listen to your message.

If that person cannot understand what you are asking, stating or the phone number you have recorded, you need to begin practicing speaking more clearly, concisely and making your point as to why you are calling or you will not do well in ANY business!

If you are at work and you do not want everyone to know what your business is, go outside during your break or lunch and make your calls or wait until you get home. Trying to talk low so no one else hears you simply does not allow you to leave a coherent and understandable message.

I practiced for several hours the first time I was going to record an outgoing voice message on a voicemail system I set up back in the late 1980's. I wrote down exactly what I wanted to say and had to record over it several times before I got it right and then I asked others to listen to it and provide me with feedback. NEVER ASSUME you are understood by anyone other than your circle or friends and family who have adapted to your voice, rhythm, tone etc..

2. DO NOT LEAVE VAGUE MESSAGES

If you want someone to take time out of their schedule to call you back, TELL THEM WHO YOU ARE, WHAT OR WHY YOU ARE CALLING and BE VERY SPECIFIC.

There are countless fraudsters out there who leave vague messages trying to get the mark to call them back for their nefarious reasons, there are also telephone numbers that the fraudsters can ask you to call that will rack up $29.00 or more a minute charges by you simply calling them.

More importantly, if you leave a poorly worded message that is difficult to understand without any specifics, why should the person receiving that message call you back?

Some people would say everyone deserves a response -SORRY, not in today's Internet world where people can be calling from anywhere in the world and when you have your product or service information posted clearly on your website and if they cannot understand what you have posted there or are too lazy to read it, then quite frankly, they are not worth my nickle or dime calling back because they aren't going to understand an explanation from me either!

3. STOP HIDING BEHIND A BLOCKED OR UNKNOWN PHONE NUMBER

I use caller ID quite a bit due to my hearing problems. If someone does not speak clearly enough for either my wife or I to understand the phone number they have left but their message "sounds" like it might be important enough to return, I then go to my caller ID to get their number.

If you hide who you are behind caller id blocking or however they make it show up unknown, then you simply are not worth another second of someone's time in trying to get back with you.

As my last post stated GET REAL, you are either in business or you are playing games by hiding your identity.

Most of the time UNKNOWNS or BLOCKED ID's are calls from sales people and the volume of these calls has reached such a high level that I now DO NOT pick up when a call comes in from an Unknown or blocked id caller, I wait to see if they begin to leave a message and "if" they do and "if" it is a legitimate caller, I will pick up, otherwise I simply let the answering machine deal with them which in 90% of the cases they never leave a message.

4. SEND AN EMAIL OR FORM SUBMISSION INSTEAD

If you are calling a business that has a website with their telephone number posted, that is OK, BUT, if you cannot communicate your message clearly on their voice message system, they probably will not call you back.

So, use their email or form submission system on their site and send them a detailed message - THAT IS WHAT IT IS THERE FOR.

If you cannot send a coherent, understandable message then you seriously need to improve your written communications as well.

EMAIL or a website's Form submission IS FREE to use so why not use it. Many people will check their email far more often then their voice messages and if your message is CLEAR, CONCISE and UNDERSTANDABLE AND is something the business receiving it can help you with, THEY WILL CALL OR EMAIL YOU BACK.

EMAIL allows for FAR fewer mistakes since it provides and ongoing WRITTEN record of what each party is asking and the other answering.

I am a strong advocate for CALLING a supplier or potential buyer to establish communications but when I do, I leave a clear, concise message if they do not answer and repeat my phone number at least two times speaking slowly and also tell them what times are the best to call me back so we do not play phone tag.

GET REAL about your business by GETTING REAL about your COMMUNICATIONS, whether they are voice messages or emails (sorry, I don't text so I won't even begin to address that one - simply doesn't make sense to me to text someone what I could talk to them about over the phone in much less time than it takes to type all those little letters and symbols into your tiny phone keyboard).

I hope you find the posts on this blog helpful in your business endeavors.

Ron Coble
International Business Services

Get Real About Your Import Export Business

2011-01-09T11:58:00.000-08:00

Getting real about your Import Export business in todays Internet
age involves some expenses, any real business does, fortunately,
with all the competition out there, the expenses are very small in
comparison to starting most other types of businesses.

Getting Real about your business means first and foremost, taking
action once you have made the decision to get off of your ass and
get started. YES, it takes your action, not some "mentor" or
high-priced personal guide - YOU are the key to YOUR success and
YOUR action is necessary to succeed once you have studied and
understand the processes.

But you have heard or read that before if you have been on this
blog for any length of time.

So let's talk about a super, small, baby step action you can take,
if you are serious about GETTING REAL about your business.

In the past 10 years, we have received well over ONE MILLION
dollars in fraudulent orders. Some were easy to spot, others have
become more difficult, but in that time we have not lost one
cent to fraudsters and have learned some very valuable lessons
on what to look for, one of which I will now pass along to you.

In almost 90% of the fraudulent orders received, the fraudster
used a free email address such as Yahoo or Hotmail.

So, literally, any order that we now receive from anyone with a
Yahoo or Hotmail account IMMEDIATELY gets the FULL scam screening
procedures, most of which are outlined on our company page at
ImportExportHelp.com under the "due diligence" resources.

In the past 10 years, I have spoken with and corresponded with
thousands of other business people around the world and Yahoo
and Hotmail email addresses have grown into an instant delete
or filtered to spam due to the high incidence of them being used
by spammers, scammers and the business wannabees who are NOT
really serious about success and are nothing but a waste of TIME
for these business people (remember TIME IS MONEY).

Email is a terrible way to try and make initial contact with
any business person to begin with...marketing organizations that
track this kind of thing state upwards of 70% or more of all
emails NEVER reach the intended party and those that do are
often deleted without viewing if they have FREE email addresses.

Yahoo and Hotmail email addresses are an immediate flag to most
businesses that the sender is not a serious contender and will
many time, if not more often than not, be ignored and deleted.

Yes, I have and still do recommend the use of Gmail.com email
addresses up to a point. I believe that they too will ultimately
reach the level of filtering that yahoo and hotmail addresses
receive in the not too distant future. Unfortunately, I am
seeing an incredible level of spam and scam emails in my
numerous gmail accounts, even those I have never made public.

Another BIG reason for recommending you get away from Yahoo and
Hotmail is the filtering issues. They control the level of what gets
through to your inbox and what gets filtered, gmail is not near as
restrictive as Yahoo and Hotmail, but again, I expect that to change
in the not to distant future.

So what are you to do?

You can either set up an entire website that normally provides you
with a huge amount of email addresses that you create or in some
cases Unlimited numbers.

The building of a website does not need to be the very first thing
you need to do but when you are ready, the service I recommend to
beginning website builders that has MORE help and assistance than
any other I have found yet may be reviewed at:

Web Hosting - DIY Step-by-Step Website Building Service

*** Be sure to download ALL of the FREE training materials the
above web hosting/building services provides, including their
great videos - they have the VERY BEST resources available
of any similar service my 17 years of Internet research has found.

Once you have invested in your future by obtaining the appropriate
training course to the type of International Trade business you are
going to "GET REAL" about, your first step to project a more
professional image should be to have a "REAL" Email address and
not be using a FREE one.

Not only does having your own domain name email project a much
BETTER Internet persona but even more importantly, YOU control the
level of filtering and YOU get to see all emails that are filtered BEFORE
they are deleted.

Additionally, many business people have their email programs set up to
filter emails coming from Yahoo and Hotmail addresses either to their
BULK or SP*.AM folder or have them automatically deleted!

You can have your own domain name email accounts up to 10
accounts for a price of less than $20 to a max of $40 per year depending
upon the number of email addresses you feel you need and you can
always upgrade to the higher level is the lower is not enough.

This is should be the FIRST and is the simplest thing you can do to
build your reputation and show you are serious about being in business
and it only takes a few minutes to do - here is the service where I have
a domain specific email address set up - go check them out:

Get A Real (LOW COST) Email Address Service

Quite frankly, if you invest in training and will not invest in
upgrading your Internet personality, you need to GET REAL about your
Import Export business or get out of the way of those who are
serious about their success.

In reality, whether you are starting an international trade
business OR any business, you need a REAL email address - STOP
jeopardizing your success by being to cheap to invest a few
dollars a year to build your online reputation.

REMEMBER, NO ONE CARES MORE ABOUT YOU, YOUR FAMILY OR
YOUR SUCCESS THAN YOU DO (OR SHOULD)!

And if you are too lazy to take the SMALL action necessary to set up a
REAL email address, then you should forget about being in business
for yourself because you are simply TOO LAZY to GET REAL about being
in business for yourself.

Hope you find these posts helpful - your comments are always welcome.

Ron Coble
International Business Marketing Services

Import Export Business - Happy New Year 2011

2011-01-01T08:40:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year 2011 to One and All!

I wrote quite an extensive "tell all" post last year on New Years day and would like to suggest that you take time to read it now even if you have read it before, if you have allowed the entire year of 2010 to pass you by without taking action, you especially need to read and heed what I took a lot of time and thought in posting there -

http://importexportbusiness.blogspot.com/2010_01_01_archive.html

In addition to it being New Years Day 2011, I wanted to address a couple of recurring factors that seem to hold people back from making life decisions. Call this my 2011 KICK IN THE ASS POST!

It is NOW 2011, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?

Stop thinking that someone or some organization like the government is going to help you get to where you want to be in life.

Do you really think that either political party gives a DAMN about you and your family?

You have to take the steps necessary to survive and prosper in this life or forever label yourself as a victim of circumstances out of your control.

YOU ARE IN CONTROL and YOU MUST TAKE ACTION, SO WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?

A comment that was left on this blog a few days ago helped to prompt this post as well.

The comment stated about how to start without much funds and also stated "I need a mentor".

So let me address those two facts about your success or failure first.

Funds - If you follow the course that we recommend and my personal bonus information provided when you purchase that course, you will need little or no money to start or operate your business (NOTE: I am referring primarily to the exporting part of the business).

My first recommendation is this - if you are short of funds enough that the price of the course is going to affect how you live for the next few months, i.e., pay your rent, buy your groceries, put gas in your car, then DO NOT BUY OUR COURSE OR ANYONE'S COURSE.

You need to either get a job or second job if necessary, get your finances in good shape and then, and only then, get our recommended course and bonus resources.

No one offering any of the other courses is going to tell you that because they simply do not care about anything but getting your credit card number and putting you into an even worst financial position than you are now.

Despite all the hype that is out there about how "easy" it is to just buy their "program" or their "mentorship" and you will be guaranteed of success. WAKE UP and smell the coffee - it AIN'T GOING TO HAPPEN, you are just going to be separated from your money at a time when you need it the most.

Which brings me to the subject of "mentorship" which has become a very sore spot for me.

Many people call me, every week, asking about the import export business, they want my help, they want my advice, they are seeking it, but when I give it to them, they never follow through.

Some people have told me that the SBA (Small Business Administration) volunteers really did not or want to provide the type of support they were seeking (for free, of course). I do not know if this is true since the SBA has always been touted as being the best place to go for free assistance in getting started in your own business.

My growing belief is more on the side of the people who make the above complaint being not ready to be in business for themselves and the SBA volunteers recognizing this. Also, I believe these same complainers are people like a lady who called me from Canada a few years ago asking for an import export business that was already set up and running and profitable that she could simply buy into for a few hundred dollars.

IT AIN'T GOING TO HAPPEN!

The volunteers teach or guide people how to get started and become successful but what most people lack is the initiative to actually take any action.

There is a WEALTH of FREE advice and guidance within the posts of this blog. REAL WORLD EXPERIENCE has gone into these posts.

HAVE YOU READ ALL OF THEM? Have you taken action to implement any of them, even ONE!
IF NOT, forget going into ANY business for yourself, because you need a BOSS, not a mentor, not a coach, a BOSS!

My advice to you before ever spending a single penny is to READ each of the posts within this blog. There are also some good posts within our Importers and Exporters trade leads blog spread out among the trade lead posts, read them too.

If there are suggested actions within those post, TAKE THEM, TAKING ACTION, even little ones will help you to realize YOU ARE IN CONTROL OF YOUR DESTINY and will help you get over the victim mentality or the I need a mentor, helper, coach before I can succeed thought process.

Realize that NO ONE ELSE is going to care as much about YOUR FUTURE, YOUR FAMILY'S FUTURE, YOUR SUCCESS as you will and if you don't care enough to take positive actions to change things why do you think anyone else should?

Some might think me to be arrogant. So be it but let me tell you where I came from.

My parents, both depression era children, worked for the railroad as a laborer and in various sewing factories as a seamstress.

I had two brothers and when my mother would buy a bag of M&M candies she would count the candies out so each of us got an equal amount.

I had to use an outhouse for a bathroom until I was about 10 years old (gets damn cold here in Pennsylvania December through March, let me tell you). We did not consider ourselves poor at the time and I know that both of my parents did their best to give us the best life possible.

I worked for several years in a warehouse loading and unloading trucks and have a bad back to this day because of it.

At one point in my life, I made a job decision that some would say (and did say) was a bad one and it almost left us destitute so much that I had to take a job shoveling horse ship cleaning out horse stables and planting trees at a minimum wage with no benefits.

Jump to today. I owe NO ONE. My only bills are those we all have, electric, heat, real estate taxes etc. and I do not state this to brag, but simply show you from where I came to where I am there were a lot of BAD decisions and GOOD ones but I really cannot look back on any of them and BLAME or TAKE CREDIT for other than myself.

I did not wait for a new president to be elected, or congress person or senator, they are only in the business of helping themselves keep their jobs every 2, 4 or 6 years. I took the negatives and turned them into positives, basically, I focused on what I wanted to do and took positive steps to achieve success in that area.

Did I continue to make mistakes to this day, absolutely! But without taking those steps I may still be working in some type of hard labor type of job for a subsistence style of living.

NO ONE CARES MORE ABOUT YOU AND YOUR FAMILY'S FUTURE THAN YOU DO!

For those of you who want my advice, then don't act on it, forget this business, forget any business for that fact, get the best job you can find and stick with it.

Seriously, because you need a BOSS or SUPERVISOR who will tell you what you need to do next and who will ALWAYS be sure you are one step below what they are in the corporate structure.

If you are a DECISION MAKER and ready to TAKE ACTION on starting an Import Export business, then my advice is (and always has been) read through my blogs first, take notes, take action, review the DUE-DILIGENCE resources on our company page and THEN purchase our recommended course, study it, take notes and TAKE ACTION.

The calendar has changed again. Are you still where you were a year ago? Either get off of it and take action or forget about it. Your CHOICE, not mine or anyone else's.

With that said, WELCOME TO 2011!

More Import Export Business Lessons

2010-12-08T12:26:00.000-08:00

Another Import Export Business lesson in the form of an a Question and Answer Post:

QUESTION:

I run a small wine export company in New Zealand and I am looking into exporting wine to Mali in Africa at the moment.

Contact is made, terms agreed on and now my customer says that I would need to open an non-residential account with his bank to enable him to transfer funds into my account in New Zealand. This sounds wrong to me and I have never been asked to do such a thing in the past. According to my customer this is an anti fraud measure introduced by the Malian government.

Could you please advise me whether or not this is true. Your help would be very much appreciated.

ANSWER:

I would suggest that you do a search in google for Mali + Fraud and/or Mali + scam - Mali appears to be yet another African cesspool of fraudulent activity.

My first suggestion is - Find a buyer not in a 3rd world country

One of the key factors that fraudsters play on their marks is the desperation of or greed for the completion of a sale or to get money.

How many things could go wrong with this?? You deposit funds to open an account, your client "supposedly" puts their funds into your account. If the bank is a legit one, how do you know your buyer does not have a friend working in the bank? How do you get your funds back?? The Mali bank is under NO obligations like your NZ banks have to their customers.

How many different ways does this have to sound like a scam before you simply deem it NOT worth the trouble?

Please do yourself a favor and read some of the listings google will give you on the suggested searches above - these people have honed the art of scam.

Is the sale really worth all the hassle if it is legit? Talk to a freight forwarder in NZ that deals with Mali and see if they have heard of this 'new' requirement. But bottom line, is it all worth it?? Cant' you find a buyer
elsewhere in a non- 3rd world country.

Have you done due diligence on your buyer, or the so-called bank you would need to deal with??

See the list of resources we recommend -

http://www.importexporthelp.com/company.htm#DUE-DILIGENCE

My advice goes back to my first suggestion - WALK AWAY.

Ron Coble

Import Export Business Tips

2010-10-27T17:25:00.000-07:00

1. Get a voicemail system to receive your calls.

You can have a dedicated phone number that allows you to record an outgoing message and receive unlimited incoming messages for as little as $24 a year ($34 the first year) - that is $2 a month. (NOTE: I did not say $24 a month, I said $24 a year after the first year which has a $10 setup fee.)

The voice messages are then sent to you via email and you can play them back on your computer anywhere you might be in the world. You can find these services advertised on the net, but if you would like the name of the service I have used for 5 years you have to get either the Import Export Toolkit or the Exporters Master Training package.

Sidenote: everyone loves their children and grand-children but you should not put their voice on your outgoing message - if you do not like your voice, write down what you want to say and have a friend or relative with a better voice record the outgoing message for you. And, please, do not have your children or grand-children in the background when you are calling someone - you only get one chance to make an impression.

2. Get a dedicated fax number.

Here again you can use the same service as the voicemail and have them send your faxes to you via email as PDF documents that you can then view on your monitor and print out, if necessary.

Sidenote: I often use a dedicated fax number as a means of qualifying an import lead's validity - if an "importer" has the same number listed for both their fax and phone number, they are most likely just getting started, or are sample seekers who have no intention of buying anything. Don't waste your time.

3. STOP USING YAHOO AND HOTMAIL email addresses.

I have spoken to many people who will not bother to read an email if it is sent from a Hotmail or Yahoo email account. So when trying to do business via the Internet DO NOT try to do so with a Yahoo or Hotmail email account and expect people on the receiving end to take you seriously.

Gmail.com offers the best FREE email system right now and although it will probably reach a point where it too is looked down upon in the business world, it is still fairly new and does not have the BAD stigma attached to it that Yahoo and Hotmail have achieved.

BETTER YET - Follow advice on our last post about getting a website and begin using your own website Email system to send and receive your emails.

