Tag Archive for Export & Logistics

Turning delivery from problematic process to plain sailing

To tie in with #MicroBizMatters day, which took place earlier this month, business owners were being encouraged to provide tips which they felt could benefit others. Following on from the event itself, where I appeared on the Makers, Creators and Manufacturers panel, I thought it might be helpful to share some of my top tips
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Get your business ready for expanding internationally

Your company is now stable and profitable. You’ve grown substantially in your home market. Now, it’s time to consider expanding internationally. It’s an exciting time. However, while the potential for great success is there, so is the potential for failure. There are many things to consider before you get started. One of the most important
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Importing: The Poor Relation’s Story?

Amid the backdrop of Brexit, the economic balance between imports and exports is a continuous juggling act for economies across the world. In the three months to September, the UK trade deficit grew by £3 billion to £9.5 billion. Figures became the latest rallying cry for businesses to ramp-up export volumes, while sterling’s devaluation seemingly
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Upgrade your shipping logistics management to digital freight forwarding

What’s the point of a digital freight forwarder? The practice of Zen focuses on rigorous self-control, maintaining inner calm and most importantly of all, benefiting others. Wonderful pursuits all, but ‘inner calm’ and ‘beneficial’ are probably not descriptions that the average shipping business attributes to their experience managing shipping logistics. They might even describe the
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Five secrets to sourcing products in China

However, the language barrier can be tricky when negotiating with Chinese companies, especially with westerners who are usually afraid of getting scammed. Here are five secrets to sourcing products in China that you should consider: Always do your research when sourcing products from China The last thing you want to do is spend hundreds of
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Brave New World: Preparing for international trade after Brexit

With Britain’s withdrawal from the European Union on the horizon, small businesses are at a critical juncture when it comes to international trade. Since the EU referendum, the weaker pound has made UK products more affordable for overseas buyers, boosting international demand and encouraging many small businesses to increase their exports. Yet given the uncertainty
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Choosing the right supplier

How can small businesses scope out the best suppliers? The first step in supplier selection is understanding your customer needs and requirements in terms of product, service and service level expectations. The importance of thorough research really cannot be overstated and the ability of a given supplier to service the overall customer requirement is obviously
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How we are preparing our pet food business for Brexit

As the EU repeal bill won its first Commons vote on September 12, the process of Brexit is now underway and the preparations done by UK businesses must be too. However, since no country has ever left the EU before, predicting what this will mean for UK businesses hasn’t been easy for anyone. This might
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Supply chain friction costs businesses 6,500 hours a year

The average UK business loses £88,725 per year through clunky payment practices causing friction in their supply chain, according to new research by Tungsten Network. This equates to almost 6,500 man hours chasing purchase order numbers, processing paper invoices and responding to supplier enquiries. As Tungsten Network launches its inaugural Friction Index report, businesses estimate
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New opportunities – the benefits of sourcing products from China

I have met several small businesses in the UK who are excited about sourcing products and raw materials from China to sell in the UK, but are nervous about the perceived risks. Yet they could learn a lot from the many successful SMEs already harnessing the power of global trade by making the most of
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