3 People All Small Business Exporters Should Know Video

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3 People All Small Business Exporters Should Know

Male: The majority of the nation’s exporters are small and medium size firms, in fact 97 percent, according to the latest available US census data. Even the smallest firms can global, but it’s tough to go it alone. In fact one shipping pro suggest that there are three people that all small exporters should know, and we want to know that person, he’s David Noah. David welcome. David: Thank you very much. Male: David’s here to explain why he is the president and founder of Shipping Solutions, a developer of exports software, David, thanks for being here. Who are the three people that every exporters should know? David: Well, it should be a freight forwarder, a local person who can help you with your, arrange your transportation. It should be an international banker at your local bank. And it should be the US Commercial service office in your area. Male: So what exactly a freight forwarder, what is that title mean? David: A freight forwarder is a company that arranges transportation for US companies. So it will arrange the freight, it will help you pack it. It will find you the cheapest way to get the goods from the US to whatever country that you’re shipping to. Male: So that’s logistics, right? David: That’s right. Yes. Male: Now, an international banker. If I’m a small company, I might be in a small town, is my local bank gonna have an international banker or do I need to go somewhere else for that? David: Well not every small bank will necessarily have an international department, but a lot of them do. International is a growing part of US economy, and more and more banks do have international banking departments. Male: And they’ll be able to help me with things like exchange rates, and… David: Letters of credit, making sure that you get paid for your goods in a timely manner. Male: Now the US commercial service staff. David: Yes. Male: Where do I find them, what are they doing for me? David: The US commercial service is part of the US department of commerce. There is an office in every large city in the United States. They’re there to help your company become successful exporters. They can answer your questions about exporting. They can arrange education for you and your staff about the export process. And they can even help make contacts for, with foreign clients that who could become purchasers of your products. Male: Sounds like great resource. Do we access them online? Do we need to talk to these people in person? If I’m starting, how do I, how do I want to get a hold of these people? David: Well you can find them on their website at the US department of commerce. Look for the US commercial service office in your area. It should be in the yellow pages in your local phone directory. And by all means, make an appointment, go in to see them. They’re happy to talk to you on the phone or meet you face to face. Male: Okay, I’m a small business man, I’m ready to get started, I wanna meet these people. How do we start the introductions? How do we go about this? David: Just show up and tell them what you want to do, they’re there to help you and, they want your business and they want to help you become a successful exporter. Male: Okay, well I want to be well educated, right, so I wanna do some research. So if I’m starting out, where do I go to look for research on exporting and shipping? David: Well a great place to start is with the US commercial service office. They know where you can get training. They can help answer your most basic questions. They’re just a great place to start. Male: Okay, we all make mistakes, god knows, I’ve made more than my share, and it’s nice that we can learn from other people’s mistakes whenever possible. So, what are some of the common pitfalls that you’ve seen for the start up, for the novice exporter? David: Well, I see the biggest mistake that an exporter will make is treating an export transaction in the same as if it is a domestic order, a domestic shipment. There are things that, that are simply different about the process. Getting paid is different. Shipping the goods is different, arranging for insurance to ship your goods. All these things are different and plus there’s a variety of export regulations that a lot of small and medium size companies simple aren’t aware of. And you set your self up for a lot of problems if you are ignorant of what those regulations may be. So, you definitely need to get some training when you start the process and again those three people are the people to check with and the people who could help you find the information you need to know. Male: Now is shipping insurance one of those logistics things that this freight forwarder will be able to help me with? David: Yes, absolutely. Male: Very good. David Noah, thank you for joining us here today. David: Thank you ….. I appreciate it. Male: SBTV.com, David’s the president and founder of Shipping Solutions, developer of export software. You can learn more about his company at www.shipsolutions.com. We of course are SBTV.com, where small business is our only business.

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Male: The majority of the nation’s exporters are small and medium size firms, in fact 97 percent, according to the latest available US census data. Even the smallest firms can global, but it’s tough to go it alone. In fact one shipping pro suggest that there are three people that all small exporters should know, and we want to know that person, he’s David Noah. David welcome.

David: Thank you very much.

Male: David’s here to explain why he is the president and founder of Shipping Solutions, a developer of exports software, David, thanks for being here. Who are the three people that every exporters should know?

David: Well, it should be a freight forwarder, a local person who can help you with your, arrange your transportation. It should be an international banker at your local bank. And it should be the US Commercial service office in your area.

Male: So what exactly a freight forwarder, what is that title mean?

David: A freight forwarder is a company that arranges transportation for US companies. So it will arrange the freight, it will help you pack it. It will find you the cheapest way to get the goods from the US to whatever country that you’re shipping to.

Male: So that’s logistics, right?

David: That’s right. Yes.

Male: Now, an international banker. If I’m a small company, I might be in a small town, is my local bank gonna have an international banker or do I need to go somewhere else for that?

David: Well not every small bank will necessarily have an international department, but a lot of them do. International is a growing part of US economy, and more and more banks do have international banking departments.

Male: And they’ll be able to help me with things like exchange rates, and…

David: Letters of credit, making sure that you get paid for your goods in a timely manner.

Male: Now the US commercial service staff.

David: Yes.

Male: Where do I find them, what are they doing for me?

David: The US commercial service is part of the US department of commerce. There is an office in every large city in the United States. They’re there to help your company become successful exporters. They can answer your questions about exporting. They can arrange education for you and your staff about the export process. And they can even help make contacts for, with foreign clients that who could become purchasers of your products.

Male: Sounds like great resource. Do we access them online? Do we need to talk to these people in person? If I’m starting, how do I, how do I want to get a hold of these people?

David: Well you can find them on their website at the US department of commerce. Look for the US commercial service office in your area. It should be in the yellow pages in your local phone directory. And by all means, make an appointment, go in to see them. They’re happy to talk to you on the phone or meet you face to face.

Male: Okay, I’m a small business man, I’m ready to get started, I wanna meet these people. How do we start the introductions? How do we go about this?

David: Just show up and tell them what you want to do, they’re there to help you and, they want your business and they want to help you become a successful exporter.

Male: Okay, well I want to be well educated, right, so I wanna do some research. So if I’m starting out, where do I go to look for research on exporting and shipping?

David: Well a great place to start is with the US commercial service office. They know where you can get training. They can help answer your most basic questions. They’re just a great place to start.

Male: Okay, we all make mistakes, god knows, I’ve made more than my share, and it’s nice that we can learn from other people’s mistakes whenever possible. So, what are some of the common pitfalls that you’ve seen for the start up, for the novice exporter?

David: Well, I see the biggest mistake that an exporter will make is treating an export transaction in the same as if it is a domestic order, a domestic shipment. There are things that, that are simply different about the process. Getting paid is different. Shipping the goods is different, arranging for insurance to ship your goods. All these things are different and plus there’s a variety of export regulations that a lot of small and medium size companies simple aren’t aware of. And you set your self up for a lot of problems if you are ignorant of what those regulations may be. So, you definitely need to get some training when you start the process and again those three people are the people to check with and the people who could help you find the information you need to know.

Male: Now is shipping insurance one of those logistics things that this freight forwarder will be able to help me with?

David: Yes, absolutely.

Male: Very good. David Noah, thank you for joining us here today.

David: Thank you ….. I appreciate it.

Male: SBTV.com, David’s the president and founder of Shipping Solutions, developer of export software. You can learn more about his company at www.shipsolutions.com. We of course are SBTV.com, where small business is our only business.

Transcription by: Scribe4you Transcription Services