Yahoo and Hotmail email systems are two of the MOST restrictive systems that I and other business owners I have spoken to have found - many, if not most, of any email with the word dollar, or symbol for dollars $ or mere mention of order or other commonly used business terms will send your email into their spam folder. Oh and forget about an email with an attachment like an invoice.

4. STOP SENDING FREE SAMPLES.

Do your due diligence on a lead first, make sure they are a legitimate business and even then DO NOT SEND FREE SAMPLES - advise them that you will ship samples at wholesale cost and they will pay shipping "in advance" but that once you receive an order for $1,000 or more, you will deduct the wholesale cost of the samples from their first order. NO NEGOTIATION. Scammers know you want and need business and they will use this against you.

The above method was provided to me from the owner of a very successful vitamin manufacturing business (about $10 million a year successful) and it is the exact method his company uses, no exceptions.

5. FREE TRADE LEADS.

Forget about the trade lead boards, legitimate importer don't need them, they have the Internet and will find their sources of supply via the websites of the manufacturers and/or exporters. The majority of the FREE importer (buyer) leads are 1 person wannabee startups but the vast majority are SCAMMERS and FREE SAMPLE SEEKERS that will not only break your bank but waste your most precious asset - TIME!

There is a way you can find REAL importers using your best friend on the Internet - Google. I will not provide the exact details of how to find them as this is reserved for the BONUS resources we give to our customers who purchase either our Import Export training course or just the Export training course.

But I will tell you that GOOGLE can be your BEST friend in identifying REAL importers or REAL products that you seek to export and the key I will reveal is to learn how to use their "ADVANCED" search techniques. Other than that, if you want a full, detailed description of this search strategy you will have to get one of the two above mentioned courses.

Finding REAL IMPORTERS using the method I discovered is great, however, in the world of marketing, which type of lead is better? A lead that you find, then contact and try to sell OR a lead that has already seen that you have the product(s) they are looking for and now they have called you or sent you an email?

COMMON SENSE - the lead that is coming to YOU is the BEST lead you can find in ANY BUSINESS. And what is the best way to help potential customers find you and your products? Yes, you guessed it, a WEBSITE (re-read the post previous to this one).

Hope you have found value in the above TIPS and suggestions.

Ron Coble
International Trade Services

International Trade Leads

2010-10-12T15:56:00.001-07:00

The previous post revealed how the oldest and most reliable publishers of international trade leads are or have gone out of business, including the US government's trade leads services.

For those of you who read my newsletter of blogs, you know I don't beat around the bush as we say here in Central Pennsylvania and this post isn't going to be any different.

If you wish to waste your valuable life's time chasing your tail and getting NO WHERE like tens of thousands of other exporter wannabees, then keep going to the FREE trade lead boards.

Although these boards were all started with GOOD intent, the scammers and spammers soon took over. Little wonder why legitimate Importers NO LONGER post their requirements on these boards?

In 22 1/2 years in business, I have spoken with hundreds of REAL exporters and importers and IN "ALL" instances when I rememebered to ask, NOT ONE has found these boards to be profitbable.

Even a USA based car exporter who advertises on our site has told me privately that he pays the several hundred dollar fee to be a "background" checked member and at BEST in nearly 5 years of paying this fee, he has only generated enough business to pay for his annual dues. READ THIS LAST PARAGRAPH AGAIN, SEVERAL TIMES.

This car exporter further stated that he will not bother responding to any of the FREE members of this largest trade board on the Internet, they are mostly inexperienced wannabees, scammers and spammers.

One of the weirdest phenomena in my 22 1/2 years in the import/export business and nearly 12 years of doing so using Internet marketing is how many people are "bent on free."

There are people out there who would rather spend hundreds of hours accumulating information instead of spending a few dollars to get it and once they apply it can have a steady FLOW of POTENTIAL BUYERS/IMPORTERS coming to their website and ASKING, YES, ASKING for more details, prices, etc. about the products they are trying to export.

"What Is YOUR Time Worth?"

I have 368 web pages within our website. These pages are WORKING for me 24/7 365 days a year. ONE WEB PAGE has generated more revenue for three of the manufacturers we represent than ALL of the other pages.

Once that web page was set up, I have not changed it very much in nearly 7 years. It is a very SIMPLE web page, generic in nature (HOLD ON I am about to reveal a personally discovered secret). It is generic in nature but relavent to all three manufacturers who pay us a steady income, one monthly, two every two months.

Here is the main title of the page and the subject matter, go check it out and be sure to come back and read the rest of this post: Vitamin Manufacturers

One "TRADE LEAD" from this generic web page is now purchasing upwards of $12K product from the one company every 2 months, ADD that up on an annual basis and their orders are GROWING. But again, this is just ONE trade lead, there are many more that generate revenue for us from the other companies and this ONE SIMPLE web page generates trade leads on a consistent basis.

So let's get back to YOU and Your Exporting business.

Whether you are an Export Management company that purchases goods from a manufacturer, marks them up and sells them to a foreign buyer or you are an export broker/agent or simply an export finder, having your own website to promote the products you represent is really the BEST method of generating international trade leads and often domestic leads for the manufacturers you contract with.

Believe me, in today's econonomic environment, a manufacturer does not care if the lead is foreign or domestic, a new customer is new business that helps keep them and their employees paid.

AND, again quite frankly, I DO NOT CARE WHAT ANYONE ELSE WISHES TO CALL ME OR WHAT I DO OR HOW I DO IT as long as the manufacturers remember how to spell my business name correctly on the checks!

SO BACK TO THE QUESTION - "What Is YOUR Time Worth?"

Now you can continue to PLAY THE FREE TRADE LEAD boards and waste your most precious depreciating asset in all of life - YOUR TIME or you can get busy getting your website established on the net and show your manufacturers some REAL trade leads.

Unless, of course, you wish to treat this part of your business like you do when using trade lead boards and try to do a site on a free hosting service and gather together ALL the FREE information you can find on the net about building a website and web pages and ultimately decide it is just too damn complicated and have lost that time forever.

Think how long it would take the average person to put all this information together, to figure out the best FREE tools to get, to get help when needed, and to stay up to date with what is happening (and to know what small part of what's new is important).

They end up working for pennies per hour. They could be pouring all that time and energy into building a business and making serious income per hour. Instead, they chase "free" info and tools for pennies per hour.

Even when they find free info and tools, the info is out of step-by-step order and that person would be missing so much software power because "free" just can't do 1/10th of what the complete website building tool that I have found in my 12 years of using Internet Marketing in conjunction with international trade. So again I ask...

"What Is YOUR Time Worth?"

And don't be fooled into thinking that the FREE web "BLOG" building program like WordPress delivers the same results as your own WEBSITE.

First, a "word" about WordPress...

WordPress is synonymous with blogging. It's a free platform for publishing news, articles, musings and other kinds of content. In other words...

WordPress builds BLOGS, not businesses.

If you start your business by...

o Registering a domain

o Finding and purchasing a Web hosting plan

o Sorting through thousands of templates and plugins

o Reading a variety of gurus blogging about blogging...

You're wasting your precious life's TIME on the things that count for little when building an electronic based business.

By the time you realize that you are missing the "everything else" to build a profitable, long-term online business like so many website owners have done with PROVEN RESULTS...

FOR PROOF POSITIVE RESULTS CLICK HERE

Summary? Many people drift into WordPress because everyone else does and because it's free. Not only is it not free (unless you value your time at pennies per hour), there is also the "opportunity cost" of the failed attempt.

Instead of having your own e-business earning increasing dollars per year, you have a lost year, or more.

The value of that time and lost income is much more than straight dollars and cents. There's...

Time lost with family.

Time lost acquiring new skills.

Time lost to relax.

Time lost with friends.

Time lost to do the things that make you happy.

For only $29.99/month, you save THOUSANDS of hours of precious time.

If you doubt that, head to the site below to find REAL stories written by REAL people. Solid, verifiable PROOF of success! You just wont find proof like this... these are real-world "how I did it" material, everything from a-to-z ("Asphalt" to kaZakhstan"). These stories tell it all.

No short-term "flash in the pan" here. Review their ongoing (unsolicited) updates. Their businesses (and their lives) grow, both now and for the long-term.

FOR PROOF POSITIVE RESULTS CLICK HERE

You won't find proof like this for WordPress. It does not exist.

Finding Buyers For Your Products

2010-09-16T08:39:00.000-07:00

It isn't often that I refer visitors from this blog to our Importers and Exporters blog because there is a permanent link to it in the navigation area to the right.

However, in this case I think a recent post there is worthy of a few minutes of your time.

One of the biggest problems facing manufacturers and exporters of products is finding REAL buyers for their products.

Most exporters or exporting manufacturers have been lulled into the false belief that the online trade lead boards are Nirvana/Utopia or whatever your version of perfection on Earth might be.

Unfortunately, in 12 years of working with exporters and exporting manufacturers, I have yet to have ONE tell me that these boards have produced anything other than a lot of wasted time.

I do not wish to repeat the entire post here but basically consider this - if you are a manufacturer and you are selling your products in your own country, in almost 100% of the sales you are "NOT" selling direct to consumers.

In most instances, you are "NOT" selling direct to retailers.

There is another level of the supply chain that you are selling to and that is discussed in our post at the Importers and Exporters blog. So doesn't it make "common sense" to approach the same level of supply chain distribution in another country as you do in your own country??

In 12 years of dealing with exporters and exporting manufacturers I have had "ONE" export car dealer who advised me that he broke even from the annual fees he paid to be listed as a "confirmed" or validated exporter. BROKE EVEN!

The online trade lead boards may have provided a better service when they first got started and the Internet was 10 years younger, however, MOST legitimate or established importers or import companies "ARE NOT" going to list their contact details on these boards any longer.

I discuss the reasons why in the blog post at:

How To Find Legitimate Buyers For Your Products

International Trade Perils

2010-09-11T08:50:00.000-07:00

This post is NOT meant to be critical of the importer who sent me the email and who has posted his story on various complaint boards on the Internet. The post is being offered to help other potential importers from having the same or similar situation happen to you.

I have changed the name of the company to "the fish food supplier" because this blog is meant to be educational and not a means of filing a complaint against any particular company (that can easily be found on other sites throughout the Internet).

The post is about 98% as I received it in an email, the only changes were the date formats, adding of US Dollar amount so it would be easier to see the British pound value to the dollar value and some of the British spelling to US English spelling. My comments in the body of the email have been coded in BLUE.

Additionally, I have placed some notes throughout the post and at the end of the post that will hopefully serve to help other International traders from encountering a similar fate.

Beginning of Email:

Hello and BEWARE!!,

This Fish Food Supply company has just cost me £18,000 ($27,725USD)!!

I began searching for a fish food supplier and came across the company (we will refer to them as fish food supplier), I enquired about there products and there export to the EU, they said they were experienced exporters to Europe and had done this many times before.

FIRST MISTAKE: Never take a company or their representatives word. It means nothing. DUE DILIGENCE - MAKE THEM provide you with at least 3-5 customer references in your country or region in this case for the EU. MAKE THEM DO SO OR DO NOT DO BUSINESS WITH THEM. IF they cry, complain or continue on the "trust us" we know what we are doing path, simply walk away because they do not.

After about a month of communication with this company an order was placed and paid for (** SEE BELOW REMARKS **) and was due for arrival in the UK around the 6/15/2010 this date however the date got moved forward to the 8/15/2010 by fish food supplier, I was not to pleased about this as there was also a lot of koi carp food in the shipment and the koi season would be drawing to an end by the time I received it.

SECOND MISTAKE: Paying the full amount in advance. You now have NO CONTROL over the process or making them meet YOUR deadlines. If anything, pay 50% with the other 50% due upon shipment on the date YOU SPECIFY.

There were also a number of errors in the paperwork from the fish food supplier when my customs clearance agent received it ahead of the shipment arriving, these errors absorbed most of my customs clearance agents and my time for around 10 days to rectify these errors with port health authority.

THIRD MISTAKE: This ties in with mistake two - DO NOT PROVIDE 100% payment until everything is the way YOU NEED it - request copies of the documentation prior to shipment BEFORE you pay the remaining 50% and make sure those documents will pass the customs clearance.

The food arrived in the UK on the 8/14/2010 this was cleared by customs and was just waiting for the completion of a CVED form from the port health authority, this time the errors from the fish food supplier were out of our control. The fish food supplier had not included all the food ingredients in the health certificate, when my customs man contacted the fish food supplier about this they responded with a company letter stating this was just an error from a company clerk and that the ingredients where actually correct on the health certificate and sent relevant paperwork to back this up THESE WERE FALSE DOCUMENTS supplied by the fish food supplier.

FOURTH MISTAKE: All tied back to previous mistakes - the documentation could have been verified before shipment of the goods to ensure that once it arrived in port that everything would go smoothly.

The port health authority then ordered an examination of samples of the food from their testing labs, this took 12 days for these results to come back all the time this is going on i am having to pay £40 (about $61.61USD) per day storage for the container in the port.

The port health authority then found that the fish food supplier had NOT complied with the actual health certificate conditions that all the packs of fish food should bear a label stating "not fit for human consumption" on them.

The port health authority then issued a 2nd notice of rejection into the UK order on the container,,,there were now only two options available: 1) to re-export the container outside an EU country or 2) have the food destroyed by port health authority at my expense (i don't know the cost of this as yet).

The fish food supplier was contacted yet again to see what they were going to do about this problem due to there list of errors in the export/import of these goods, their answer was it was not there fault and for me to try harder to get the container allowed into the UK.

I then spent the last few days contacting various bodies to try and find help, including lawyers, the lawyers contacted the fish food supplier to point out that this shipment was not allowed into the UK purely due to the errors made by the fish food supplier.

There reply to the lawyer was, as you are a lawyer we will not reply to any of your emails regarding this matter.

I spoke to my lawyer this morning and he said it would cost around £17,000 ($26,185USD) to fight this case in china under Chinese law and even though i would very possibly win the case it would be very unlikely i would ever get my money back from the fish food supplier and was not really worth the risk of running up a large legal bill to not get anything at the end of it all.

So I made the decision this morning to have the food destroyed by the port health authority.

End of Email -

My further comments:

I was curious after reading the above email and did a google search on the fish food supplier company. The very first google search result showed them listed as a "Gold Supplier" or Trust Pass member in Alibaba.

Now again, don't get me wrong, Alibaba's trust pass system members are the ONLY sources that are worth following up with because they have paid to have a background check done on them to become a gold supplier/trust pass member.

However, simply because it has been verified that a company is "registered" in some way with the government and and address verifies does not mean they are competent at exporting their products and most of all it does not mean they have ANY knowledge of the import requirements for your home country or region.

Literally, you should NEVER TRUST that a supplier can deliver what they claim to be able to deliver without first making them prove they are capable of doing so.

A couple of other flags flew up for me when I looked at their profile in Alibaba:

Their Total Annual Sales Volume was stated as being US$2.5 Million - US$5 Million while their Total Annual Purchase Volume was stated as being US$5 Million - US$10 Million.

This does not make sense? Or is it just my math?? They have a purchase volume twice as much as their sales volume?? That cannot be sustained but most likely it was just a figure they posted to the profile because the next bit of information shows their Registered Capital as being: RMB 1,000,000 which according to my currency calculator is about $147,000USD? Not very much for a company supposedly purchasing $5 million to $10 million a year - again, if you ask me.

Next you have the Date of Issue of their business registration: 2009-09-30 which means they were only about 6-9 months old when this importer began negotiating with them. Nothing wrong with trying to work with a new exporter, however, it would tend to negate the statement they made regarding their experience in dealing with EU countries: "they were experienced exporters to Europe and had done this many times before".

I tend to doubt they had or have done much exporting to other countries at all.

Last, the profile states: "All legal business licenses and contact persons are verified for those who have been A&V Checked. Suppliers must be A&V Checked before becoming a Gold Supplier." This is again the level of verification, not a condemnation of the trust pass system, but it simply provides you with a "somewhat" better level of company in knowing they are registered with the government and have proven it, however, as stated before, you have still got a lot to do in the arena of "DUE DILIGENCE" before committing ANY funds, even if only 1/3 of the contract upfront.

Personally, I feel the pain of the importer who sent me the above email. Losing money is never easy, whether it is a few dollars or £18,000 ($27,725USD) and in reality it will be much more because he has storage fees and the fee he has to pay the port health authority to destroy the fish food.

Whether you are importing or exporting, if all the i's are not dotted and the t's are not crossed to "YOUR" satisfaction, it is far better to quit now and find another supplier if you are an importer or potential buyer if you exporter. You CANNOT rely on TRUST in international trade, YOU MUST make the seller or buyer PROVE to you they are legitimate and are capable of doing their part of the transaction.

If you fear pissing them off, too bad, there are other suppliers and other buyers. This is business and don't let personal feelings ever make you vulnerable to letting your guard down. CONTROL the deal or the deal could end up costing you dearly.

Ron Coble
International Trade Help Center

Open Letter To Import Export Business Entrepreneurs

2010-07-21T12:53:00.001-07:00

This blog contains some of the MOST VALUABLE REAL WORLD experience regarding International Trade and Ecommerce that you will find anywhere and best of all, it is FREE.

You have been directed to this post as a means of helping you make the most informed decision possible about your interest in starting an Export and/or Import business.

Quite frankly, if you will not spend hours and maybe days reading through the posts in this blog, especially ALL of the Questions and Answer posts, you really are not ready to be in business for yourself, especially international trade.

And, if bluntness offends you, you should leave now.

Over the past 4 1/2 years most or at least many of the questions I have received by email or by phone over the past 22 years in this business. My answers to those questions are posted here because it became apparent that many (or most) of these questions were the same, only from different people.

In recent months some changes have come about in our business, website and my health. Assessing these changes, I have decided to put more emphasis on the RETIRED side of the term I normally use of "SEMI-RETIRED" when describing my level of doing business.

In doing so, I also decided that if a person called or emailed questions that I would first refer them to this blog to read everything that has been posted here since most of those questions were answered in the archived posts.

Then if they are unable to find the answer to their specific question, they may come back and ask it, BUT TOO BE VERY BLUNT here, I do not intend to provide you a summary of the import or export course by phone or email when details of the course have been outlined "very" extensively on our web pages.

Also, I am NOT here to provide free coaching, mentoring or consulting - that is why we offer the course and the main courses have a ONE YEAR EMAIL consulting services for any questions that may not be answered within the course.

