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Dark and Stormy Book ClubRecommendations for your TBR listRecommendations For Your TBRShow NotesOn today's episode, we feature six books that we recommend for our listener's TBR. These are books thathave been sent to us for review. There is no way we can read every book but we want to make sure theyare highlighted in some way.Ann reported on Good Girls Don't Die by Christina Henry (Berkeley 11/23). This is the story of threewoman with one way out.Tracey reported on The Repurposed Spy by Oliver Dowson (self 3/22) A modern spy novel filled withhumor and...2024-02-0619 min
Do Good WorkThe Future of Business Travel In a Virtual World with Oliver DowsonOliver spent a 30 year career building a one-man business into a small multinational, with 13 offices across 9 countries, before selling up in 2014. To achieve that meant a lot of international business travel – really a lot, as from 2000 to 2015 he was away from home for an average of 200 nights a year, flying an average of 250,000 miles a year. He’s still traveling almost as much. So, as a true air warrior, he knows a lot about business travel. He’s now turned author, and put some of his crazier experiences into a new book, “There’s No Business Like International Business”. Highl...2022-05-0925 min
Grow Through International ExpansionHeld Hostage – An Unusual Business Travel Experience #61What’s it like for a business traveller to find himself trapped by a major terrorist incident? Not actually hostage at the point of a gun, but holed up in a room on his own, unable to leave as there is a genuine fear that gunmen are hiding in the corridor outside and could set fire to the building, as they have done in the one next door? If it happened to you, how would you feel? Panicked? Lonely? Stressed? Ready to emulate a superhero as best you are able? Just bored? Or all the above?
Back in...2021-12-0632 min
Do Good WorkHow to Grow Your Business Through International Expansion with Oliver DowsonIn the last 40 years, Oliver Dowson has created, built, and managed 25 companies in 15 countries, and has traveled for business (and fun) to over 120 other countries. He’s now the host and founder of Grow Through International Expansion, an independent platform of podcasts, articles, and videos. He’s on a mission to help business owners and executives increase the value of their businesses and lives through effective and sustainable international expansion. Enjoy this episode! Highlights What is the mindset that you look at when you a...2020-12-1628 minGrow Through International ExpansionThe Future is Digital for International B2B Services #60Like it or not, new international business expansion depends on travel. Maintaining and growing existing business too, whatever one’s definition of international business – export, import, outsourcing, licensing, or operations of any kind in other countries. Sure, there are a number of established ways one can do many kinds of business in other countries without leaving home – selling online, using local distributors and agents, and so on – but without actually going there, seeing and understanding the market for oneself, and making face to face contact with local people one needs to work with, a company will at best miss out on ma...2020-06-2217 minGrow Through International ExpansionReimagining your Business – and Yourself #59Sometimes, something happens that makes a business owner realise that their business really needs a whole new approach if it’s to succeed.
Sometimes, that something is forced upon them. Like now.
In a month, two months, three month’s time, life will begin to return to normal. None of us know, but we all already suspect that the “new normal” won’t be like the one before – the normal of just a few weeks ago.
What is that going to mean for your business? Can you just carry on from where you left off? Will...2020-05-1011 minGrow Through International ExpansionFranchising as a Route to International Expansion with David Bond and Gordon Drakes #58Since we started this series of podcasts a couple of years ago, quite a number of people have asked me to cover franchising as an approach to Grow through International Expansion. Becoming a franchisee has certainly proved a popular business opportunity for many who have a reasonable sum of money to invest, want to run a business that they can get started quickly, but who either don’t have a ready business concept of their own or simply want the increased confidence that operating an established model brings.
However, I admit that franchising is not a topic th...2020-04-2137 minGrow Through International ExpansionCredit Where Credit is Due – Giving Confidence to Exporters with Andy Moylan | The Export Hub #57There seems to be a general agreement that companies – both in the manufacturing and services sectors – could export a lot more than they currently do. If that’s so, what’s holding them back? My guest in this podcast, Andy Moylan, points to two key factors. One is simply the lack of accurate information and advice backed up by real practical experience. The other is fear of not getting paid. It can be bad enough chasing payment in your own country – but how do you go about it in a far distant one, and what can you fall back on if all...2020-03-1922 minGrow Through International ExpansionGlobal Crises and the Future of International Business #56In this podcast, I’m going to talk about how I see the future of international business in 2021, what those with small and medium businesses should be doing and planning in the months ahead, why nobody should panic, and why it makes sense to go on listening to Grow through International Expansion podcasts and engaging with our articles and other content.
