With the American economy in trouble and being slow to recover, Canadian companies cant rely on being able to survive by exporting only to their South or by selling only to Canadians. More and more businesses have had to look at exporting to areas theyve never considered before.

Canadians have learned that marketing internationally is vastly different from domestic marketing. Theyve learned the tastes are different as are the customs and the needs. There are marketing aids for foreign countries and the smart businesses make good use of them. The basic marketing formula of product, price, promotion and place still holds but with variations. Plus a company has to consider new payment systems, increased paperwork partnerships, international intellectual property laws, and many others. It can take new staff, but you may be able to cut back in other areas to cover the costs. Since direct exports to consumers or industries are difficult when you are a foreigner, youll need to find a partner or at least an agent of distribution company, and that means traveling - meeting them on their territory. At that point, you also have to develop a shipping method, and its a whole new ball game when it is international and youve got to factor in lead times as well as shipping times. Financially, you also have to prepare for longer product to payment times and that will require either more capital or a great credit line. Once everything is in place, then its a big commitment and a big switch for you and everyone in your company and youll need to bolster your employees until things take off. Its one big commitment!

Fortunately, Canada has government agencies in place that can help out. The TCI is the agency to go to, and they will help.

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