Before writing this post I tried to think of an analogy for the reason most people never succeed in "any" type of business and I think one came to me.

Let's say you decided to build an addition onto your house and you purchased all of the necessary plans, materials and tools to do so.

If all those plans, materials and tools are still sitting there or the addition is only 1/2 finished after one year, are the plans, tools or materials the reason it was not finished? OR, heaven forbid, would the fault be with the fact the person who had every intention of finishing this addition in 3 months, then 6 months, then 9 and 12, simply was not motivated enough to start or finish it?

If you follow my advice and read the posts within this blog, you may do so by using the links to the archives that are located on the right sidebar area linked to by Month and Year.

Ultimately, if you decide to get the international trade course offered on our website or do not, you will hopefully benefit from the REAL WORLD experience I have put into my answers to the many questions received over the past 22 years.

I will continue to post on this blog as there are still more questions and answers in my files, but again, I am entering a more RETIRED mode of my semi-retired mode of operation.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post and I hope you will find the rest of the blog helpful.

UPDATE (24 October 2010): I realized that the Month/Year Arhive links were not showing up on this page, so just go to the MAIN page of the blog either by clicking here --> http://importexportbusiness.blogspot.com or by clicking on the header title of Import Export Business at the top of the page - the Arhived Posts are then found on the right side by Month and Year.

Regards,

Ron Coble
Owner - Coble International Marketing Services
http://www.importexporthelp.com

Another Import Export Business Question And Answer

2010-07-16T15:01:00.000-07:00

QUESTION:

Hello Ron,

Thanks for the speedy response. I was referring to both actually.
I am seriously considering ordering the "Export Master Package". I am more interested in brokering the deal between buyer and seller. However, my major concern was would I be able to do it from Japan ( I will be leaving in a month). Are there any special obstacle I should be concerned with, like telephone bills, foreign address(Japan), bank accounts? Thanks in advance.

Regards,

Marty

ANSWER:

Marty,

I am of the belief that if you really want to do something in life, you will find a way of getting around the perceived obstacles.

There may be better answers out there than I have for your questions and I do not
know what your situation is, are you in the military, do you still have relatives here in the states.

Basically, for foreign phone you can get a vonage or skype account. In my bonus
materials I reveal a service that I use for my fax messages that only costs $24.95
a year after the first year of $34.95 (a 10 set up fee). Faxes come in, are translated to a PDF document and are emailed to me, I can view on screen, if needed, I can print out, if not, I can file or delete - no waste of paper or $450 a year phone line.

Foreign address - if you have a relative willing to handle your mail and forward
what is necessary (mail is used so little now) with the internet and email and fax.

Bank accounts, if you are a US citizen, I doubt you are giving up your citizenship??

Open of two bank accounts for your business before you leave, look for NO Fee
accounts - have one as your main business account with checking and the other
a small or no balance required checking account for receiving wire transfers.

Where there is a WILL there is a WAY.

I would suggest ordering the exporter master package asap as it will take 3-5 days
to ship to you - our publisher is shut down until Monday, 15 June, will begin shipping again on Tuesday 16 June - they only ship on Tuesdays and Fridays - if you wait until you are in Japan, there is an additional $25 fee for shipping.

Hope the above has answered your questions and dispelled some of the
perceived obstacles.

Irregardless of what you decide, I wish you the best.

Kindest regards,

Ron Coble
Coble International - International Marketing Services
http://www.ImportExportHelp.com
Phone: 717-292-5763

Import Export Courses Now Available Via Online Delivery

2010-06-28T08:19:00.000-07:00

We will soon have the information and new LOWER PRICES and
FASTER DELIVERY info posted to their respective web pages, but for now,
we are posting the announcement of the NEW ONLINE DELIVERY of the
Import and Export business courses here in our blog.

Basically, all the course files that were placed on CD roms, packaged in a fancy
looking box and then shipped sometimes taking 2-3 weeks due to the customs
clearance delays in your country are now being made available online via a
password accessible dedicated member website.

You will need a broadband connection to download the files, so please
keep that in mind as you make a decision.

Now, in addition to the much faster delivery, the prices will be changed shortly to
reflect the basic shipping costs being taken off the price.

Here is the link to the combined Import Export Toolkit course (components are
outlined on the web page) -
http://www.importexporthelp.com/trdspx1.htm
*** Note the stated price is $424 and $25 would have been added for overseas shipment - NOW (and this may change to a higher price) you can get ALL the
materials via direct member site download for only $409.00US.

If you were only interested in either the exporting or importing courses, here are their direct links and new online delivery prices:
Importing Course - Price on page is $160 and $25 would have been required to
ship - new online delivery price is only $154 -
http://www.importexporthelp.com/trdspi1.htm

Last, just the Exporting Course - Price stated on webpage is $316 plus $25 to
ship overseas - NOW online delivery price is only $301.00 -
http://www.importexporthelp.com/trdspm1.htm

Now even if you are in India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, United Kingdom, Australia or
wherever you are in the world, you do not need to be held hostage to the mercies
of your customs bureau for delivering your course. Within 1 Business Day of
placing your order, you will receive your Password and UserID to use
to get ALL the course materials directly downloaded to your computer.

Ron Coble
Coble International - International Marketing Services

How to verify your Chinese Buyers, Partners or Suppliers?

2010-06-10T13:53:00.000-07:00

I cannot take credit for much of the following - it was posted anonymously in a business forum that I belong to and is some of the best advice anywhere on how to verify Chinese suppliers or buyers. If the anonymous poster to that forum would like to contact me and have his bio added to this valuable information, I would be happy to do so. I have edited the remarks to some degree, but the majority is just as it was posted:

Most Chinese business people are good and trustworthy, but like bussinesses and individuals in all countries, some fraudsters or liars do exist. A lot of business people outside of China are often confused by the business registration and credit status of Chinese companies and find it difficult verifying information about them. Based on my 8+ years of business experience *(the forum poster) with our Chinese suppliers and partners, I have summarized some useful and practical tips as follows:

Checking the contact information - In order to avoid being traced by law enforcement authorities, most scammers will not offer genuine registration information online. They will provide a false company address, telephone number and fax number or persuade buyers to contact them by mobile phone only.

You should be aware of the companies that only provide you with mobile phone number (such as 86-1580000 0000). Normally, legitimate businesses will use a land line telephone instead of mobile phone number. Some Chinese friends told me that you can buy hundreds of mobile phone numbers if you like, and there are no restrictions or limitations. That is why scammers always use mobile phone numbers instead of landline telephones. Take a standard China telephone number for example, such as 86 755 3333 3333, “86” is the country code of China, “755” area code, and “3333 3333” telephone number. Therefore, you can do some basic check of the location of the telephone number using “area code”.

Checking their business license and credit status - Legal companies in China have to register with the Chinese government authorities and obtain a unique company registration number. If your business partner cannot offer you a unique company registration number, it is risky to deal with them. To check the registration number your supplier provided, you need to visit their local administrative government website with the number they provided. However, you should be aware that most government websites in China are written in Chinese. You can also contact their local Bureau of Industry & Commerce, which is the only government organization responsible for the registration of legitimate companies or enterprises in China. You can ask friends in China to help you verify this company.

You can also use a third-party authentication service company in China to help you verify information, such as OrientCredit, SMR, Inter-credit, or some other credit reporting companies in China. NOTE FROM RON COBLE: you may also wish to contact a Chinese trade representative at the Chinese embassy in Washington DC - you can find their contact details at http://www.embassy.org/

Incredibly low prices or high commission rate - most Chinese scammers will lure buyers with very low prices. If the prices they offer are too good to be true, you should investigate why their prices are so low. Most scammers in China make a profit by selling replicas or fakes of branded goods to overseas buyers. This is very risky because the goods could be confiscated or detained by Chinese customs if they are considered illegal in China.

Payment and shipment terms - the scammers never accept L/C as a term of payment. They prefer Western Union, and T/T etc. They also never deliver goods through formal channels; preferring instead to deliver samples Express by Fedex, TNT, EMS to avoid examinations from Chinese customs. Scammers never accept Letter of Credit (LC) payments but there are some small factories they don't have their professional foreign trading staff, so they do not dare to accept LC as they could be refused by negotiating bank, and because they are small and do not have enough operating funds so they would like to receive T/T 30% or 50% in advance. For sample orders and smaller shipments, consider using an escrow service or Western union.

Visit their company or factory in person - everybody agrees that the best and ultimate way is to visit these companies; you can't know much about a company unless you visit it. But I think this is some kind of second stage of negotiation. Because you may receive a lot of offers by many different Chinese suppliers, and it’s impossible for you to go to all of their factories one by one and therefore you should narrow your selections before deciding to visit their office or plant in person.

PS: During (forum poster's) years of business experience with our Chinese partners, we found that it is very important to acquire the credit information of them at the first stage and then you may determine whether you to resume the negotiations or not. Because you should not trust the information published by suppliers on B2B website because in most instances it is misleading. Some researchers have said (I am not sure about the data, because I am not a researcher.), only about 53% of verified companies are the same as they described in B2B Websites; 21% of them are overstated for their business condition; and 26% of those companies, even some Gold Members in Alibaba turned out to be a scammer. Finally, there is an old saying, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”; you should always keep in mind!"

Motivation To Succeed In The Import Export Business

2010-06-04T09:39:00.000-07:00

Most of this post is attributed to my old business friend and associate,
Jim Straw, who has over 50 years of success in various businesses and
is considered one of the top marketing gurus who continues to operate
his business while well into his 80's.

This came to me as part of an email and I thought it appropriate to
post here since motivation or "coaching" is a key factor in the decision
of which Import Export Business training course people select.

Jim's post begins here.....

Here lately, I've been reading a lot about *How to Motivate Your Sales
Team* in the multitude of ezines I receive.

As always, the ideas ranged from the ridiculous to the sublime.

To be quite frank with you, I have never tried to "motivate" any of
my sales people (dealers, associates, affiliates, whatever). I always figured
that those individuals who were "real" would take the bull by the horns
and make the sales to make the money, because ...

In the words of Andrew Carnegie:

"There is no use whatever trying to help people who do not
help themselves. You cannot push anyone up a ladder unless
he be willing to climb himself."

Beyond that, as Frank Tibolt said:

"We should be taught not to wait for inspiration to start a
thing. Action always generates inspiration. Inspiration seldom
generates action."

Rather than wasting my time trying to "motivate" people, I have always
spent my time supporting the efforts of those who were doing something.

So ... please don't wait for me to start
"motivating" you. -- It won't happen. -- But ...

As always, I am here to answer any questions.

Don't be bashful. -- Anytime you have any kind of question, just ASK!

I may not tell you what you want to hear ... like the b.s. artists do
... but, I will tell you the facts of the matter as I know them to be from
my over 50 years hands-on experience in the business community. -- That's
what I'm here for. -- Your success is just as important to me as it is
to you because, when YOU succeed, I succeed, too.

Feel free to pick my brain.

And, remember what Charles Steinmetz said:

"No man really becomes a fool until he stops asking questions."

I ain't from the government, but I am here to help you.

.....end of Jim Straw's email.

My (Ron Coble's) further comments.......

Although our Importing course and Exporting course and the combo
Import Export Toolkit course offer email consulting for ONE FULL YEAR
that allows you to ask any question you want in that time, many people
opt to pay THOUSANDS of dollars more for the promise of being able
to TALK to someone by phone.

Whether it is an inherent need to have someone "coaching" them or
"motivating" them, they are spending thousands of dollars and untold
hours of precious time on a promise that I have yet to have anyone
tell me helps them reach ANY success in this business.

As Jim mentions in his email text above, the Email consulting that is
offered with our courses will provide you with answers....although they
may not be the answers you are seeking.

For instance, if you submit a question that we know is covered in the
body of the course, then you will receive an answer referencing that
portion so "YOU" may read that section and learn and make your
own decisions accordingly.

Other answers you may not like are when you are so enthusiastic about
a deal offered to you but the answer comes back to stay away from it.
We are not deal killers but if you ask about something that we have
prior knowledge of, that is the answer you will get, we are not going to
tailor our answers to meet your hoped for expectations. Reality is
what it is and sometimes it sucks!

Additionally, you cannot expect someone else to learn ALL the aspects
of a particular deal you are trying to put together so much so that you
are really seeking a confirmation of your decision to move forward or
not. There is NO profit incentive for us to get involved in your deals and
quite frankly we have NO interest in becoming silent partners with
everyone who purchases our "HOW TO" course.

I covered this in a previous post about making "DECISIONS". Making
decisions is what separates the successes from the failures and having
some minimum wage or commission paid rep on the other end of the
phone giving their totally unqualified "OPINION" is a sure recipe for
FAILURE.

It was interesting that I received Jim Straw's email today because I had
been thinking about how MOST people are simply not cut out to get
involved in international trade. They view the business as a "get rich
quick" scheme or "how do I make money" opportunity and it simply is
not suited for that type of mentality, although most purveyors of import
export training would have you believe otherwise.

Hope this post will enlighten those who really have an interest in getting
started in the Import and/or Export business and also help save those
who are in need of constant motivation or who are looking at import
export as a "money making opportunity" from spending their hard earned
money on some useless program that promises to hold their hand while
skipping down the yellow brick road to riches.

International Business Resources

2010-06-01T20:08:00.000-07:00

Here are some FREE B2B resources that may only be available for
a short period of time - they are provided FREE of charge -

Discover How Factoring Can Work For Your Company

Factoring allows your business to get money quickly without
the hassle of getting a bank involved. This free guide
explains the tips and tricks of finding a factoring service
that fits your monetary needs and also comes with price
quotes from pre-screened vendors so you can compare invoice
factoring prices. In order to receive a loan from factoring
companies, you must have outstanding invoices that you can
sell over to the factoring company. The factoring company
will take on the invoice debt and give you the money.

Click Here to Register for this FREE Factoring guide today.

----------------------------------------------------------

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wholesalers, distributors and closeout buyers.

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feature stories designed to improve the retailer's everyday
business operations. Each monthly issue also provides
hundreds of merchandise offerings from America's leading
wholesalers, importers and manufacturers. Editorial coverage
includes the latest industry news, trends, new products and
marketing strategies that are invaluable to the independent
retailer.

Click Here to Register for your FREE COVER magazine

----------------------------------------------------------

"5 Steps to a White Paper that Pulls in the Perfect Prospect –
Free 25 Page eBook"

This eBook is a must-read for those who want to take their
white papers and lead generation to the next level.

As a B2B lead generation tool, white papers are all the rage –
just about every technology company produces them.
Unfortunately, countless companies fail to connect with the
right prospects because they commit one or more critical white
paper mistakes. White papers are a tried-and-true tool for
generating leads, establishing thought leadership, and
educating prospects. In fact, technology marketers have
become quite adept at churning them out.

Which brings us to the problem – how can you help make sure
your offering stands out in the sea of white papers? Arm
yourself with this practical advice to:

Deliver relevant, valuable, and compelling information that
turns prospects into buyers
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Craft an attention-grabbing title
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Click Here to Register for this FREE 25 Page E-book today.

Importing Business Question & Answer

2010-05-27T15:57:00.000-07:00

Question: I've been searching for a guide that would show me how to setup
an import business, with information such as taxes, forms, etc. I'm
interested in importing jewelry from Asia countries to sell here in the
U.S. Are you selling any guides like that?

Answer: I assume you are referring to duties on imported products and
this is covered in our Importing Business course.

A lot of the necessary forms can be supplied by the customs
broker or the U.S. Customs office. Our course focuses more on identifying
suppliers and buyers and a whole lot of time is not wasted on supporting
paperwork which is really incidental to the process.

Our importing business training self-study course provides some sample
forms and the like but we really try to encourage new traders not
to obsess over paperwork and to focus instead on the business of
identifying suppliers and buyers. Importers (you) simply need to know how
important it is to check with U.S. Customs in advance of importing. They
will provide the details on quotas, duties and special requirements.

Our course will provide you with a myriad of ideas for finding buyers
for your imports, here is a FREE resource where you can find 16 Electronic
trade magazines that are updated monthly with "VERIFIED" suppliers AND
complete contact details for those suppliers -
FREE Verified Import Product Supplier Electronic Trade Magazines

International Small Business Resources

2010-05-23T07:01:00.000-07:00

Many people who visit our blog or website often overlook a
very valuable web page titled Small Business Resources.

I am bringing it to your attention in this post for two
reasons.

1. There are MANY No Cost and Very Valuable resources for
all size businesses available on this page and you should
really check it out and bookmark it for later reference.

2. About one year ago a long time business friend and
online publisher asked that I compile all of my suggestions
and resources together to help you from getting ripped
off either online or offline.

I compiled and he helped me publish 3 PDF reports on this
subject.

These 3 new resources were recently posted to our Small
Business Resources webpage. These 3 reports contain valuable
information to help you avoid getting ripped off whether in
an import export transaction or through your website.

The resources and experiences related in the 3 PDF reports
can be very valuable to learn, keep on hand and refer to if
you are not sure about doing business or accepting business
from anyone anywhere in the world.

The reports are FREE and that means you may download them
and keep them for future reference. Here are the titles:

International Ecommerce Do's and Don'ts
- Keeping Your International Ecommerce Wealth Safe From Fraudsters

International Product Shipping Methods And
Customs Forms
- a short companion report to International Ecommerce Do's and Don'ts

B2B or B2C? - covers some of the reasons whether B2B or
B2C may be better for your business

When you visit our Small Business Resources web page,
scroll down the page to find these resources hi-lited in
Yellow to help you locate them.

If you have never been to this web page, I encourage you to
look around as there are many more resources that are N0
C0ST which may be of interest and prove valuable to your
business.

I hope you will find value in these reports.

Your comments and feedback on the above reports is Welcome!

Ron Coble

New Import Export Business Question And Answer

2010-04-12T17:56:00.000-07:00

Question: I'm aware that no specific qualificatons are required for an importing/exporting business, but wont certain companies that i maybe want to buy products from request for some kind of reference number or regestration number?

Answer: Based on the phone number you provided, I know you are not resident to
the USA.

There are so many different governmental organizations in the world that
NO ONE source can give you an answer for all of them. YOU will have to
research this in your country to find out if it is required.

In the USA, "some" manufacturers may request your sales tax ID number,
but here again, not all 50 states have a sales tax (yet). I keep hearing from
a Canadian business we deal with about them being a "numbered" corporation.
Some day, when I have time to be curious, I will ask them about it, but
quite frankly as long as they keep sending us our commission checks, I
really do not care, except out of curiosity.