We’re faced with two major global crises – coronavirus and climate change. Whilst they are not related to each other, both give rise to considerations about international business. Even Brexit gets tied in here. Don’t panic. I...2020-03-1115 minGrow Through International ExpansionA Trade Association Crossing the Water to Saudi with Karolina Peret | British Water #55In today’s podcast I’m talking with Karolina Peret, the International Manager for British Water, the Trade Association for the water industry.
Karolina is responsible for British Water's global programme through the International Forum (IF). With an international background in the aquatics and environment industry, she brings in-depth knowledge of water and waste-water related issues. Karolina's education is complemented by an MSc in engineering, a passion for sustainability, and broad experience in the private and government sector.
Karolina leads the International British Water portfolio to seek out global markets and opportunities for UK water and w...2020-03-0327 min
Grow Through International ExpansionCracking Business in China with Jim James | EASTWEST Public Relations Group #54Our host, Oliver Dowson, first went to set up a business there back in 2006. It had to be a joint venture, and you may have listened to his podcast telling the story of some of the potential partners that he met. Oliver writes “Having decided on my partner, I found it surprisingly easy to get started – in retrospect, so much so that I never asked a thousand questions that I should have done. I’m not saying that anyone was trying to deceive me, but my business would certainly have been more successful had I taken more time to unders...2020-02-1228 minGrow Through International ExpansionChosen the Country? Now Pick a City… | Going Global #53When you’re planning international expansion, deciding on the country isn’t enough. Next you need to choose a city or region – and there’s a lot of reasons to consider and, in the bigger countries, a lot of alternatives to consider.
Obviously, the priorities depend on what sort of business you’re in and what you want to achieve in the country you’re expanding to. But the fundamentals are almost always the same.
Last month, our host, Oliver Dowson, visited the annual Going Global exhibition at the London Excel Centre. It’s a big event, par...2020-01-2719 minGrow Through International ExpansionOpportunities Across the World at Going Global #52Walking round the Going Global exhibition in November gave visitors the opportunity of talking with representatives of many different countries. As you, our audience, know, here at Grow International we’re firm believers that international expansion to any country in the world can bring real benefits and, specifically, add value in different ways to many kinds of business. Every country, though, brings its own individual opportunities.
Our host, Oliver Dowson, writes: “Most of the countries exhibiting were there, I think, simply because they’re not the ones that business people naturally think of when they’re considering expansio...2020-01-1619 minGrow Through International ExpansionExploring a Variety of Business Essentials at Going Global 2019 #51Last month, our host, Oliver Dowson, visited the annual Going Global exhibition at the London Excel Centre. It’s a big event, part of the Business Show. For those who are looking at expansion, it’s a great opportunity to see a lot of the professionals you’d need to work with in one place, and to get new ideas for countries and regions to expand to.
While he was there, Oliver took the opportunity of recording some short podcast conversations with many of the exhibitors, asking them the questions that potential customers would want to, and we’re...2020-01-0818 minGrow Through International ExpansionGrow International Grows Into an App with Juliana Meyer | SupaPass #50Over the last year, Grow through International Expansion has grown considerably, in content, followers and podcast listeners. Our website, https://growinternational.org, has become a go-to destination for many looking for independent information, guidance and ideas on all aspects of international business expansion. Thousands of others listen to our podcasts on channels such as Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean and Acast.
Now, we’ve launched the Grow International app, available on iOs and Android – so our followers can find all our content in one place, accessible from their phones or tablets, whether at their desks or on t...2019-12-0921 minGrow Through International ExpansionInternational Sales – Getting the Hiring Right with Zach Selch | Global Sales Mentor #49Without sales, there’s no business – and so it’s easy to argue that one’s sales force are amongst your most important employees. Any executive will tell you that it’s hard enough hiring, motivating and retaining good sales people in your home country – but when setting up an international subsidiary, it’s that much harder.
