Export Basics – Develop Your Plan

Export Basics – Develop Your Plan  [3rd in the series]

So the next step is creating an export plan – it is important for defining your company’s present status, internal goals and commitment.  Completing and analyzing an international ‘export’ business plan helps you anticipate future goals, assemble facts, identify constraints and create an action statement.

From Export Basics

• Do you have immediate business issues you must resolve before moving forward with an international sales strategy?
• Are your familiar with the key components of an effective export plan?
• Are you prepared to begin developing your plan using the guidance provided in Outline for an Export Plan.

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From the Basic Guide to Exporting:

The purposes of the export plan are (a) to assemble facts, constraints, and goals and (b) to create an action statement that takes all of those elements into account. The plan includes specific objectives, sets forth time schedules for implementation, and marks milestones so that the degree of success can be measured and motivate personnel.

The following 10 questions should ultimately be addressed:

1. Which products are selected for export development, and what modifications, if any, must be made to adapt them for overseas markets?

2. Which countries are targeted for sales development?

3. In each country, what are the basic customer profile, and what marketing and distribution channels should be used to reach customers?

4. What special challenges pertain to each market (for example, competition, cultural differences, and import controls), and what strategy will be used to address them?

5. How will your product’s export sales price be determined?

6. What specific operational steps must be taken and when?

7. What will be the time frame for implementing each element of the plan?

8. What personnel and company resources will be dedicated to exporting?

9. What will be the cost in time and money for each element?

10. How will results be evaluated and used to modify the plan?

The first time an export plan is developed, it should be kept simple. It need be only a few pages long because important market data and planning elements may not yet be available.

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Superior Freight Services, Inc can assist with questions you might have as you consider exporting your products. Please feel free to contact us at superior@supfrt.com