Each country, province, state, county district may have their own requirements,
you have to do that type of research yourself as that is all part of going into
this business or any business.

Kindest regards,

Ron Coble
Coble International - International Marketing Services
http://www.ImportExportHelp.com

How Much Does It Cost To Start An Exporting Business

2010-02-28T09:11:00.000-08:00

Question: How much money do I need to start an exporting business?

Answer: It Depends.

This is a business that can be worked in "many" different ways. How
you choose to work it will dictate the amount of money you will need
to have to get started.

You will need our export business training package which is $316.00
and at a minimum a one year subscription to our export trade leads
service (lists new importers weekly) for $95.00 so there you have
about $411.00.

If you do not have a computer, you will need one - they are very
inexpensive compared to when I first got started and you do not need
the fastest, highest tech one if all you are using it for is to send
and receive emails and type up letters or fax messages.

You can get a really nice Dell with all the bells and whistles you
will need for about $500. If you already have a computer, you do
not need to count this as a cost item to get started.

There are a couple of software items that I recommend and use myself
that are referred to you when you buy our course, all total they
might run about $100 or less but they are optional and may already
be included with the newest Dell computers. So again, this is an
optional cost.

A telephone, which most people have and if they do not, you can get
a tracfone at Walmart with about 400-800 minutes of time for a full
year for about $100. Here again, you probably already have a phone
so listing this as a cost is probably not necessary.

BIT OF ADVICE: If you are going to receive voicemail messages on your
phone, don't have your child do the recording or some weird music
playing in the background, be professional in your voicemail message
or people will hang up without leaving a message.

If you feel your voice does not project a professional image, get a
friend or relative to record it for you - write up a script for them
(or yourself) to make it easier when you (they) are ready to record.

If you are going to be in business, you first impression to someone
may be your voicemail message.

Now if you have your phone and computer already, then our exporters
master training package and a subscription to export leads is really
all you need to get started (after you have studied the course) if
you are going the route that is recommended by both our publisher
and myself.

What is that route? working as an Agent/Broker.

Now is you insist on doing things the hard way and going right into
being an export management company, then the cost can go up and
there is literally no way anyone, including me, can provide you with
an estimate of cost.

As an export management company, you better be prepared financially
to assume the risk and cost of buying the goods you are going to
then mark up for a profit and resell to a buyer/importer.

Yes, there are ways of doing the business as an export management
company that can be financed through other methods but all forms
of financing and letters of credit have become more difficult with
the worldwide banking situation. It can be done, but it is much
more difficult today than 2 years ago.

As an agent/broker you can help importers find suppliers and suppliers
(manufacturers) find buyers (importers) by using the export trade
leads subscription service referred to above.

In working the business as an agent/broker you may do so in many
different ways and in varying degrees of responsibility and still get
paid a commission for bringing a supplier new business which they
would not have had if it were not for you introducing them to the
new buyer/importer.

As an agent/broker, your total cost to get started basically is
what has been stated in the above paragraphs.

There is ONE other cost which no one can really provide you an
answer for and that is HOW MUCH TIME will it cost me before I make
any profits in this business? Sorry, NO ONE can answer that question
but you.

Hope this will help answer the proverbial question of "how much
will it cost to get started in the exporting business".

Ron Coble
Coble International Marketing Services
International Business and Trade Help Center

Promoting Exports Via The Internet

2010-02-05T08:32:00.000-08:00

For anyone who has read most or many of our blog posts and/or our Global B2B update newsletters, you have probably grown tired of my constant haranguing on you about promoting your export products online.

After looking at this past year's sales totals, I decided to reveal some information that should really put your mind at ease about how elaborate a web page or site has to be to help you sell a product both domestically and internationally.

Our one little web page promoting Private Label Vitamin Manufacturers generated over $250,840 in new business for the vendors who we are contracted with. Now granted, $250,840 is not a lot in the world of business, but that is basically what was generated from that ONE LITTLE WEB PAGE and you can see for yourself by clicking through the above link how "unfancy" or "unsophisticated" this web page really is - go take a look and see how simple international marketing can be if you will simply learn the processes and begin to take action.

Import Export Business - 2010 New Year Message

2010-01-01T09:31:00.001-08:00

Happy New Year!

For those of you who follow this blog, you probably have noted quite a time lapse since my last post. My Father passed away during this lapse and I simply have not been in the right state of mind to make any new posts, nor have I had the time.

As we begin a new calendar year and with the passing of my father, I have become somewhat reflective on my life and business. As we move through this year, I hope that my efforts here on this blog will be seen by all who visit as my little way of helping those who wish to enter or expand their interests in international trade to do so.

The import export business is not a get rich quick scheme - there is NO such thing. Importing and/or exporting are real businesses that require REAL knowledge, REAL work (more mental than physical, but still WORK) and a REAL TIME commitment.

The unfortunate fact for many people who look at the import export business as a get rich scheme is that it ends up having the exact opposite effect. Instead of helping you 'get rich' it ends up costing you a lot wasted time and in many instances a LOT of money only to find out you really have not gained the knowledge you need to succeed and that it is a business that requires a real time commitment which you have now wasted.

Over the years (now almost 22) that I have worked in the international trade business and provided import export business resources and training materials, I have been contacted by hundreds, if not thousands, of people who had they not believed the "HYPE" and performed a little "DUE DILIGENCE" on the individuals or businesses with whom they entrusted their hard earned money, they would still have their money and not feel they had been scammed or ripped off.

The SAD fact is, most people tend to fall victim to the HYPE of believing that by simply throwing enough money into a hyped up so-called training program (sometimes thousands of dollars), that it has to be good, right, or how else could they get away with charging so much? Or, they get entrapped into believing that because someone has a few pictures posted on their web site shaking hands with high ranking government officials (easy to get if you give enough campaign contributions!) or using religion to promote themselves as being trustworthy, then they must really be going to help you succeed.

Worst yet, I feel especially sorry for those good people who spend $8000 or more on so-called training programs that promise to have "coaches" available to help hold your hand as you skip down the yellow brick road to the promised riches.

These "so-called coaches" are nothing more than minimum wage employees or people who sign on to work from their home who know "absolutely NOTHING" about international trade other than what they are reading to you from the same printed materials that you have been provided as part of their program.

Our business could be offering ANY of the types of training programs described above and quite frankly we would be earning a lot more than the self-study courses we currently provide, however, I like to sleep at night and simply cannot bring myself to allow anyone to purchase something I do not believe in.

In the past few years, I have spoken with at least 6 or more people who had spent their hard earned $8,000 or more on some of these so-called training programs and simply DID NOT GET WHAT THEY PAID THIER MONEY FOR.

One lady I especially recall offered to pay me a consulting fee to help her. After learning that she had paid the $8K plus to the other company, I asked her why she did not push them to get the support they advertised or get her money back. She told me that she had tried, multiple times, but she was unable to get either the support or her money back.

I am semi-retired now and I had to tell her that I simply did not have time to offer this type of one-on-one support and informed her, quite frankly, that if she had read our blog and taken our course she would have either been successful by now or at least she would still have $8,000 of her $8,500 she spent learning this business was simply not her cup of tea.

As a means of countering some of the scams and hype that are out there and "HOPEFULLY" helping people make a more INFORMED DECISION about their prospects in international trade I have attempted, over the past 4 years, to post as much free information on this blog as time allows.

A vast majority of the posts on this blog are "ACTUAL" questions I have received over the past 22 years of working in this business and my answers to those questions.

I try not to sugar-coat anything because NO COURSE, NO TRAINING PROGAM, NOR ANY COACH can guarantee you success in this or any business. And, quite frankly, I hope this post and the other FREE information in this blog would help steer you away from this business altogether if you were considering wasting your time and hard-earned money on one of the training programs described above.

After talking with thousands of people over the past 22 years, one of the conclusions I have reached is that most people are not ready to be business owners. Most people are trained from the time they are children to follow some leader, whether a teacher, coach, professor or BOSS who will make the decisions for them and tell them what to do so they receive a paycheck at the allotted time.

Making decisions, once YOU have learned how the processes work, is the real KEY to your success. NO ONE ELSE BUT YOU will have as much vested (i.e., profit) interest in whatever it is you are trying to decide about YOUR BUSINESS other than YOU!

If you have been provided with the RIGHT training, YOU will know who the subject matter experts are that you may need to talk with from the government or private business organization. EACH DEAL is going to be different, NO COACH or ME for that matter is a subject matter expert in ALL types of products that YOU may decide to export or import.

PLEASE read the above paragraph two or three times so you fully understand what has been stated!

Personally, I wish EVERYONE who purchases one of our International Business courses would succeed in the business to whatever level you desire and to which your abilities will take you, however, the TRUTH of the matter is, the VAST majority of people will not succeed.

Even though our training course is the best one I have found in my 22 years, neither it, nor we, can guarantee your success. There are simply TOO MANY VARIABLES including but not limited to:

How well you can communicate by phone or written correspondence (can I understand you over the phone or can you compose a professional letter, fax or email)?
How much time you have to devote to learning the business processes?
How much time do you have available to working your business?
How much patience you have in seeing your business through until you have your first success?
How good are you at making REAL LIFE DECISIONS?
What products will you choose to export or import (there are 10's of thousands and each may or may not have a viable market)?

With the above VARIABLES AND TRUTHS in mind, it HOPEFULLY is becoming quite evident to you that throwing thousands of dollars at a "coaching" program or following the lead of someone who carries their religion on their cuff as a means of separating you from your hard earned money, simply WILL NOT guarantee you success.

The SIMPLE TRUTH of the matter is, there are NO guarantees with this business or any business for your success, but by having a "SOLID" foundation of knowledge of how the business processes work and must be handled, you have a much better chance for success.

About 17 years ago I hitched our wagon (as we say here in central Pennsylvania) to ONE publisher of import export business courses because after reviewing just about everything else out there, and wasting a LOT OF VALUABLE TIME AND MONEY (sound familiar?) their courses were the BEST and MOST COMPLETE training.

In those subsequent years I have both purchased or received free review copies of competing training programs because they would like to get access to the 53,000+ visitors who visit our web site each month.

In 17+ years we have NOT found any other courses that provide as much VITAL international business information that you need to succeed in this business - period!

The VERY BEST method of getting this vital information into someone's hands has been a combination of printed books and CD roms up until about 2 years ago when our publisher took our advice and digitized everything and placed it onto CD Roms which both helped save paper and shipping costs and allowed you to carry your course with you, even when traveling.

The course materials we have chosen to offer for the past 17+ years provide you with the MOST COMPREHENSIVE and EASY to UNDERSTAND that I have found in 22 years in this business.

These course materials are not only TRAINING they are also a REFERENCE LIBRARY that you may access 24/7 on your computer. And, because the course instructions are updated about every two years, most of the questions that were asked via the ONE YEAR EMAIL CONSULTING SERVICE part of the program have been incorporated into those updates resulting and fewer after purchase questions after each update.

This is probably one of the longest posts in the Import Export business blog and I am taking the time to "TRY" to address MOST of the questions people have when they are considering entry into this business. By posting I hope to be able to refer you here and you will be able to FIND the ANSWERS to the MOST commonly asked questions.

Here are some more questions that most people ask when they call about getting started in International Trade are:

Question: How much money can I make?

Answer: Quite frankly, and quite HONESTLY, I do not know.

There are thousands of international trade businesses in this world and tens of thousands in the world - ALL are dealing with different products, many with multiple products and ALL with different levels of expertise, different levels of self-confidence, different levels of communication skills, so how can I, or anyone, give you and estimate as to how much money can be made?

A realistic and truthful answer is, you can make as little as NOTHING or as much as YOU are able to make by applying the knowledge you gain in combination with the abilities you bring to the table, the products YOU select to work with and ALL the variables that go into each and every business that operates on the face of the Earth.

Question: Can I call you to ask questions?

Answer: NO, there is an EMAIL CONSULTING SERVICE included with our courses that allows you to email a question that is not answered in the course materials to our publisher AND you can also CC (carbon copy) us a copy of your email question. Then, when our publisher replies, we will review their answer and if there is ANYTHING that I personally can ADD to their reply, I will be happy to do so.

But, let me elaborate because this is one of the BIGGEST downfalls of people who try to enter this business.

Many people believe, if they pay enough money or are promised a caring, fellow religious person is on the other end of the telephone, that their 'personal coach' possesses some VAST KNOWLEDGE of the International Trade business that spans every type of product and every type of situation that might occur and that faceless person cares enough about "YOUR" business decision to give you the right and definitive answer you need to proceed.

The fallacy of the "coaching staff person" with other training programs is your belief that the coach you are able to talk with on any given day (rotating work from home or minimum wage staffers) have the answer to your individual question.

A question, that if the training materials been updated constantly, should have been covered in the training materials in the first place or should have instructed you where you can get a "REAL" SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT answer and not waste your VALUABLE TIME giving you their 'UNEXPERIENCED" rendition of answer gathered from the same training guide they have provided you, more often than not.

Do I or our course publisher have all the answers? NO and quite frankly, no one does.

But, if this post has helped you UNDERSTAND the TRUTH about international trade business (not opportunity, BUSINESS) and you decide to NOT buy our course or any import export business course, then I say GOOD because that means you really may not have been ready for this business and it may have also saved you up to $8,000 or more and a lot of wasted time.

If, however, after reading this post, you are still interested in pursuing what you may be able to accomplish in international trade, then I sincerely HOPE this post will have convinced you of the NEED to take little more time to perform DUE DILIGENCE on all course providers, INCLUDING US using the FREE due diligence resources posted on our company page.

The courses described on our website are, in my humble opinion, the BEST resources to help you help yourself to learn this business, like I did.

Getting close to the end of this post, I like to relate how amusing I find it when people call me for answers to questions about getting started. They seek my advice and counsel to answer questions that are covered in our courses. They want the BEST advice from an experienced international business person but when I inform them the answers are covered in the course materials, they are either unsure of their own abilities to read and comprehend them or they really do not value the actual information they called or emailed me in the first place? Puzzling and both amusing at the same time.

This concludes my 2010 New Year's Day post, I hope you have found REAL VALUE in taking a few minutes to read it and in closing, I hope you and your families have a Happy New Year and may it be a prosperous and healthy one!

Ron Coble
Coble International Business Help Center

Import Export Business Answers

2009-10-10T07:10:00.000-07:00

Question about Exporting to Jamaica.

message: I have a family member that is living in Jamaica. We are trying to find out the laws of me buying stuff here in the US and shipping them to Jamaica where she can sell out of a store. I just need help finding out if i need a license and if so what type. Are you able to help me with this question? Please let me know.

Answer:

You are asking a question that could have many potential
answers.

Most of the time, there are no licenses required to ship
something from country to country unless it is considered
hazardous like chemicals, weapons, etc..

If you are talking about large, container size shipments, then
you should talk with a freight forwarder to assist you. If you are
talking about boxes that can be shipped via the post office, you
can talk to someone at a reasonably sized post office.

If it is small enough to ship via the post office, it will most likely
be the cheaper way to both ship and get through customs. See
many times there are no restrictions or fees other than shipping
from the country a product ships from but there are fees (customs,
duties, etc) that are due by the buyer upon receipt.

You may also find some information posted at the US Postal web site at www.USPS.com - there is usually a customs form
you have to complete at the Post office showing what is in th e
package and the estimated value (this is how the receiving
country ends up taxing or charging customs).

As an example, we used to sell an automotive product on our
web site and in Canada, they charged about $25 on a $150 valued
item which was about 16 to 17% of the items value.

Fresh food items often require special handling due to bugs,
spoilage, etc..

Hope this will help get you pointed in the right direction.

Ron Coble
International Business Services

How To Price A Product

2009-09-04T10:45:00.000-07:00

Pricing your products or services is one of the single most important marketing decisions that business owners must make. Especially if you are using the Internet to market your products and/or services because time waits for no business when dealing with the speed of cyberspace. Potential customers have instant access to tons of information and your competitors are a mere mouse click away.

You must get the price right... the first time because in the digital marketplace, there are very few second chances. "Make Your Price Sell!, The Masters Course" helps you turn your website visitors into pricing experts.

This FREE course provides your website visitors with the strategies and info they need to determine the "Perfect Price." This course details background pricing theory, profiling target markets, key business models and the importance of a product or services perceived value, and much more.

These factors represent the big picture for your visitors to consider. The perfect price is most important when you are actually at the point of selling and monetization is merely the 4th of the four-step CTPM process. Here is a break down of the ultimate online success equation...

Right Processes + Great Products(or Services) + Perfect Price = Customer Satisfaction

You may download your FREE "Make Your Price Sell - Masters Course" by clicking on this link.

International Business Information

2009-08-28T07:58:00.000-07:00

Import Export Business Question:

I am interested in the import/export business. I only what to be an agent, at this time. I would like to know if I locate the buyer, where do I get help to close the deal and make a fee for my efforts.

I have been to export/import site's I have a lot of this information from export.gov and us export.gov

This information is helpful but you can have all the information in the world if you don't know the steps to process.. it's no good. I have plenty of contacts; I have done my home work. I was told that the freight and banking information is important and the freight companies part, helps with the paper work.. send me information. I have a lot of the information already, that's where I started!

I am looking for your help to refine the process. as I am more detailed oriented.

What is our first step? etc... I have a list of manufactures etc... I want to do a deal. as an agent 1st then move up the latter. So what ever product I can move as an agent, without the licensing part, (at this time) I'm in. I have a list of buyers also. but we need to know the preliminaries; evaluate opportunities, product , shipping, country, pricing, etc..

Import Export Business Answer:

I understand exactly where you are at - I was there 20 years ago - I
only wish the Import Export Toolkit self study course we offer had
been available then as we make it available now - see details here:
Starting An Import Export Business

The course provides you with the step by step you are seeking - yes,
some of it may be redundant to what you already know, but if you are
seeking step by step, then the toolkit is your best resource.

This person never followed our advice in getting a comprehensive self-study course and about two weeks later emailed us again with the following request:

Follow Up Question:

i have a diamond deal i would like so help on

Our Answer:

Sorry cannot help you on this one except to say, BE VERY CAREFUL.

Most diamond sales are locked up through the big diamond buying companies and
this is very much a closed market just as Oil, Urea, Sugar, Precious Metals, etc..