Even where there’s no language barrier, your best sales person may struggle to succeed in another country. Even if you’re successful in hiring a great sales person in your new country, the sales methodology and support materials that work well for you...2019-12-0331 minGrow Through International ExpansionJoint Ventures - Gaining Benefits and Avoiding the Unexpected #48Following a previous episode about finding a partner in another country, in this GrowInternational podcast our host, Oliver Dowson, talks from his experience about the benefits and perils of starting Joint Ventures abroad. Whilst Oliver’s specific experience relates to creating operations to carry out administrative services, the lessons he learnt are equally relevant to those looking at JVs as a route to selling or manufacturing goods in a new overseas market.
If you missed earlier episodes, you can find them on our Grow through International Expansion platform, https://growinternational.org . Our platform is independent, carries no adve...2019-10-2816 minGrow Through International ExpansionNavigating the Minefields of Iraq and Other Post Conflict Countries with Leanne Case | Vzir #47Leanne is an entrepreneur herself. Having worked in countries including Afghanistan and Iraq, where she earned valuable experience in advisory roles for both the Iraqi and British governments, she has become an expert on business strategy in challenging markets. Indeed, in recognition for her services, Leanne was awarded the Iraq Reconstruction Medal. Leanne co-founded the Iraq Club and the Future Energy Forum. She has particular interest and experience in infrastructure, energy and engineering projects, and has had extensive involvement with tech start-ups.
Leanne has also written an article, “Why I’m backing Iraq”, which you can find on the Gr...2019-10-2422 minGrow Through International ExpansionNavigating the Complexities of Expanding in the UAE with Jenny Hunt #46What do you think of when you think of Dubai, Abu Dhabi and the rest of the UAE (United Arab Emirates)? Time was when it was just oil, but these days it’s also tourism and business in general – witness all those gleaming tower blocks one sees in photos. The growth of the economy has been staggering – and that’s led to ever increasing numbers of businesses planning to expand there. Some simply use the UAE as a base from which to service the whole Middle East and Indian Ocean regions, but there’s an increasing number recognising its importance...2019-10-0739 minGrow Through International ExpansionAwareness for Greatness in International Business with Andoni Silva #45Andoni Silva is a self-styled Awareness coach, based in Spain but working all over Europe. His method is said to help high performers and entrepreneurs achieve a successful, enjoyable and fulfilling work-life balance
If you missed earlier episodes, you can find them on our Grow through International Expansion platform, https://growinternational.org . Our platform is independent, carries no advertising and is not for profit – we seek to deliver useful, valuable content, essential for all those who have interest in international business and global trade.
2019-09-3031 minGrow Through International ExpansionClarity and Confidence - The Importance of Language with Susan Heaton-Wright | Superstar Communicator #44Susan Heaton-Wright is an impact, communications and speaking trainer for emerging leaders and the creator of the Superstar Communicator™ philosophy. She is an international speaker; the MD of award winning music company, Viva Live Music, podcaster and a former prize winning international opera singer.
She delivers seminars, workshops and individual training for many companies including Astra Zeneca, Shell, AXA and Quintiles. She is regularly interviewed on BBC Radio Five Live; BBC2, local radios and international podcasts. Susan has contributed to articles in Forbes, The Guardian, Huffington Post, Thrive Global, The Scotsman and trade publications.
Susan is...2019-09-2438 minGrow Through International ExpansionMaking Friends and Doing Business – Why You Need a Culture Pilot with Jan de Haldevang #43Jan’s a really interesting person. He was born in Arabia and travelled all his life; he’s fluent in Arabic and German as well as English. He was a soldier in Iraq, Oman, Northern Ireland and Cyprus, before becoming a professional sales and marketing executive for some major companies, specialising in Middle Eastern markets. Now, as Senior Partner of International Culture Pilot, he and his team are helping others adapt culturally to the markets they want to work in – learning how to communicate successfully and in a culturally aware way.
Take a listen – wherever in the world yo...2019-09-1840 minGrow Through International ExpansionM&A as a Fast Track Route to International Expansion with Oliver Froment | Pro Capital #42In this podcast, I’m in conversation with another Oliver, Oliver Froment. With his team in Pro Capital, based in London, Oliver is dedicated to helping those smaller companies acquire or merge with suitable targets in other countries and, where necessary, get the financing they need to do that.
Oliver has been working in finance for a long time. He founded his company, Pro Capital Ltd, in 1993 after he’d already built up more than 10 years of extensive international financial and corporate experience. The firm is FCA regulated, starting as a capital market firm transacting debt and equit...2019-09-0624 minGrow Through International ExpansionBilingual Skills - Outsourcing in Palestine with Jerry Marshall | Transcend #41One territory that definitely qualifies as “off the usual business radar” is Palestine. It’s clearly not a valuable export market. But, for businesses active in the Middle East, or looking at expanding there, there are some real opportunities to take advantage of its positioning as a hub.
In this podcast, our host, Oliver Dowson, is in conversation with Jerry Marshall, Chairman of Transcend, a company founded by partners from the UK, USA and Palestine and with follow on investment from the Palestine Investment Fund. In this Grow through International Expansion podcast Jerry tells us about what they’r...2019-08-2624 minGrow Through International ExpansionThe Beauty Parade: Finding a Business Partner Abroad #40Do first impressions lie? On paper, the company looked impressive. Out of the six potential partners that we’d shortlisted, and that I’d travelled to Mumbai to meet, this one looked the best on paper. Rajesh, the young CEO who came to meet me at my hotel looked the part too – immaculately dressed, well spoken, and clearly well organised, as he laid out paperwork and photos on the table in front of us.
All was well until I said “So where’s your office? Let’s go there”.
These days, it’s easier than ever to dissimul...2019-08-1914 minGrow Through International ExpansionTax Planning for an International Business with Jimmy Sexton | Esquire Group #39Back in 1789, Benjamin Franklin, one of the founding fathers of the United States, coined a quote that’s lived to this day. “in this world, nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.”
And nobody wants to pay more tax than they need to, right? We’re always hearing about those big multinationals that make billions of profit but have organised their affairs so that, quite legally, they pay little or no tax.
Yet, strangely, a high proportion of small and medium businesses embarking on international expansion don’t plan for it at all – o...2019-07-3025 minGrow Through International ExpansionFree Trade Agreements – What are the Real Opportunities for the UK? #38Those politicians who are enthusiastic about Brexit are always talking about the UK having great opportunities for trade after leaving the EU. Those who oppose Brexit – and many who are on the fence – dismiss those potential opportunities, at least for the short term, and say that the loss of EU trade would more than outweigh any new benefits.
Who’s right?
In previous episodes of this series of podcasts and articles, we’ve explained the principles and legal framework behind Free Trade Agreements, and looked at some of the benefits and downsides of ones that have bee...2019-07-2222 minGrow Through International ExpansionFree Trade Agreements – Past Successes and Failures – What Lessons Can We Learn? #37In this series of four Grow through International Expansion podcasts and articles, our host Oliver Dowson explores all the key aspects of Free Trade Agreements, adding in the missing bits that the selective explanations from politicians and many journalists omit, stripping away false optimism and pessimism, with the aim of presenting the full and clear explanations that entrepreneurs, consumers and taxpayers need.
There are now more than 400 Trade Agreements in force globally, some of them relatively new but others that were negotiated decades ago. For this episode, Oliver has been reading up many of the academic studies...2019-07-1520 minGrow Through International ExpansionFree Trade Agreements – The World Trade Organisation, Gatt And The Other Players You Need To Know About #36Most export-minded business people – and certainly almost all politicians - enthusiastically expect Free Trade Agreements to bring them great business growth. Others, however, fear their impact, and with the growth of populism and “My Country First” ideologies, there’s been a backlash against “globalisation”.