These type of deals are generally foisted on those who have little or no knowledge of
the import export business but who have a lot of interest in getting rich quickly and easily - sorry, there just is no such thing in this industry or any for that fact.

FOLLOW UP COMMENTS:

The above exchanges illustrate what I call "Blinded By The Hype". This person does not view the import export business as a business, but views it as his lottery ticket where he can make a quick score and sit back drinking margaritas on a beach somewhere for the rest of his life.

Literally, he would be better off buying lottery tickets because he is not serious about going into business and at least when he buys a lottery ticket, he really does have a chance of winning something as opposed to losing everything he owns and maybe more if he follows the yellow brick hype path that he apparently is doing.

Comments, criticisms, suggestions are always welcomed!

Ron Coble
Coble International Marketing Services
http://www.importexporthelp.com/

100th Post - Import Export Business - Is It Really For You?

2009-07-19T16:20:00.000-07:00

Why an international trade business offers import export training courses?

This is the 100th post to this blog - I am baring my soul (so to speak) as to why an international business offers import export training courses - I hope this post will help you make the final decision as to whether import export is for you or isn't and why it is important to make INFORMED decisions, both before, during and after starting your business.

In the learning phase of my own business in the late 1980's, I did not have the HUGE advantage that the Internet offers you. I had to make innumerable visits to the library which was about a 20 mile round trip.

I spent hundreds of hours there researching, reading, copying. I spent hundreds of dollars on training materials that were extremely outdated (that was the 80's and the materials were written in the 60's and 70's). I wasted thousands of dollars on postage sending inquiries to trade leads that were so outdated it was almost enough to make you want to quit.

I visited with international bankers, department of commerce personnel, actual live importers and exporters to gather as much information as I possibly could.

Because of all the expenses of trying to learn this business piece meal, an idea came upon me one day that some people might be interested enough to pay for reports that compiled all this research into a current newsletter and thus the information part of my business was born.

The newsletter drew the attention of a publisher in Washington DC (at the time) who published a newspaper filled with trade leads each month. I agreed to sell his newspaper along with our newsletter after I tested the leads.

The first lead was for Organic Fruit Juice. Although the lead was about 2 months old I called the buyer and he advised me that only one other person had contacted him. He was definitely still interested and asked for quotes.

Off to the library, I researched and found 6 companies that produced it. I contacted 5 and was rejected - they were not interested. The sixth and last was. I had to pay a local machine shop a dollar a page to send and receive each page of a fax (this was 1988 remember).

I faxed an agreement to the producer after we agreed to terms by phone, they signed and faxed the agreement back and I then put the two parties together. Only two sales ever resulted from that deal but I was paid approximately $1,000 for about 3 hours of work/research.

This does not mean you will make that much on your first deal or that little, it is presently purely to document our first export deal.

Our business evolved and about 1993 we were contacted by a publisher of an import and export business course. After having such a bad experience with those I had purchased, I wanted to review it before agreeing to sell it (this was ll by mail order at the time).

I was thoroughly impressed with both the course and with the publisher. Since 1993 we have been offered the chance to market just about every other export/import course there is on the market and after reviewing them, nothing comes remotely close to the vast amount of information presented in such a manner that it is easily understood.

Because of our experience in the industry, our publisher has implemented many of the suggestions that we provided. Many of the questions and answers that were received during these 16 years have been included in the updates made to the course materials which averages about every 2 years.

Quite frankly, the revenue from the sale of these courses only represents about 5% of our total annual revenue and if it were to end tomorrow, it would hurt but it could easily be replaced with other revenue streams.

So why do we continue to offer the courses? Several reasons:

There are many people out there who are like I was 21 years ago - people who have a sincere interest in the international trade business but do not know how to go about getting it in a manner that is easy to understand and not go broke or spend hundreds of hours like I did.

There has been a proliferation of offerings that are out there with the advent of the Internet - some ranging from as little as $10 to others ranging $8,000 or more and I know in my heart that the courses we offer are the BEST based on my personal review and 21 years experience.

Many of the people described above will end up calling or emailing me and rather than taking trying to explain the same processes over and over and over, they have a comprehensive course that is not only training but a resource library for the entire term of their business.

There has to be training available that is not too complicated like many courses are that will discourage you before you ever take the first step and a course that is not so outlandish in price that you have to take a 2nd mortgage (if you can get one) for the promises of some boiler room operator/trainer who has absolutely no real life experience in this business and in my 21+ years of experience I have yet to find any course that is better - if I did, it would be posted to our web site tomorrow.

The Import Export Business is just that - A business! It is NOT an OPPORTUNITY that will magically transform you into a super worldwide success. This is a REAL business that without the serious application of WORK by YOU will not provide you with anything by and of itself!

This business is NOT for everyone (bet the boiler room operators whose weekly commission check depend solely upon selling you their $8000 plus 'program' will never tell you that)!

Here is a list of people who will have a problem succeeding in this business:

Those who cannot write a sentence or paragraph in basic English (sorry but English is the main language of international trade).

Those who will not pick up the phone and call someone and be able to speak English well enough that the other party can understand them - if the truth offends you, then I have save you from a lot of wasted money and time.

Those who need a coach or camp counselor who they can call and cry on their shoulders when they cannot get a buyer or seller to talk with them - when in reality the camp counselor/coaches by the $8000+ programs are nothing more than boiler room operators with the same printed material in front of them as you have in front of you - this is all part of business - the buyer or sellers in the world are not waiting for you with baited breath so you can tell them about the "certificate" you now possess as if that really means anything in this industry.

Those who are unable to make a decision for themselves even after they have been provided with all the details and processes that are necessary for them to make an informed decision - they are not ready to be in business for themselves, they need a job where they have a boss who will tell them what to do for 8 hours.

Those who think an exorbitant price somehow translates into something being better - they think well if it costs that much, it must be good, right?

Those who are too lazy to perform due diligence (read our company page for instructions) - if you are going to invest $8,000+ in the belief a company is what they say they are, spend a couple of hundred and fly out to their location, see their "warehouses" (I find it amusing that some people expend more time checking us out for an investment in a course that is less than 5% of the $8K+ program)

Those who, even after they perform 'in-depth' due diligence, still foolishly throw their $8K+ at a dream that is sold to them by a commissioned salesman/woman with absolutely no experience in the industry.

I wish everyone who purchases a course from us would be an incredible success, but the sad fact is probably less than 5% ever follow through and take the first step of action necessary to achieve any success.

If you think the $8K+ programs offer you a better chance, give me a call during normal business hours at 717-292-5763 - if I am in the office I will gladly tell you how to do a very simple google search to find the thousands of now inactive web sites that others who have taken the $8K+ path have followed. I just did this search today and quite frankly I was amazed at how many there are but before you call me - DO YOUR OWN DUE DILIGENCE and if you are really cut out to be in business for yourself, you will not need to bother calling me because you will have already made the right decision.

The courses we offer will provide you with everything, step-by-step instructions on how to succeed in both importing and exporting - the success factor is what looks you in the mirror each morning.

If any of the above has offended you, well let's say in this area of Pennsylvania, we have an old saying the goes "if the shoe fits, wear it!" If it took this as a slap up along the side of you head and you are offended and you forget about this business all together, then I have accomplished my goal as you simply are not ready for this business.

If however, you are the type of person who says, great, finally someone who tells it like it is, no bull shit, someone who not only talks the talk but who has walked the walk, well then you are ready for our course and for being in business for yourself (as long as you can handle the oral and written communications).

Bottom line, we offer the courses we do because our experience tells us that they are the best - we could earn 10 times what we do if we opted to sell the $8K+ program (and believe me they would love to get exposure to our 53,000 monthly visitors) but quite frankly, I would rather lose that 5% of income and not replace it with anything if their program was the only choice available. That would free up more time for me to spend with our rapidly growing grand child.

That is it for my 100th post to this blog - I hope you have found it to be both helpful and enlightening, comments, criticisms are "always" welcome (you do have to register with blogger.com to comment, however).

Thanks for visiting and taking the time to read what I hope is one of, if not the most, thought provoking post since we began this blog.

Ron Coble

Web Wholesaler - New Product & Merchandise Sources

2009-06-28T08:50:00.000-07:00

Web Wholesaler is the leading B2B publication for e-Tailers, Dropshippers, Online Marketplace Sellers, Store Owners/Buyers and Wholesalers.

Web Wholesaler offers the latest in new products and merchandise sources, ideas and statistics on what is selling online NOW, as well as up to the minute news and information on industry trends, e-business growth and management strategies, and methods for increasing your revenues.

Web Wholesaler is complimentary to qualified professionals
Geographic Eligibility: USA
The publisher determines qualification and reserves the right to limit the number of free subscriptions
Offered Free by: Sumner Communications

http://importexporthelp.tradepub.com/free/wbw/prgm.cgi

Gardening Equipment Supply Importers

2009-05-30T07:42:00.000-07:00

Being that it is Spring here in the Northern Hemisphere, I thought it would be appropriate to focus your attention on Gardening Equipment, Gardening Supplies and Lawn and Garden Furniture Importers.

If your company or any of the companies you represent manufacture lawna and/or garden equipment, supplies or furniture, then you need to review details of this commodity specific trade directory that provides you with details on over 4,000 garden equipment importers, lawn equipment importers, gardening supplies importers and patio equipment importers from 143 different countries who import garden equipment, lawn equipment, gardening supplies, plants, trees, agricultural chemicals, garden chemicals, irrigation equipment, spraying equipment, greenhouses, patio furniture, outdoor lighting, and tractors. Just follow the link below:
Lawn And Garden Equipment - Furniture and Supply Importers

Now for any of you folks who are into gardening and would like to read all that you can about garden plants, garden supplies and general gardening information, I would like to personally recommend that you check out this web site for all your Gardening Tips - Plants and Supplies

Have a Great Weekend!

FREE Online Training Series

2009-05-15T18:37:00.000-07:00

Maybe you’re like many of the people I know.
You’re just waiting to hear the dreaded words that
you’re being laid off. And if this thought hasn’t
crossed your mind, you’re either one of the lucky
ones, or you are just plain ignorant.

Don’t be fooled! It’s a tough market right now, long
standing businesses are closing their doors, people
are losing their jobs, families are struggling to make
ends meet.

As a result, smart people are searching for something
they can do online, in their own time, in their own
space, with no one peering over their shoulder to
make sure those keys are ‘atapping’. ;oP

If you’ve ever thought about selling physical products
online, my friend, Chris Malta & WorldwideBrands,
has the answer for you.

And it’s f.r.e.e.

Learn about dropshipping the right way.
http://www.importexporthelp.com/recommends/dropship-focus.htm

Chris is the Founder and CEO of WorldwideBrands.
He and his company have been in the business of teaching
how to start selling physical products online. He teaches
about dropshipping, wholesalers and a WHOLE lot more.

Over the years Chris found that so many people were going
about setting up their dropship relationships all wrong.
He was just telling me how he hears from tired, frustrated
people who just need a break.

Some of the people he hears from have been caught
by the guy in the middle, acting as a wholesaler,
trying to catch a quick buck from an unsuspecting
person who is just wants to make an honest living online.

Chris’s frustration must have rubbed off on me because
frankly, I’M TIRED OF IT!

Like Chris, I’m tired of people being lied to. I’m tired of
hearing of dirt bags who are stealing from people who
are just trying to get by, and I’m tired of the scum of the
Earth who can sleep at night with this on their conscience.

“So, what can I do about it?” you ask?

YOU can decide not be one of those suckers who
believes in the overnight millions in your bank account.
Deep down you know that everything worth anything
takes time, so PLEASE don’t fall for it.

Even if you’ve not decided whether or not selling online
is right for you, I strongly suggest that you take a look at
what Chris is giving away.

We WANT to give you a break. That’s why when Chris
came to me asking to tell my friends about this I had to
jump on board.

Chris is GIVING you one of his educational products,
Dropship Focus. A $97 valued product jam packed with
dropship education.

That’s right, you won’t have to enter your credit card
number, or even your PayPal address.

Times are tough, and we don’t want you to spend money that
you don’t have.

That’s why it’s completely, 100% F.R.E.E.

Go Here:
http://www.importexporthelp.com/recommends/dropship-focus.htm
Watch the first video, and enter your name and email
to get access to the remainder of the product.

Feel free to share the love… pass this email on to your
friends, your coworkers, anyone who needs a break.

Wishing you abundant success!

Ron Coble
http://www.importexporthelp.com/

FREE Import Product Sourcing E-Magazines

2009-05-11T09:06:00.000-07:00

FREE Import Product Source E-magazines -

Here is a list of the FREE Product sourcing E-magazines
that are available to you -

Auto Parts & Accessories
Baby & Children's Products
Computer Products
Electronic Components
Electronics
Fashion Accessories
Garments & Textiles
Gifts & Premiums
Hardware & DIY Products
Home Products
Security products
Sports & Liesure Products
Telecom Products

Inside your e-magazines, you'll find:

New product profiles -
Including pictures and top-line specifications

Insights into new
development and trends in your industry

Updates on pre-screened
suppliers in China and throughout Asia

Click Here Or On The Picture Above To Apply For Your FREE Import Product E-Magazines

The Key To Your Long Term Import Export Business Success

2009-04-29T19:42:00.000-07:00

I want to once again emphasize the importance of the Internet
in the long term success of your international trade business.

Whether you are trying to market the products you are importing
or attempting to promote or market a manufacturer's product
to a worldwide audience, the Internet is your LONG TERM KEY
TO SUCCESS.

Our little web site has generated hundreds of thousands of
dollars in sales, not only for the import export business
services we offer but for the manufacturer's that we have and
still do market on our "little web site that could".

The total of the value of services and products that we have
marketed through our simple little web site actually amounts
to well over SEVERAL MILLIONS of dollars.

I am talking about overall value of the products that the
manufacturer's or service providers we represent as agents
have sold (or we have sold) because of our SIMPLE LITTLE WEB
SITE.

The success of our web site began with the purchase of a
course back in 1998. I attribute 75% of our success to what
I learned from that course (the other 25% is my own tenacity
and perseverance).

But, I needed that course to motivate and show me what I
needed to do in order to make the Internet work for me.

Now that same course, which came in two large 3 ring binders
has been made available online and if you were scared to
spend a little money to develop your future using the Internet
due to the lack of money, then you need to read this to the
end because I've got something that's going to ELIMINATE that
hurdle for you...

I've just heard from my friends at the Internet Marketing Center,
(the publisher of the course that got me started using the
Internet as my tool to bigger success than I could have ever
imagined) and they've agreed to let me offer you a 30-Day Trial
to their #1 best-selling profit system,
"Insider Secrets To Marketing Your Business On The Internet!"

So for one full MONTH, you can have UNLIMITED access to the same
step-by-step Internet business-building system that I, like
thousands of others have already used to make their fortunes
online.

http://www.importexporthelp.com/recommends/imc-coursetrial.htm

Activate your trial today and you will uncover easy techniques
for creating winning websites, even if you have NO technical
experience... for driving throngs of visitors from around the
world straight to your new site (for FREE)... and MORE.

Using the techniques revealed in this course our traffic to
our site quadrupled within a week of implementing them and
our website now receives well over 50,000 visitors monthly.

During your 30 day Trial, you can use as MANY of these
proven profit-generating strategies to create YOUR new
site as you *want*!

This is your best opportunity to "test drive" the Internet
system that's created more six-figure incomes than any
other -- WITHOUT RISK.

To activate your 30-Day Trial of "Insider Secrets," just
follow this link:

http://www.importexporthelp.com/recommends/imc-coursetrial.htm

In LESS than 5 minutes, you'll have unlimited access to this
entire system, so you can start building YOUR new, highly
profitable international business website TODAY!

http://www.importexporthelp.com/recommends/imc-coursetrial.htm

Ron Coble
Coble International Business Services
http://www.importexporthelp.com/ (the little website that could)

P.S. My IMC friends are telling me that they have not decided
how long to offer the 30-Day "Insider Secrets" Trial offer,
so if you want UNLIMITED access to this entire step-by-step
blueprint for making money online, you'll need to activate your
trial NOW:

http://www.importexporthelp.com/recommends/imc-coursetrial.htm

Free Trade Magazines

2009-04-20T12:09:00.000-07:00

Here are TWO free trade magazines that you should apply for -
the first is available for International distribution and the second
is only available for distribution within the USA:

License Global is the only source for trends in merchandising
for consumer-based products.

License Global, the leading trade publication
for intellectual property licensing and merchandising, provides
award-winning editorial focusing on business deals, trends
and marketing strategies on every category of consumer
products.

Geographic Eligibility: International

Click Here To Apply For A FREE Subscription to License Global Magazine

Next is a valuable publication that has provided us with
many great ideas for our web site over the past few years.

WebSite Magazine
is a FREE print publication offering practical advice and helpful
tools from industry experts to help any website owner achieve
Internet success.

Until now, there has not been a magazine that caters
exclusively to the business of running a website.
Website Magazine has tapped premier talent in the Internet
industry for our content and each and every issue will
contain practical advice and insights for website owners.

Geographic Eligibility: USA Only and it is available to
New Subscribers Only and
TO QUALIFY FOR A FREE SUBSCRIPTION, YOU
(or your company) MUST HAVE AN ACTIVE WEB SITE.

Click Here To Apply For A FREE Subscription to WebSite Magazine

Import Export Business Tips

2009-04-07T11:23:00.000-07:00

Free eBook Excerpt

"42 Rules of Cold Calling Executives"

Understand the dynamics of a cold call and how you can manage those to get results.

Many sales professionals find cold calling difficult and unpleasant, yet the 42 Rules gives them ways to redesign their thinking, approach, practices, and tools, to get the best possible results. The full eBook contains some of the fundamental principles Mari Anne Vanella has developed over the course of her career. Her clients and her own company use this approach to execute the top performing programs in the industry for the past seven years.

This eBook excerpt includes:

Introduction
Rule #2
Rule #3
Rule #4
About the Author
Prepared by Superstar Press; Sponsored by Super Star Press.

Geographic Eligibility: Selected International Countries

Offered by: Super Star Press

Get your FREE Excerpt at:
http://importexporthelp.tradepub.com/free/w_ha05/prgm.cgi

------------------------------------------------------

American Business Lists are available by SIC code, by state,
by city or by just about any parameter you need for the
success of your direct marketing campaign.

We just finished 51 new web pages for the ImportExportHelp.com
web site under the new directory of "targeted business lists".

You can review these 51 state (and Washington DC) web pages
through their links at the bottom of our main
American Business Lists web page. Check them out today!

------------------------------------------------------

Glo-bis.com can provide you with due diligence reports
on any company in the world - any size, any location,
any industry.

Globis is the source for the US Dept. of Commerce's
reports on Chinese companies. The basic report is
under US$250 and is always freshly investigated, so
the info is as current as possible. See more info,
sample reports, and pricing at http://www.glo-bis.com/

------------------------------------------------------

DIVERSIFICATION - that is the key to success and long term
viability of your international business.

A little known marketplace that you may be able to sell
your goods to is the United Nations.

The most effective way to approach the United Nations is to understand that despite the fact that UN headquarters is in New York, the UN has the same status as a sovereign country. So, selling to the UN is similar to selling to the Canadian government or any other public sector export market.

The most effective way to approach the United Nations is to understand that despite the fact that UN headquarters is in New York, the UN has the same status as a sovereign country. So, selling to the UN is similar to selling to the Canadian government or any other public sector export market. Being a US company confers some strategic advantage as US firms can visit the UN headquarters easily, but beyond that, competition for UN contracts is global and intense. Canada and the Scandinavian countries are key competitors, operating with strong governmental advocacy and financial support for their industry. Inside the UN, there is an international culture, so ithelps to be a seasoned exporter.

To get started, get on the UN Procurement Service website and bookmark it:

http://www.un.org/Depts/ptd/

Your may Download and print out their General Business Guide, which serves as a roadmap to the UN agencies, what they buy and how they do business:

http://www.iapso.org/information/publications.asp

The Procurement Service requires that suppliers be solid, solvent, stable. The UN can’t afford to have a vendor go bankrupt in the middle of a Peacekeeping Mission, so the Procurement Division requires vendor registration.

------------------------------------------------------

Money-$aving tip: If you take an empty toner
cartridge to Office Depot, Office Max or Staples,
they will give you a credit of approximately $3
towards the purchase of anything in their store.
Note: most have a limit of one trade per visit.
Also, call to verify that the offer is still valid
at your local office supply stores - I just called
our local stores and it was still in effect. So,
save your cartridges. If you have to buy another
cartridge, take in the old one for a nice credit.

Another Money-$aving tip: When your toner cartridge
starts running low, leaving streaks in the
middle of your pages, simply remove the cartridge,
shake vigorously from side to side, and re-insert
it. You will get another couple of hundred pages,
minimum. This strategy is especially important
when you don't have a spare cartridge on hand,
and you are printing out something that need
completed immediately.

Import Export Business Resources

2009-03-21T17:44:00.000-07:00

This is a quick post on a Saturday night before I go watch a movie.

First, if you are searching for a product to export or sell domestically here
in the USA, you should look for a product line that has the backing and
support of the US Government and what better product than one that
is certified to meet their standards?

The US and the world are looking for products that support the GREEN
movement towards saving and supporting and not destroying the Earth.
If you are not familiar with environmentally friendly cleaning products
and how they are just as effective as other harmful chemical based
products, you should really take a look at the green cleaning products
company that is advertising on our web site.

One you have viewed their ad (thru the link above) then go to their
main web site and if you have been looking for a line of products to
market in the USA or internationally, this might be it or if you live
in a country where you think these products would sell, contact the
company and see what kind of deal you can work out with them.
Do it now!

Next, if you have followed my posts here (and you really should
because I have really published a great deal of information FREE
that others would charge you for (see the ARCHIVES by date on
the right side of this blog) then you know that I STRONGLY
encourage you to use the INTERNET to promote your products,
whether you are working as an exporter or importer.

The INTERNET is the marketplace to the WORLD. Whether you
are promoting your own product or marketing another company's
products, the INTERNET is your VERY BEST resource.

The course that got me started about 10 years ago on the net was
only available in a cumbersome 2 ring binder of over 1000 printed
pages and cost nearly as much to ship it outside the USA as the
course itself cost.

ALL THAT HAS CHANGED WITH THE NEW 2009 EDITION!

Everything is now available on a password protected web site and
includes FAR MORE than they could have ever included in the
printed version AND due to the savings on paper and shipping,
the price has been lowered by $97.00.

This Internet Marketing course is AGES ahead of the one I
purchased 10 years ago and includes the very latest and greatest
information YOU NEED to market products or services via the
INTERNET.

Literally, OVER $100 MILLION in international business
experience, strategies, and Internet marketing secrets have
gone into this new 2009 version which is availabe to YOU
WHEREVER you live in the world (it is best to have a broadband
connection due to the number of vides that are included).

The $100 MILLION is what the publisher has done in
International Business using the very same strategies they
reveal to you. Strategies you can use to market your export
or import products and/or services.

Here is the link to FAR MORE information than ever before
at nearly ONE HALF the price and available IMMEDIATELY!
http://www.importexporthelp.com/redir/imc-course.htm

Last, but certainly not least, if you do the SMART THING and
begin using INTERNET MARKETING to promote your export
or import products, you need an easy to use and inexpensive
web site building system with hosting, domain registration and
search engine optimization help built into it.

The best best WEB SITE BUILDING system that I can
recommend to you gives you all of the above and MORE and
right now, they have a special deal going on that you should
check out before it is closed. Literally, you get about 5 times
the value of what they ask from this web building system when
you look at the resources they provide all-in-one package to
help you build and get your web site ranked in the search
engines where someone will find it - go check them out now
while their special is still in effect:
http://www.importexporthelp.com/recommends/best-website-building-system.htm

That is it for this Saturday night - I could not contain myself
and keep the information until Monday, so go check out the
above resources and be sure to visit all our archived pages
for free valuable real-life experience lessons from the world
of import and export.

Ron Coble
Coble International Marketing Services
http://www.importexporthelp/

Recession? Depression And The Import Export Business

2009-03-10T13:29:00.000-07:00

One of the main questions I get from people who call or email
me asking about starting an import export business involves the
current state of the economy.

Quite frankly and honestly, it is bad and probably going to get a
lot worse before it begins to turn around. Personally, I do not
believe that either political party can do much about it and since
most of them are lawyers, they have little, if any, real business
experience or comprehension of how or what it takes to operate
a business.

If you are contemplating starting a business, make sure it is one
you are really interested in because it is going to be a lot tougher
to succeed now than it was just 6 months ago.

The Import Export Business is not for everyone. YOU must decide
if it is really what you want to do and if it is, make the decision
now to move forward and do it.

If you wait for a politician or government statistician to tell you
when is the right time to get started or when we have "turned the
corner", you are simply allowing another human being dictate your
life's future. A human being, that is what makes up government,
remember that - they are as subject to mistakes, miscalculations,
fraud, waste and abuse and any of those deadheads being paid
billions of dollars while their corporations are going bankrupt.

Take control of your life now, whether we are in a recession or
depression and move forward based on YOU and the intelligence you
were given.

So with that said, I wanted to post an excerpt from a book titled:

The Davis Dynasty by John Rothchild the subject of which is the
Great Depression of the 1930's:

Rothchild writes: "The Great Depression didn't destroy commerce,
any more than the mislabeled Dark Ages destroyed culture.
Zippo lighters, Frito corn chips, Skippy peanut butter and
Three Musketeers candy bars appeared on retail shelves in 1932."
People still started businesses. Revlon got its start in 1932,
for instance. "Life went on. People went shopping. Some bought rugs.
Even in the worst of times, Art Loom stayed in business."

Art Loom was the creation of the Wasserman family. It sold rugs.

Recession? Depression?? Don't let it or some government employee
(remember they serve you and I) dictate how you will live out
your life in the coming months and years.

OK, here is one of the latest Questions and Answers from my
email collection:

QUESTION:

One of the first products I wanted to trade in construction
materials is cement. I found a company I would like to deal
with because of their size and many locations
around the world. After some weeks of weeding out the
wrong people to talk to, it seems I may have stumbled on
the right person.

If you have the time, I am sending my correspondence with him
and is from last to first of our communications.

I am wondering if you might steer me in the right direction.

All I would need is FOB pricing, depending on quantity,
from any particular manufacturing site they may have around the world.

Do you think he may be asking me for actual orders I may have now,
or just the type of relationship I wish to create with them?

ANSWER:

First, you have encountered one of the primary reasons why I
do not like email as a means of making initial contact. It would have
been much more reliable and faster to just pick up the phone and
call this gentleman and it would be my recommendation for any
follow up to either get to an agreement or find out they are not
interested.

Second, you have to decide what it is you are, i.e., an EMC generally
buys the product for resale to your importing customers - an export
agent/broker works on a commission basis by bringing the two parties
together and earning a commission from the seller/manufacturer.

Third, back to number one - this gentleman is unsure of what it is
you are asking or requiring of him and his company - a short 5 minute
phone call would clarify that and you would soon know if he is
interested in working with you.

*** NEW ADDED NOTE not in original correspondence - I cannot emphasize
enough about making initial contact by some other means other than
Email. For some reason, our ISP does not like the email
domain name of a long time business associate of ours - despite
approving his domain and email "multiple" times, our ISP puts all of
his emails into the sp*am folder. Some ISP's are even more strict and
delete them outright.

The first part of this question was answered because there had been
multiple attempts to make contact with the supplier by email and
there was then some problem in the supplier misunderstanding the
communication. A quick phone call will alleviate this type of
delay and also help eliminate any misunderstanding of what you are
proposing.

One additional suggestion - in your calls and correspondence - try
to refer to your business in the plural - we - it just sounds more
businesslike than using I.

Bottom line is that email is a very poor means of making
initial contact, but great means after you have established a
point of contact to deal with. I use both methods but rely more
heavily on phone for initial contacts.

---------------------------------------

Ron Coble
International Business Marketing Services
http://www.importexporthelp.com/

International Business Questions And Answers

2009-02-28T07:46:00.000-08:00

Import Export Business Question:

We are to Norwegian export agents based in Vancouver, Canada,
who would like to find potential buyers in Norway for Canadian
and American companies. Even though one of us has a bachelor
degree in International marketing & export, we still have some
questions about how things really work in the real world.

Due to our limited resources, we have just started a home-based
export business, and we think we have everything in its place now.
However, we are a little bit unsecured if we as agent need to be
responsible for the shipping of the goods and custom declaration?

Could some companies require this?

Import Export Business Answer

Even though you have a degree, I would still suggest you get a copy of
our Exporters Master Training package since it contains "real world"
information, not just theory - you may review details at:
http://www.importexporthelp.com/trdspm1.htm

I will attempt to answer your question below, but you should also take
several hours and visit our import export business blog at:
http://importexportbusiness.blogspot.com
*** look on the right side - down a bit - to find the dated archived posts -
not all will be of interest but the majority are questions and answers
that we have received and answered over the years which will be
beneficial to you.

Now to your question - working as an agent/broker can involve you doing
everything that is part of the exporting process from taking care of the
shipping, customs, financing, etc. if that is what you agree to do or
what your client requires in order to do business.

You can also work the business (again subject to your negotiated
agreement with the supplier/manufacturer) in a manner like I do where all
I do is generate or identify potential buyers for manufacturers and pass
those qualified leads on to the supplier - upon completion of a sale to
the parties I introduce them to, I get paid a commission which is far
less than the one I could earn if I wanted to handle all the follow up
details as you have described.

Some purists would say I am a finder, some would say I am nothing
more than a lead generator and I would respond, call me what you will
but as long as they have my name or my company's name spelled
correctly on their checks, I could care less what anyone else wishes
to call me.

So bottom line, it comes down to you and the supplier and what
involvement you wish to have in the process - the more involvement,
the more you can demand in payment, the less involvement and the
you can expect to be paid less - you have to weigh the offset of the
time you spend on a deal versus what you will get paid for that time.

Hope this helps and again, I strongly recommend you and your
partners get the Exporters Master training package - it is something
you all may use and continue to use if and when you hire any employees
or take on any new partners in your business.

Good luck and I wish you success!

Ron Coble
http://www.importexporthelp.com

Import Export Business Questions & Answers

2009-02-17T08:57:00.000-08:00

The following is a list of Questions from someone who was considering the Import and Export business and my answers to those questions (NOTE: the questions are numbered and my answers are preceded by several asteriks)- one point of reference - I refer to "absolutes" quite a bit - giving an an "absolute" is an impossibility when it comes to starting and succeeding in a business:

AS i'm doing my due diligence search i have some questions about the import and export Business.

1. Between import and export, which one will give me a quicker result? I understand it might be up to my speed and learning ability, but give me an average: which one of the two gives better and quicker result, i know i cannot do both at the same time, i'm trying to see which one of the two that i should try first.

**** Your first absolute which I cannot provide - each business is different - each person entering these two businesses are different and bring with them different personalities, backgrounds, abilities, and resources. Personally, I feel (not an absolute) that there are more opportunities within the exporting business, especially right now with the US dollar being at historic lows - this makes our (USA) goods less expensive to buy by foreign importers.

The exporting business also offers (in my opinion) more opportunities to work it indirectly, i.e., without buying the product with your own funds or legal financial obligations. Both the course publisher and I recommend that you start out working as an export agent or broker where you match buyers to sellers, after you have an agreement with the seller to pay you a commission. In my many (almost 20) years in this business, I have not seen many (if any) similar opportunities to work the importing business as an agent or broker.

Most often in importing, you have to put money out for the goods and be totally responsible for their shipment, then the marketing, sale and shipping of those products.

2. Once i order the import or the export package for the price listed on importexporthelp.com websites, is there any other money that will come out of my pocket soon or later. I'm trying to keep up with my budget, i don't want to order either package, then later i find out that i cannot keep up with the business because i'm short on cash.

**** There is only one other resource that we offer that I recommend - a subscription to the online Export Leads service as described here: http://www.importexporthelp.com/trderl4.htm

I think you should have a dedicated fax number but that does not mean you need an extra phone line - as a bonus when you order the Exporters Master Package - I send you some agreement formats, a letterhead format and some information on resources I use in my own business, such as a dedicated fax number that emails me my faxes and only costs $34 a year (not month, a year). Beyond that would be your phone bill and I can give you the name of my long distance service if you like - I have been with them for about 8 or 9 years now because they have the best domestic and international rates I have found.

3. i'll be willing to do whatever it takes for that business to work, i have tried so many other online businesses, they were not working for me, but this one will: That's why i'm doing all the possible research before i get deeper to it. Would you tell me about how much time i will need to spend on the business (weekly).

**** Another absolute - sorry but I simply cannot give you an answer - no one can and if they do, get it in writing, signed and dated.

4. how guarantee is the business for everybody who do what they suppose to do, including research and all that. Does this Business requires for you to have luck.

**** Another word for guarantee - absolute - patience, persistence, perseverance, tenacity - all go into your ability to succeed in this business or any business - I am quite frank here, if you are looking for guarantees and absolutes, then you probably should never go into business for yourself.

5. How many transactions can you hit in a month after you get used to the business? Can you do more than one transactions at the same time?

**** Working the business as an agent or broker, I would encourage you to be working on several possible deals (if you have the time) not every (for that matter, not most) deal will come to fruition. I live in the Pennsylvania dutch area and they have a saying around here - "dont put all of your eggs in one basket" - the same goes for starting out and building your business - dont get so focused on one deal that you ignore other potentials, but by the same token, don't get spread too thin by trying to do too many. How many is too many, when you do not have time to follow up with what you need to do to see even one come to fruition.

6. is it going to take me 3 to 6 months to learn the material or is ti going to take me 3 to 6 months before i make my first cash.

**** Sorry, another absolute - too many variables are in play - you, the marketplace(s) you choose to pursue, your ability to communicate, whether over the phone or in writing or possibly in person. How can I be a judge of that? Sorry, but I will say that minimally, if you were successful on your very first deal, you would still be looking at 3-6 months before you would collect your commission from the manufacturer - simply, it takes that long for everything to process through, i.e., shipping, negotiation, customs, payment by the buyer, etc..

7. I know i'm going to have to reinvest some of my profits into the business, how would i be able to do that?

**** Working the export business as an agent or broker really does not require a lot of reinvestment - a phone, fax (which you can do with software in your computer) , fast internet connection, these are the basic tools, except for maybe this - I do recommend that if you get a manufacturer to sign you on as their export agent/broker (one of the hardest parts of the business actually) - then I recommend that you use every means possible to promote the manufacturer's products, but in a generic manner so the potential buyer(s) have to come through you to learn more. I strongly recommend you develop a web site that promotes these various products in a generic manner, under your name or your business name and use either search engine optimization or pay per click advertising to promote their products. Most manufacturers allow you to use their product pictures, etc on your web site since you are helping to promote their products, even though generically.

Hope the above Q & A's will help you make a more informed decision about the Import Export business and whether you are ready to make the investment of time and money required to get started.

Ron Coble
Coble International Business Services
http://www.importexporthelp.com/

Import Export Business And The Economy

2009-01-21T06:26:00.000-08:00

Question:

I am going to order your program next month, but I was wonder, if the economy is such a crappy mess, is Import/Export Business hard to get into?

Answer:

Thanks for the opportunity to answer your question. It is one that
I thought I had answered this question in one of my blog posts but
upon reviewing it this morning it does not appear that I have done so.

I will try to keep my answer from getting political, but it is difficult
not to reference some of the reasons our economy is in the mess
it is in.

First, let me address your basic question. Is the Import Export
business hard to get into?

The quick answer to your question is Yes, it is a hard business
to succeed in whether the economy is good or bad.

In fact, it is hard to succeed at any business at any time and
the economy does play a role in how difficult it will be and
right now, it is much, much more difficult to succeed in ANY
business.

The fact that this business, or any business, is difficult to
succeed at is a fact the "hype" masters of the Internet and
opportunity magazines seem to ignore. It can best be summed
up in a Chinese proverb I just posted last night in our
Import Export business blog - the proverb is this -

“Fish see the bait, but not the hook. Men see the profit, but not the peril.”

International trade or trade between businesses in different
countries has been going on since the beginning of mankind.

There have always been obstacles placed in front of them and
these obstacles can be in the form of mountains, rivers, oceans,
thieves, and the biggest thief and obstacle of all, governments.

Governments create obstacles whether through the manipulation
of their economies or supposed protection of the industries
within their borders from less expensive goods coming in and
threatening the status quo.