One common thread here is that most people, whichever side they’re on, don’t understand the whole picture. That’s hardly surprising, as it’s a much more complicated subject than it might seem. Even if what the news and politicians tell us is not “fake”, it’s certainly selective. So here at Grow through Internatio...2019-07-0821 minGrow Through International ExpansionFree Trade Agreements – The Principles Explained #35Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) are treaties between two or more countries that dictate the tariffs, taxes and duties imposed on imports and exports, and the regulations that are applied on quality, safety and other relevant matters.
Not all Trade Agreements are free – and even in a Free Trade Agreement, it’s not necessarily the case that all imports and exports are zero-rated. Nevertheless, the term is invariably used – and the “free” is just one of the many wrong assumptions and misunderstandings that many people (including many politicians) have.
2019-07-0130 minGrow Through International ExpansionWant to Become an Expert in Free Trade Agreements? #34Introducing the new series on international Free Trade Agreements that we'll be publishing on Grow through International Expansion over the next few weeks
2019-06-2706 minGrow Through International ExpansionSeeing across the world with Augmented Reality with Patrick Liddy | UtilityAR #33Augmented Reality sounds so exciting. Put on the magic glasses and escape to another world…..
But let’s come down to earth. It’s certainly a technology that promises amazing things and, with the right application, can bring huge new benefits to business. In this podcast, our host Oliver Dowson is talking with Patrick Liddy, a founder of UtilityAR. They’ve developed a great application of Augmented Reality – or AR as it’s abbreviated – for engineering.
Patrick is an energy engineer by profession, and a true innovator. Back in 2006, he founded Innovation Energy in Dublin, one of the fir...2019-06-1029 minGrow Through International ExpansionResolving the HR issues of Emigration – with Chris Carman #32For decades, Australia has been the migration destination of choice for so many people. If you’re doubtful, you only have to visit to understand why. I’ve often described it as what the UK ought to be like with added space and, of course, sunshine. Nowadays skilled migrants go there from all over the world.
In this podcast I’m talking to Chris Carman, a specialist in helping people emigrate to Australia and aiding companies transfer staff there. In doing that, over the past decade, he and his team, looking beyond Australasia, have developed services and softwa...2019-06-0213 minGrow Through International ExpansionPropelling Business Through Disruption to Success with Dan Simmons | Propelia #31In this podcast I’m talking with Dan Simmons of Propelia about how he helps company founders and CEOs navigate through new challenges – let’s call them disruptors – that conspire to upset the status quo of their business.
Over the last 20 years, Dan has helped many Start Ups and Scale Ups strategically leverage their thinking, brand and IP to disrupt new market sectors. He is a recognised Thought Leader in how disruption can be repositioned from a creative, strategic and planning point of view.
There’s always been disruption in business. It was hard scribes when Guten...2019-05-2338 minGrow Through International ExpansionBonne Chance en France with Bernard Hot #30France is such an interesting country. Politically and economically, it’s one of the strongest countries not only in Europe but the World. It’s a market of 60 million, and although a large country it has great infrastructure. It has a reputation - perhaps unparalleled - for culture and gastronomy. It has a beautiful and varied landscape. With 87 million visitors a year, there is no other country in the world visited by more tourists. Many are British, of course, because physically, it’s the nearest country for most of us. Many buy second homes or retire there. Like me, more B...2019-05-1236 minGrow Through International ExpansionExtinction Rebellion is an International Issue #29I'm not in London this week, but I've been following the Extinction Rebellion with interest, especially having spent most of my career playing a small part in helping corporations reduce their energy consumption and improve environmental impact. There's a lot that needs to be done, but in my opinion, the priority is not in the UK but elsewhere - and that should be a clarion call for startup businesses that are developing solutions to move immediately to international expansion. I've made a video with my thoughts - what are yours?
2019-05-0309 minGrow Through International ExpansionExpanding Opportunities for Foreign and Local Companies in the Czech Republic #28One of the European countries that I visit where I’ve seen the greatest changes and most rapid development is the Czech Republic. I first went to the then Czechoslovakia in 1977, long before the fall of the Iron Curtain, so obviously you’d expect the changes since then to be massive. But I’m actually referring to just the last decade.