Governments try to regulate things that most often will work
their way through, if the government would just let their hands
off of it in the first place.

We human beings have a tendency to believe that the persons
making up our governments have a better understanding of how
business should be run than the people who are actually working
in that business, yet most government employees and elected
officials have "never" run a profitable business.

And the people who make up our governments are just as
subject to greed and envy as all human beings and in some
instances I believe they are more subject to it.

Sorry, I am getting off on a rant here but in regards to starting
your business, you must decide if the Import Export business
is really what you want to do. It is not a hyped up business
"opportunity", it is a serious business and what our course
offers is "training" on how to start that type of business.

If you are serious about starting an import export business,
then do not wait around for the economy to turn, get started
learning what you need to know to succeed now. Then when
the economy finally does turn around, you will be that much
ahead of everyone else who sat on their hands waiting for
an imagined government solution.

One of the biggest obstacles to international trade, right
now, is financing or letters of credit.

Banks no longer trust each other, both within the USA and
from one country to another and this means you or a
manufacturer you work with as an agent or broker is going
to have a much more difficult time getting a buyer to get
a letter of credit and secondly have the manufacturer's
bank accept that letter of credit (loc).

The course will discuss financing options and where you
or the manufacturer can go to get financing if that is the
only method by which a buyer can make a purchase.

There are other alternatives to financing depending upon
the amount of the purchase. Credit cards often have a
line of credit large enough for a buyer to make the purchase
if an loc is not an accepted solution. Direct bank wire
transfers are still another option.

If a buyer really has a market for the product(s) you are
helping a manufacturer sell, the buyer will find a way of
paying for them.

So the bottom line, in answer to your original question,
is YES it is more difficult today than just a few months ago
but if you are serious about your interest in this business,
then begin learning the "how to" now and you will be in
a much better position to capitalize on the turnaround
once it comes.

If you make the decision to get started now, do not wait
for a turnaround, begin looking at markets that are still
moving goods. Food is a commodity that will always
be needed and the USA still leads the world in food
production.

In finishing this LONG answer to a SHORT question,
let me cite how difficult trade can be and then begin to
think about how much easier a path you have than
the following example.

Over the past weekend there was an episode of the
show "Globetrotter" on one of the PBS stations. I
missed the first part of it but saw enough to impress
me on how easy our lives and businesses have it
in comparison to other people in the world.

The 'globetrotter' on this episode was a young lady who
(when I picked up the show) was walking across a barren
desert in an African country (I think it was part of the
Sahara).

She had joined a trader's caravan from a desert oasis
where they grow fruits and vegetables. The people and
their camels were walking across the desert as these people
have done for thousands of years to take their goods to
a city where they would trade their goods for "salt".

The salt is required for both the people and their animals
due to the intense desert heat.

Most of the people in the caravan were walking and the
narrator stated how they would cover 50-60 miles a day!

I think they said it was a 17 day round trip and the city
where they traded their goods for salt was about 600 miles
from their oasis.

Once they got to the city, they made their trades and
loaded 4 very heavy pillars of salt on the camels and
began their journey back to their oasis.

This is what these people have been doing for thousands
of years and in my humble opinion, nothing that is currently
facing us in regards to the economy even comes close to
the hardships these 'traders' face on a continual basis.

So, yes, it will be more difficult to succeed in the import
export business today than just 6 months ago, but if this
is the business you wish to pursue, then you need to make
the decision that once you learn the "how to" that nothing
is going to stop you which brings up another proverb or
old saying I once heard many years ago.

"Let the dogs bark but the caravan moves on"

You can liken that to the first caravan that ever made that
long, hot and fateful journey across the Sahara. There
were probably more people telling them it would fail than
succeed but in the end, the caravan left those barking dogs
behind and moved on.

Hope this helps you make a more informed decision.

*** There was a brief follow up to the above answer that I
remembered a few days later that I had intended to include,
that additional answer is as follows:

Just wanted to follow up with you since there was one other
comment I wanted to include in the previous reply shown below.

It basically involves how in today's lousy economic environment
and a general distrust of investing your money with any
institution, the very best thing you can invest in is yourself.

Once you gain knowledge about a new subject, the investment
will last for a life time. No one can ever take it away from you
and the growth of that investment is solely dependent upon
you and the actions you take, not an investment advisor,
banker, etc..

So if there is any ONE place I would recommend for someone
to invest right now or for that matter, any time, is in educating
yourself.

For further information about Import Export or other International
business resources, visit the International Business Help Center
and be sure to take your time looking around the 285 web pages
that make up this premier web site.

Ron Coble
Coble International Business Services

Import Export Business Questions And Answers

2009-01-13T19:01:00.000-08:00

QUESTION:

Why would someone buy from me.

There are businesses out there, with a lot more talent for finding sources of products then I have right now.

They must have a network that would give them the resources, that I just found. What would prevent them from going to the same sources that your information provides me.

ANSWER:

First I have a recommendation and it is meant in the kindest of way - you need to get more confidence in yourself before you ever begin even thinking about going into any kind of business.

We do not provide personal coaching or mentoring - a good book that I read about 29 years ago was titled "The Magic of Thinking Big" - that book and a couple of the Dale Carnegie books helped to boost myconfidence which is something I think you need to do based on your email.

Once you make the step into a business, look at what you can do better than your competition. There will always be competition in every business, you cant run from it and you cant hide from it, it will find you.

If you are unsure of your abilities, start out by selling stuff on Ebay - you learn how to deal with people (customers), learn about shipping, customer service issues, etc. and you can do so basically free or for the low fees ebay charges you to sell there.

Here is a link to a web page in our site where you may download an ebook (no cost) about selling on ebay (I paid $29.99 for it about 6 years ago) it is now available to you at no cost:

Free eBay Auction Selling Book

I hope you will take my suggestions and follow through with them and once you have a greater confidence in yourself, move up one step at a time in business and instead of worrying about the competition, watch them, learn from them and see how you can do better than them.

QUESTION:

I received my Import Export tool kit today and it all looks very good. I will be getting my office and stationery set up this week. What do you think of using a P.O.Box on business cards and letterhead?

ANSWER:

The publisher of the toolkit has used a PO box since I first started working with them back about 15 years ago and it has not seemed to affect their business credibility.

The positives of using a PO box is not having people show up on your doorstep, unannounced, as I have over the years (I can think of at least 3 with one being on the afternoon of a July 4th during a family picnic).

Sometimes if the PO box is through a UPS mail center or place like that, you "used" to be able to use their street address with just a #111 behind it but after 9/11 I am not sure that is allowed any longer.

Again, I will defer back to our publisher, they have not encountered any problems that I am aware of so it would seem to not be detrimental to your credibility as I have always thought that it might.

You will have to weigh the options and make the decision yourself, as I stated above there are positives and negatives to both sides of the argument and making that decision is all part of you being in business - decisions, decisions.

Last, here is a little proverb I came across in a newsletter recently. It seems to be extremely applicable to most people when it comes to their thoughts of starting a business:

“Fish see the bait, but not the hook. Men see the profit, but not the peril.”
-- Chinese proverb

Are You Ready To Start An Importing Business?

2008-12-19T11:37:00.000-08:00

Here are a few key questions to consider when thinking about
starting an importing business to help you learn if you are ready:

1. How well are the products selling that you are considering
importing?

2. Do you have a market already established for those
products?

3. If you do not have a market, i.e., buyers, how are you
going to get those buyers to first learn about your products,
then buy those products?

4. Do you have the expertise to deal with the foreign
languages of the countries you are thinking about importing
from?

5. How will you pay or finance for those products?

6. Are your trusting enough (or naive enough) to send your
funds to a company you found on the Internet simply because
they have a nice looking web site and best of all, the lowest
prices you have found yet?

7. Have you ever heard of the term "due diligence" and do
you know how to perform it on potential suppliers?

8. Have you ever sold anything? Products or services via
any method of marketing?

The above list are just a few of the questions you must
answer to yourself when considering the start of just about
any business, but especially one that requires you send
your hard earned funds to someone in another country.

Consider this post a reality check. If some of the things
in this post upset you, good. I would rather give you a
reality check before it costs you any serious money.

Most people have more dream than they have experience or
willpower. They want the fast track to guaranteed success
and do not want to face the realities of business that
do not match their dreams.

If you have ever considered starting an import business,
you better have solid answers to the above questions.

The primary one - who are you going to sell to? Second,
do you have "any" business experience??

When someone calls me on the phone asking about starting
their own importing business, the first questions I ask
are those listed above.

Most answer that they do not have any business experience
or if they do, it does not involve the actual sale of the
products they are thinking about importing.

The recommendation I give them in such instances is as
follows:

If you do not have any experience and/or you do but
you do not have an established market - then start selling
stuff on eBay.

By stuff I mean the excess things you have personally
accumulated, that same stuff owned by your relatives and
friends.

Selling "stuff" like this teaches you the "how to" of
the largest marketplace in the world - eBay.

It also gives you an opportunity to experience the "thrills"
of doing business, such as

Experiencing a sale or no sale

Researching how to price your products (based on previous
sales of the same or similar products)

Setting up a no cost merchant account with eBay's paypal
service and joyously paying fees to both paypal and eBay.

Dealing with shipping and handling.

Dealing with customers, communications - customer service
if they are not happy with the "stuff" because you did not
write a thorough description or provide a photo that did
not detail every nook and cranny of the stuff.

Dealing with non-paying customers.

Not trying to scare you away from your dreams but simply
giving you a path to learn from that does not cost you
a lot of out of pocket funds.

Now for some resources that my experience and research
over the past 7-8 years has discovered to be the BEST
I personally have found -

If after reading the above you realize that you are
"not ready for prime time" in starting your own importing
business, then this first resource is a place you should
visit and take advantage of "every FREE resource" they
offer to help you decide if their paid service would
help you launch your business.

This first link will take you to a search engine like
facility within their service where you can search for
suppliers of various items to see how many they have in
their database system:
http://www.importexporthelp.com/redir/odssd.htm

-- just enter the name of the product(s) in the search
engine space, submit and wait for the results - the
search results will bring up various listings, one
will say "Import Buys" that is the one to focus on -
see the number out to the right that is underlined,
that is the number of suppliers they have for the item
you searched for - click on that number to expand and
see further details.

If you see that their service would be beneficial to you,
then get it - if you are not finding enough suppliers to
make it worthwhile then two things - 1) do not get their
paid service or 2) realize that maybe there is a reason
for not finding the product(s) and change the name or
learn from this that maybe you cannot sell that product
because it has minimum requirements that you would not
be able to handle or there are exclusive distribution
rights that simply exclude others from selling it.

A bit of advice on products you are thinking about selling -
don't get so fixated on one or two products that you
spend all your time seeking to find a supplier for it.

Understand that MOST of the BIG BRAND NAME products
have "EXCLUSIVE" distribution agreements and you are
NOT going to the attention of a manufacturer since you
are just getting started. Once you have a market
base established, then you 'may' be able to get them
to answer your phone calls, but you better have a
huge market base.

Now once you have that market base established and you
feel financially successful enough to purchase a much
larger (maybe container load) of a product, then it is
time to beging considering Importing it yourself.

This is when you are ready for our Importing course
and should get it so you understand all the aspects
of importing before you even make your first foreign
inquiry. Here is a link to our course:
How To Start An Importing Business Course

Last, but certainly not least, getting back to selling
on eBay - I am going to give you the link to our web
page where you may download, for free, an ebook that
I purchased a few years ago and found to be extremely
helpful when I made my first foray onto eBay to sell
some of the "too much" stuff I had accumulated over
my lifetime. Go visit and download at:
Free Ebay Selling Auction Book

Now the most IMPORTANT thing that selling on eBay
provides you is learning how to take ACTION! Beyond
dreaming about starting a business, by actually selling
(or attempting to sell) your first "stuff" on eBay,
it causes you to take that ALL IMPORTANT FIRST STEP -
ACTION.

This brings me to close this post with something I
read recently that Walt Disney once said - it applies
to you feeling overwhelmed with all of the strategies
you want to try - some people (maybe you) get so
completely overwhelmed that they put off getting
started for far too long.

Walt Disney put it simply like this:

"The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing."
Walter Disney

Hope this post will help you decide to "BEGIN DOING".

Ron Coble
International Trade Marketing Services
http://www.importexporthelp.com/

More Recession Busting Money Saving Ideas

2008-11-11T15:24:00.000-08:00

I recently posted some additional recession busting ideas into another forum and thought I would pass them along to the readers who visit here. Rather than for business, these are for general money saving or living and spending more smartly.

One of the ideas they had posted was about borrowing a DVD from a friend or relative. I have one that I think is even better -- go to your library and see their DVD selection. Most libraries, even the smaller ones in our area have a large selection of many of the latest TV series and movies and they allow you to take them for up to 3 weeks which allows you and your family or friends time to watch them as well.

Another idea on the other forum talked about how to buy "name-brands at a discount" and I stated that I was kind of amused by the "offer name-brands at a discount" advice and then later in the 18 suggestions it is suggested to stop trying to keep up with the Jones? I say, who needs "brand name". In my 50 something years on this planet, I have "never" searched out a brand name piece of clothing and quite frankly I could care less what the Jones, Clarks, Williams or anyone else thinks about whether my clothing has a logo on it.

Their number 5 suggestion was about buying with cash. This is a good suggestion but when the savings rate in the USA is a negative 1% this is probably not a feasible suggestion, right now. But, it is one that will probably be a growing trend and then my suggestion would be, if you do pay with cash, ask for a discount. Many people do not realize that vendors pay 3-5% for the privilege of accepting credit cards so by you paying cash and they have to wait a few days until the money is deposited into their accounts by the card company.

By offering them cash, they get paid immediately and saving 3-5% so why not share some of those savings with you - all you need to do is ask.

Just recently, both my father and I needed new furnaces. I had to make all the arrangements and upon learning that my father needed his replaced, I asked the salesman if he would provide my father and I with any type of discount since he was making a second sale to the same family and a rather easy one at that. He immediately offered $100 off the total for each of us. All you have to do is ask.

Their numbers 11 and 12 ideas referred to keeping up wtih the Jones again which reminded me of something I heard or read about 30 years ago. I am probably butchering this but it went something like this "stop spending money on things you can not afford to impress people who deep down you really do not like and in most instances who probably do not like you". If you have to "impress" the people you think are your friends, then they really are not much of a friend.

Their number 18 talked about going to discount stores and I stated that maybe I had missed it somewhere in the other 17 but I did not see shopping at consignment shops or salvation army stores or garage/yard sales. My wife and daughter have found many items of clothing for each of us that are clean, sometimes still have the original store tag on them. These stores most often support good causes and provide incredible bargains. In fact I am wearing a flannel shirt right now that cost all of $3 that still had the store tag on it and would have cost $12-15 in Walmart or some other discount store. I have worn it many times in the past year and have yet to have anyone ask me why I am wearing something from a consignment shop to which I would probably answer because of the $10 I have in my wallet.

One last suggestion that is a two parter. Go check out eBay. There are many buy it now bargains or even auction bargains you can find there on all kinds of things, including clothing. If you do not want to sit around the computer constantly bidding, you can put in what the highest price is you will pay for something and let their system put you in the bidding queue, then go about your business.

The second part of this suggestion also involves eBay. Start looking around at what you have accumulated and what you no longer wear or use. Sign up for ebay (its free) and begin selling the stuff off. Not only will you free up some space in your home or apartment but you will also be building up some cash for your safety net or other purpose.

Maybe I am like this because I was raised by two parents who lived through the Great Depression of the 1930's and had instilled in me to not waste money, to save money, pay cash if you can and don't go into great debt and most of all you don't need to give a damn about what someone else thinks about you. If they don't like what you wear or how you look, well then they are the ones who have a problem.

Hope these ideas will help you.

Ron Coble
http://www.importexporthelp.com/

Recession Busting Ideas For Your Business

2008-10-28T09:03:00.000-07:00

Many people are justifiably concerned about the state of the world's economies. I decided to post some ideas on how to save on necessary expenditures within your business (or personal lives) that I have utilized (and continue to do so).

I have always operated my small business with the mindset of "is this expenditure justified"?

I do not believe that "one size fits all" and that conducting your business or personal life in an exact manner as someone else does theirs will result in the same of similar conclusions. However, by trying to maintain a frugal approach to doing business, we have never gone into debt for the business and this has helped the business through various low periods, including the one we are currently experiencing.

Here is a short list of things I routinely do (or have done) in my business that have helped conserve revenue include:

1. Shopping for office supplies at dollar stores.

2. Reviewing the sales flyers from office supply stores for sales on items that may not be available at dollar stores - I found an incredible deal on an new laser printer last winter after Christmas that was less expensive than buying a new toner cartridge for the old printer.

3. Consolidating trips - try to schedule as many of your local trips to the bank, office supply store (dollar store) or other business related travels into one or two days a week.

4. Get rid of your dedicated fax line (if you can) - I saved about $4-500 a year by getting rid of the dedicated land line for receiving fax messages - I found a service that provides a "dedicated" 10-digit fax phone number for our business (without extensions) that costs only $34 the first year and $24 each "year" thereafter.

When someone sends a fax to our number, it is translated into a PDF document and emailed directly to our email inbox. I can then open it, read it and print it out (if necessary) - most of the time it does not require printing so it is simply stored on the PC hard drive.

This also has saved us on paper costs since we used to receive daily spam fax messages which were a total waste of paper (and time).

5. Using credit cards that provide a rebate on all purchases.

6. Taking advantage of online shopping for business services or products - I saved $70 this past Winter when shopping for tax prep software - I found an Amazon vendor who had it for half the price, then Amazon had a special deal on opening a credit card with them which gave us $30 against our first purchase and we ended up getting the $75 software for $5 and it included free shipping.

7. This one is something we actually did about 5 years ago - our business was based primarily on direct mail from 1988 through 1998 - we used to spend thousands of dollars a year on paper, printing, envelopes and postage. As our Internet marketing expanded we also saw a steady decrease in the ROI from direct mail.

Approximately 5 years ago, we ceased using any direct mail as email and our web site had tripled our revenue from what direct mail had ever achieved. Electronic marketing is saving a lot of trees. ** One suggestion I would have for a business that is still utilizing direct mail is if they do not mail enough to warrant a bulk mail permit, I would be buying the "forever" stamps to inventory for future mailings and especially prior to the next increase that is sure to come.