When I first set up a company in Prague in 2009, with a Czech colleague who remains a great friend, it was a relatively quiet city. The Czech Republic had only joined the EU in 2004, and it was st...2019-04-2833 minGrow Through International ExpansionMentoring Startup Expansion Plans #27Most ambitious small business owners who want to grow big know that they need to plan international expansion. Most times, though, they’re not sure where to go, what to do or how to do it – or they have preconceptions (and sometimes prejudices) that direct their thinking towards a specific market or country.
Entrepreneurs who seek independent advice either don’t have such preconceptions or are prepared to have them blown away. They’ve mostly already talked to the normal sources of advice, for example the government department in their country that encourages and supports international trade.
Ou...2019-04-1309 minGrow Through International ExpansionExploring the Advantages of Free Trade Zones #26Historically, Free Trade Zones were confined to manufacturing and warehousing, but in recent years they’ve also been housing office operations, liked the shared service centres we were talking about in an earlier episode of Grow through International Expansion.
Where they exist, Free Trade Zones bring some obvious advantages to businesses setting up in another country. To start with, the “Free” means free of taxes – essentially they are zones physically within one country that treat every economic activity within them like being in a duty free shop – there’s no tax as long as everything created or manufactured...2019-04-0823 minGrow Through International ExpansionHow FinTech is Growing in LATAM with Martin Naor | Bankingly #25One of the most exciting and active sectors of business for new startups all over the world is FinTech – Financial Technology. Briefly, that’s the application of information technology to the world of finance. The term FinTech really shot to fame – or perhaps infamy - with the rise of cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin in the last two or three years. But, whilst there are a lot of recent startup companies working with such cryptocurrencies, it would be a big mistake to assume that’s the whole story.
If you use a mobile app for banking or make a card p...2019-04-0110 minGrow Through International ExpansionNo Branch Should be an Island #24A story of discovering why cohesive corporate identity matters
Walk through the doors of any branch in the world of a major retail chain, and you might forget which country you’re in. They really are all the same. Those multinationals have spent millions on brand identity – and replicate it wherever they go.
Not so the offices and factories of other types of business. The sign over the door may be the same, but very often, that’s where it stops.
This podcast is a solo by our host, Oliver Dowson, who tells a story from h...2019-03-2511 minGrow Through International ExpansionHedging Currency To Avoid Costly Mistakes With Barry Mccarthy | Assure Hedge #23If your company sells abroad, you’ll probably be getting paid in a different currency to your own. And you’ll certainly be aware that there’s a lot of volatility in exchange rates. You work out the price today, when you send out the quote, but you might not get paid for months – and by then the exchange rate could be very different. Maybe in your favour, but you could easily lose out.
There’s a potential solution, currency hedging. But isn’t it something that only huge multinationals can do?
In this podcast, Oliver Dowso...2019-03-1725 minGrow Through International Expansion3 Things You Didn’t Know About GDPR with Henry Herbert | Herbert & Ball #22What do you know about GDPR? You’ve almost certainly seen a buzz of publicity about it in the last year, and will have received dozens of emails asking you to “opt in”. It’s not just email. Any business that holds personal data on a computer – so every business - has to comply with GDPR.
It’s about to become more complicated. For example, non-EU companies – including the UK after Brexit – have to appoint a GDPR administrator within the EU.
To unravel the rules, Oliver Dowson talks in this podcast with Henry Herbert, a legal profession...2019-03-1021 minGrow Through International ExpansionInsights Into Exporting with Douglas Jackson | DNA Business Engineering #21“Who ordered the battered cod” doesn’t sound like a book about exporting. But it is, written by a real expert in the field, Doug Jackson. We think it’s a must-read for anyone in business thinking about exporting – and even those who are seasoned exporters will find many useful insights. Doug explains the important methodologies of export through a whole panoply of his own anecdotal experiences, as well as those of others. In this podcast, Doug talks about his book and life experiences with our host Oliver Dowson.