8. Diversification - we have always been flexible and constantly searching for products and services that complement what we already offer. Some services that once produced thousands in income a month now produce hundreds, some services that produced thousands are no longer offered, this is simply the ebb and flo of the marketplace. But because we have been constantly researched and discovered new service or product vendors, we have been able to maintain our level of sales and so far this year our revenue is slightly ahead of last.

Remember, Benjamin Franklin's saying, a Penny saved is a Penny earned and whether it is pennies or dollars, this proverb still holds true today in business or personal finance.

Hope this list of suggestions, based on my own experience, will help others weather the current economic storm.

Your comments and or ideas are welcomed.

Ron Coble
http://www.importexporthelp.com/

Business Introduction By Email - Sample Business Quote

2008-09-25T10:42:00.000-07:00

Although I am against wasting your time attempting to make your initial business introduction by email, if you insist on doing so, then try to make that email as professional as possible.

Professional correspondence, whether by mail, fax or email is your key to success or failure in a matter of seconds.

I have posted a very good example of a business introduction email that provides pricing and product information on our web site. I have also critiqued it's positive and negative points to help you take this example and improve upon it.

Hope this helps your business: http://www.importexporthelp.com/business-strategies/sample-business-quote.htm

Export Business - Do You Need A License?

2008-09-22T08:42:00.000-07:00

Approximately 70% of the people who are consindering entry into the Import Export Business have questions and end up either calling or emailing them to us.

One of the MOST COMMON questions is a very BASIC question that CANNOT and IS NOT answered by any one publication or web site.

The question is:

DO I NEED A LICENSE OR WHAT TYPE OF LICENSE DO I NEED?

On the surface this seems like a simple question, however, when you question someone as to what exactly they are asking, there are TWO PRIMARY questions that emerge:

Do I need a license (or business license) to operate this business from where I live?

Disclaimer: Nothing in this web site should be construed as Legal advice, any information published here simply illustrates the publisher's knowledge and experience in the subject being discussed. If you are so concerned about this question that you will not feel comfortable without seeking advice from an attorney, then you should do so. Additionally, if you follow the examples of my own business, as described here, and you encounter some sort of legal problem of any sort, understand that the decision to follow my methods are your decisions and the burden of any consequences are yours and yours alone.

Now with that out of the way, this question "generally" means, do I need to Incorporate or file any legal documentation with my state or county government? My answer is stated above, neither I nor any business or governmental organization or web site can tell you what the requirements are for doing business in your little area of the world.

The world is made up of countries that have provinces (or states) each of which have smaller jurisdictions (or feifdoms as I like to call them) such as counties, then within those there are often small town or townships (at least here in the USA).

So can you begin to see why there is NO ONE AUTHORITY on this subject since each little fiefdom has it's own little set of rules and regulations and employees (bureaucrats) whose jobs are dependent upon gathering as much in the way of fees from the unknowing as they possibly can convince to send them those fees.

I have been operating Coble International for 20 1/2 years now. In the county of York Pennsylvania is all I can speak for here - there are no requirements to file a "ficticious name" application with the county if you are using your own "given" name (in my case COBLE) in the name of the business.

I honestly cannot remember back 20 1/2 years ago, but I "think" that I did call the county government office and ask to speak with the party that registers businesses. I explained to them the name of my business, nothing more. If you never served in the military you probably never heard the expression "Never volunteer for anything", well the same goes when you are dealing with bureaucrats, NEVER volunteer information that they do not ask you for or about.

Get the full name, extension, office of the bureaucrat and the date and time you spoke with them and keep it in your records should you ever need it. You probably never will but it does tend to have them give you the right information when you are talking with them.

If they sound like they are not sure, ask to speak with their supervisor. Remember they work for you but they tend to believe it is the other way around.

Our import export business training course, especially the export part, recommends you start out as an agent/broker. Although the course will show you everything you need to know to build up to being an Export Management company, it is not recommended that you start out at that level.

That being said, as an Export Agent/Broker, you most likely will be operating from a spare room in your home (as I have done for 20 1/2 years) thus you will not be putting signage up, having tractor trailers backing up to your home, etc., I think you get my point.

In other terms, you are basically a home based business, doing everything via your Phone, Fax and computer. Don't get into details with the bureaucrats, they don't have a clue what you are doing, they are simply trying to get you to agree to a specific "job title" of some sort so they can find a need to charge you some sort of fee.

The ONLY "LICENSE" I have every required in 20 1/2 years in this business is a "SALES TAX LICENSE" because we were doing direct to consumer sales via our web site for one of the automotive products we were marketing internationally for a period of years and in the first 15 years we also purchased the import export courses and processed the orders, shipped them, etc..

We were required to collect Pennsylvania State Sales tax on any orders we sold to residents of Pennsylvania, thus we needed this license. In most instances, working as an export agent/broker, you will not be buying, inventorying and reselling any goods to anyone in your state, which may or may not even have a sales tax.

NOW THE 2ND PART OF THE LICENSING ANSWER:

If the person calling or emailing me is asking "do I need a license", if they are not referring to the above "general business license" question, they are referring to an "export license".

Here is where I refer back to the fact that we offer a training course that will provide you with "everything" you need to know in order to start and operate an exporting business. Whether that business is working as an export agent/broker on a strictly commission basis or working as your own export management company.

The course will teach you the Organizations, both government and private, that you need to deal with or refer your potential suppliers to (once you have a commission agreement with them).

Each type of product is different but in most instances an export license is not required, however, the organizations you will learn about in our course materials will advise you if a particular product does or does not require a license.

One additional note - if you are working as an agent/broker and matching potential buyers to sellers, in most instances, you should know what organizations can advise your supplier of the export requirements and the course materials teach you that, but in reality, as an agent/broker, it is not necessarily your responsibility to know.

I sincerely hope that this post will clear up some of the misunderstanding about business licenses and export license requirements. Bottom line, get the training materials because even if all you ever do is work as an agent/broker, you should have an understanding of the process and level of knowledge that your supplier/client can ask you who or what they need to do and you can assist them in a competent manner.

Ron Coble
International Business Center

International Business

2008-09-10T18:26:00.000-07:00

International business conjours up dreams of wealth and glory for may people in every part of the world and for good reason.

International business more often involves the B2B arena rather than B2C (business to consumer) and a business to business sales often involve huge numbers of products rather than single items sales.

Many would be international business entrepreneurs read about how a company became a multi-million dollar one overnight because of one international sale or an individual who earned huge commissions by closing a global sale for their company.

International business is all of the above and more, but what most of the 'hype-masters' do not tell you is that there is a great deal of work that requires patience, persistence and decision making.

I talk with would-be international business entrepreneurs every single day and the most common trait I encounter is their inability to make a relatively easy decision, even when the facts are clearing staring at them.

There comes a time when you either realize you are a decision maker or you realize that you should just keep going to your job every day, punching your employer's time clock and have someone who gets paid more than you, make your decisions for you.

The people I believe who have the most chance for success in this business are those who make the decision to get an import or export training course, either place the order online or call to place their order.

These sort of people are "decision makers" who are able to make a decision based on their own ability to read and understand the information that has been presented to them. This is the kind of decision making ability you need to succeed in international business.

It amuses me much of the time how people will call to get my advice which they must value or they would not call, right? Then when they are given the advice they so cherish, they never act upon it??

I actually had a lady call me recently from Canada - she wanted to get into the Import Export business but she wanted someone else to set everything up for her, get the business going and allow her to step in and take it over????????

I asked her, point blank, why would someone want to start a business, get it up and running and simply turn it over to you for a few hundred or even a few thousand dollars? She was a well educated lady, a teacher I believe, but she was living in her own little dream world.

Another amusement for me is when someone is really indecisive when on the phone or continues to ask questions in repeated emails information that is covered on our web site or in this blog. Some of these people are genuinely in bad financial situations and cannot afford (or so they state) the $160, $316 or $424 price for our international business courses.

My suggestion to them? If you have NO business experience at all, then get some by starting to sell items on EBay. By selling items on EBay, they can open their auctions up to the world bidders and they will soon be experiencing every aspect of doing international business.

They will be dealing with customer service, international shipping, language barriers, fraud, profits, accounting, literally every aspect of doing business but on a smaller scale that allows them to learn.

Most never take the advice they sought and simply continue to have dreams of international business grandeur that will somehow fall into their life without the need to make any decisions, do any work or expend any funds (almost sounds like some of our political candidate promises).

We get the "don't want to spend any money" international wanna bees from other parts of the world as well. They will send an email asking (sometimes telling, believe it or not) us to give them free importer listings.

I generally send them a reply that points them to a trade directory they can purchase, never to hear from them again. I soon will be testing a new tactic, again for my amusement - I will ask them to send me the value of what they are asking for in the form of products they are selling but in equal value to the trade directory they seek.

Think that will go over well?

It is kind of funny isn't it? These folks are seeking something they believe to have value to them and their business but not enough value to pay for it, when in reality one sale to one lead in a directory would more than pay for that directory?? What is wrong with this picture???

Is this what can be defined as a "dichotomy"?

I get phone calls all the time from people who have gotten themselves into some dire straits in import export deals. When I hear what type of situation they have created for themselves, I ask if they took any type of international business course.

They generally answer NO or well I read a book or two on the subject but that is not why I am calling you. I want you to wave your magic import export wand and help me fix what I was too cheap to learn how or why it would get them into trouble.

One guy had 5 container loads of food sitting on the dock and was paying storage fees that had already equaled the cost of the goods. He "thought" he was too smart and did not need anything more than the $29.95 book he had read about international business fortunes.

He had not gotten the approval he needed to bring food into the country from the Agriculture department. He did not apply for it until the food was landed. Guess what, the normal turnaround time for the food he was bringing in was 45 days and he thought I could wave the magic wand (like politicians promise) and get them to approve it today (or tomorrow).

Guess what, no one has that power and why would they use it for this guy if they did.

How about another guy who called and was worried because he had not heard from the supposed owner of a furniture company in Indonesia he was going to buying a container load of furniture from.

First question, again, what makes you feel qualified to import goods? did you take a course, read a book? No, I just found the company on the Internet and they had incredible prices and I knew I could make a fortune. Next question, let me guess, did you already send this guy your money.

Answer: Yes

I am getting too old to remember all of these fool tails but the two above stick in the part of my brain that I will always recall.

If you are a business owner, employee of a manufacturing company or an entrepreneur considering entry into the arena of International Business - make a decision, get step by step training in the form of one of our import or export training courses and pay for a lead service to separate yourself from 99 9/10% of the others out there and begin - take action.

The government, no matter which party wins the election, is not going to solve your personal and business problems, only you can make the "changes" you want in your life and/or in your business.

If you are reading this and do not take the advice, then why are you wasting your life's precious time reading it?? You either find value in the advice dispensed here or you do not and if you do not, unsubscribe from our B2B updates list and take this blog off of your bookmarks.

Ron Coble

Disaster For Most New Importers

2008-08-13T12:10:00.000-07:00

This post will hopefully help anyone or any
business contemplating importing products avoid disaster.

The disaster that most new importers experience is they are
blinded by the "hype" of great wealth and riches from
importing cheap, low cost merchandise and after their money
is sent, the merchandise is on it's way or already sitting
in their garage or storage facility, they reach the stark
reality of not knowing how or who to market it to.

When I am able to talk with one of these budding importer
entrepreneurs, I highly recommend to them that they develop
their market, before they go and buy a containerload of
products that they may end up having to sell for a nickel
or dime on the dollar - enter the disaster many actually
experience.

My primary recommendation for developing your market it
by selling products on Ebay. Learning what sells, what
doesn't. Learning the basics of customer service, order
fulfillment, order processing and shipping costs.

During the process of selling these goods on Ebay, they
learn the lessons of doing business that are truly necessary
to avoid a disaster of major proportions.

Now Ebay has made some very major changes recently and
quite frankly I believe you should take advantage of
several new F*REE videos that are being made available
before moving into using this huge marketing powerhouse.

Now the remainder of this update is from the publisher of
these F*REE videos and a brand new updated course on
marketing and selling via Ebay.

If nothing else, watch the videos and even if you do not
get their course (which I recommend you do) but if you
do not, you will still learn a lot of valuable information
about marketing and selling on this huge marketplace.

By the way, Ebay is not just for stuff up in the attic
or in the garage, there are many multi-million dollar
businesses that are selling their goods in this huge,
most highly trafficed marketplace on the Internet.

Now here are the details on the new course and F*REE
videos - you can skip the rest of the description and
go there right now using the following link or continue
to read more details - your choice -

http://www.importexporthelp.com/recommends/imc-auctiontips.htm

You could be making literally thousands of dollars a year
online WITHOUT even getting your own website... and you
can learn how to do it for FREE!

Let me explain...

Derek Gehl and his in-house team of experts have been spending
the past few MONTHS analyzing all of the latest developments
and changes at eBay, the world's biggest online marketplace...

... and they've applied what they've learned to create a simple,
three-step system you can follow to rake in a healthy chunk
of the $60 BILLI0N that exchanges hands on eBay every YEAR!

And the best part?

Derek's laid out the entire profitable system in a set of
training videos that you can watch RIGHT NOW for FREE!

First, he's going to reveal the number one mistake that nearly
EVERY new "eBayer" makes when they're getting started
(it's a BIGGIE, and it can stop you COLD from ever making
a PENNY)!

After that, he'll explain his secret three-step formula
for evaluating ANY item to determine if it'll be a HOT
seller... teach you how to find hungry markets that are
BEGGING to buy what you're selling...

... and wrap up this three-video series by looking at what's
new and different at eBay, and explaining EXACTLY how to
take advantage of the recent changes to start profiting
RIGHT AWAY (while everyone else is scrambling to get
up-to-speed)!

This system is FULL of secret strategies that virtually
NOBODY else knows about!

It's also been tested and proven by his own elite group of
eBay mentors, so you KNOW it's gonna work for you, too.

So if you want to learn how to start making SERIOUS money
online in the fastest time possible, without having to create
your own website (or if you'd like to add an additional
stream of income to an existing website), I highly recommend
Derek's three FREE eBay training videos!

Start watching them RIGHT AWAY by following this link:

http://www.importexporthelp.com/recommends/imc-auctiontips.htm

That is all for this update. Take care until next time.

Ron Coble
Coble International
International Business Trade Center

P.S. The sooner you watch these FREE eBay videos, the sooner
you'll be able to swoop in and start making HUGE profits
while your competitors are still struggling to learn about
all the changes!

http://www.importexporthelp.com/recommends/imc-auctiontips.htm

Free Renewable Energy World Subscription

2008-08-02T11:44:00.000-07:00

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Renewable Energy World provides authoritative articles, case studies and essential news on global developments in the renewables sector. Every issue includes features on wind power, solar thermal, photovoltaics and biomass. Regular coverage is also devoted to geothermal, energy storage, small hydro, and hybrid systems.

Geographic Eligibility: International (excluding USA, Canada, and Mexico)

Publisher: PennWell

Click Here To Apply For A Free Subscription

Industrial Market Trends E-newsletter - Free B2B Resource

2008-07-15T11:31:00.000-07:00

ThomasNet's Industrial Market Trends biweekly e-newsletter and its companion Daily Blog Alert provide timely topics on a variety of industry and vertical marketplace developments for engineers, plant/factory professionals, purchasers and general management.

ThomasNet's indispensable bi-weekly e-newsletter and/or companion Blog Alerts contain vital information on industrial developments, best practices, and market trends. Industrial Market Trends' concise report format consolidates essential marketplace news from across the Web. It's the only industrial e-newsletter you need to identify key trends and obtain the critical tips you need, in order to easily monitor the developments that affect you most.

Geographic Eligibility: USA, Canada, Mexico & Western Europe

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Best Business To Start In China

2008-07-05T17:07:00.000-07:00

I am often asked about what type of business would be best to start in China. Most people here in the USA and Canada are quite surprised whent they receive my reply.

The best business is one you can actually start and operate from the USA or Canada and it actually helps businesses both save money on their production and possibly stay in business.

Check out the full text of my answer here:

Best Business To Start In China

Import Export Business

Import Export Business Questions And Answers

Import Export Business And Trade Will Survive The Demise Of The US Commerce Department

Import Export Business News And Resources

Import Export International Trade Business News Updates

Import Export Business Q&A And Warning

Inspiration For Import Export Business Success

Import Export Business News Updates

Import Export Business Questions And Answers

Important Import Export Business Resource

Export Import Business Q & A

Import Export Business News and Views

Is US Exporting Climate Worse/Better Or About The Same

Import Export Procedures - International Business Resources

Online Trade Leads Board Memberships - Are They Worth It?

Starting An Import Export Business Q&A

REAL USA Importers And Their Suppliers

Import Export Business Do's And Don'ts

Get Real About Your Import Export Business

Import Export Business - Happy New Year 2011

More Import Export Business Lessons

Import Export Business Tips

International Trade Leads

Finding Buyers For Your Products

International Trade Perils

Open Letter To Import Export Business Entrepreneurs

Another Import Export Business Question And Answer

Import Export Courses Now Available Via Online Delivery

How to verify your Chinese Buyers, Partners or Suppliers?

Motivation To Succeed In The Import Export Business

International Business Resources

Importing Business Question & Answer

International Small Business Resources

New Import Export Business Question And Answer

More Import Export Business Start Up Questions

How Much Does It Cost To Start An Exporting Business

Promoting Exports Via The Internet

Import Export Business - 2010 New Year Message

Import Export Business Answers

How To Price A Product

International Business Information

100th Post - Import Export Business - Is It Really For You?

Web Wholesaler - New Product & Merchandise Sources

Gardening Equipment Supply Importers

FREE Online Training Series

FREE Import Product Sourcing E-Magazines

The Key To Your Long Term Import Export Business Success

Free Trade Magazines

Import Export Business Tips

Import Export Business Resources

Recession? Depression And The Import Export Business

International Business Questions And Answers

Import Export Business Questions & Answers

Import Export Business And The Economy

Import Export Business Questions And Answers

Are You Ready To Start An Importing Business?

More Recession Busting Money Saving Ideas

Recession Busting Ideas For Your Business

Business Introduction By Email - Sample Business Quote

Export Business - Do You Need A License?

International Business

Disaster For Most New Importers

Free Renewable Energy World Subscription

Industrial Market Trends E-newsletter - Free B2B Resource

Best Business To Start In China