2019-03-0718 minGrow Through International ExpansionGateway to the Baltic States and points East with Martins Tiknuss | Gateway & Partners #20More countries off the usual business radar.
Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia…. Most business people don’t know much about them, except they were long ago part of the USSR, and are popular for weekends away in summer months.
In this podcast, Oliver Dowson talks to Martins Tiknuss, CEO of Gateway Partners, based in Riga, Latvia, about business opportunities across all three of the Baltic states, and also in Bulgaria, Romania and less travelled but rapidly emerging countries such as Georgia and Moldova.
2019-03-0413 minGrow Through International ExpansionBosnia & Herzogovina – A Country Off The Usual Business Radar with Zlatan Vujanović #19What do you know about Bosnia and Herzogivina? Chances are, not very much. And certainly there don’t seem to be many business leaders talking about international expansion who’ve got it on their radar. Maybe that’s a significant oversight.
Oliver is often telling people that they shouldn’t just consider the “usual suspects” but look more widely, as there can be real advantages in expanding in countries that the competition have also not yet reached. Recently he was able to update his own knowledge about the country and was honoured to meet with Zlatan Vujanovic, the Minister...2019-02-2812 minGrow Through International ExpansionWhen Picking a State, Who Should Focus on Southern Virginia with Joe Anwyl #18In another recent podcast we talked about why businesses expand to the United States. But it’s a huge country with 50 states and they’re all different – not just geographically, but in terms of laws, culture and doing business generally. So where do you go?
Well, that depends on why you’re setting up in the States, what sort of business you’re in and what markets you’re trying to reach. Recently I met up with Joe Anwyl to talk about one state in which he specialises, Southern Virginia.
Joe’s professional background is in engineering...2019-02-2411 minGrow Through International ExpansionHow Shared Service Centres Add Value to Business with Nelson Gonzalez | Travel Leaders Group #17BPO offshore operations have continued to mature. Staff are experienced, local management has progressed and they have expanded to take on more advanced work such as R&D.
They may no longer be sited in the lowest cost countries, but strategically located to deliver the best value based on skills, languages and time zone. They’ve also gained a better name – Shared Service Centres.
On a recent visit to Montevideo, Oliver Dowson met with Nelson Gonzalez, General Manager of Travel Leaders Group’s Global SSC. It’s a great example of how Shared Services Centres can play...2019-02-2012 minGrow Through International ExpansionHow to get started in Germany with Burkhard Schneider | Basch Consult #016UK companies, faced with the uncertainties of Brexit, are rushing to establish bases in the EU. Germany is a favourite, but it’s not so easy - business methods, finance and laws are all very different and complex. So it’s essential to get clued-up, and to have a guide to make sure that you do everything right and to make the difficult things easy.
In this podcast, Oliver Dowson talks to Burkhard Schneider of Basch Consult about how he helps businesses set up in Germany.
2019-02-1709 minGrow Through International ExpansionHow to make sure your business doesn’t get lost in translation with Helen Provart | Peak Translations #015Those of us born in English speaking countries have that great advantage that we can make ourselves understood just about anywhere. The problem is that it also makes us lazy about learning other languages.
In business, we can’t just rely on English. Obviously legal documents have to be in the language of the country we’re working in. So do all our operational materials and of course marketing and sales. We’ve all seen “howler” translations – most obviously on menus in restaurants. At least then all we do is laugh or wonder. Like a lot of business peo...2019-02-0908 minGrow Through International ExpansionExpanding to the USA – is now the right time? Gary Leskun | Cross Border Partners #014Almost every business with international ambitions wants to expand to the United States. It’s easy to understand why. It’s the biggest economy and market on earth. It’s English-speaking, it’s got great people, great communications and since its founding has always been considered as the Land of Opportunity.
But how easy is it? And, with all we hear about the backlash against globalisation epitomised by the “America First” policy, the tariffs and the fear of trade wars, is now the right time for foreign companies to really be considering expanding there?
In this podcast...2019-02-0911 minGrow Through International ExpansionWhy Kuwait could be a great place for international companies with Hessa Bouresli | Head of Communications Division #013Think of Kuwait and one thinks of oil. It’s got the world’s sixth largest oil reserves. But there’s a lot more to it than that. It’s one of the oldest countries in the region, at the top of the Arabian Gulf, bordered by Iraq and Saudi Arabia. But it’s not really like either of them.
In this podcast, Oliver Dowson talks with Hessa Rashed Bouresli, the Head of the Communications Division of the Kuwait Direct Investment Authority, about the opportunities the country has to offer to international companies.
Kuwait, with a populati...2019-02-0912 minGrow Through International ExpansionOne Reason People Fear International Expansion Is Bureaucracy #012One reason people fear international expansion is bureaucracy. It’s always there. But you shouldn’t be discouraged. International expansion brings so many benefits, worth the effort. You just need to be prepared.
2018-10-2203 minGrow Through International ExpansionWould You Buy a Country at an Exhibition? #011Most countries, and many big cities and regions, have Investment Promotion Agencies (IPA), that promote Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) through advertising and exhibitions. If the target has already decided on the country, and it’s a matter of promoting one region or city, perhaps these help. However, I don’t think this is the right way to get new converts. Here's why...
2018-10-1503 minGrow Through International ExpansionDo You Really Need an Expat Manager? #010Many companies believe that the only way their overseas operation can be successful is if they send over an experienced manager as an expat. However, I’m sceptical. Here's why...
2018-10-0902 minGrow Through International ExpansionEmployment Law Around the World #009I’ve found that many companies only start to understand local employment laws and customs long after they’ve set up an operation and only when they hit problems. However, this is a real danger. I'll tell you why...
2018-10-0103 minGrow Through International ExpansionPlanning an Exploratory Business Trip – Part 2 #008So you’ve decided on where to go, when and how to get there. In this second part of planning an exploratory business trip, I’m going to suggest who you need to meet and what you should be looking out for.
2018-09-2404 minGrow Through International ExpansionPlanning an Exploratory Business Trip – Part 1 #007Thinking of growing your business in a new country? Nothing beats going out there and exploring. Even if you’ve been to the country or city before, whether on holiday or a business trip, it’s different if you’re thinking of setting up a base there. Here are a few things to bear in mind...
2018-09-2003 minGrow Through International ExpansionCountries not on the usual business radar - an occasional series - #1 EthiopiaI’m recently back from Ethiopia, not a country often considered for international expansion. But things are changing fast… In the first of an occasional series on interesting but frequently overlooked countries, I’ll tell you more…
2018-09-2002 minGrow Through International ExpansionWhen Should Start Up Companies Start Their International Expansion #005I see a lot of pitches from new start up companies from all over the world. Most see international expansion as a future ambition, a few years down the line. But I think that’s short sighted. Let me explain why...
2018-09-0303 minGrow Through International ExpansionMy 3 Enduring Fundamentals for Business Success #004Business terminologies come in and out of fashion, but the fundamentals of success are always the same. These are my 3 enduring fundamentals for ambitious entrepreneurs.
2018-08-2902 minGrow Through International ExpansionWhere to Locate your Overseas Operation #003Even quite small companies can save money and improve their efficiency and productivity by setting up an Shared Services Centre or “Insourcing” (wholly-owned Outsourcing) operation abroad. Excellent. Now, where? There are hundreds of possible destinations. Leaving aside the financial, legal and technical matters that everyone thinks about, some other points often don’t get given the consideration that they should.
2018-08-2005 minGrow Through International ExpansionWhy International Expansion Drives Up Company Valuations #002I believe the most important reason for international expansion is to increase the overall value of the business - but that's not what most SME entrepreneurs have to the top of their minds. Let me explain…
2018-08-1404 minGrow Through International ExpansionMy 5-Stage Plan for International Expansion #001Every business is different, but most — even small businesses — can profit from international expansion. Nevertheless, there are still many business owners who are reticent, or maybe don’t appreciate all the advantages and opportunities.
In order to break this barrier, I recommend this 5-Stage Plan for International Expansion. It ensures careful thought about each step of the process, so you do not rush into anything.
2018-08-0307 min