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Home Archives for exporting

Kansas SBDC April 3, 2018 Leave a Comment

How to Find New Global Markets

If you’re thinking about expanding into a new market what do you want to know?

How many customers could I reach? How much are people spending on my products and services? Who of my competitors are already working in the market?

To answer these questions, you do market research. But market research, or good market research, especially global market research, is sometimes difficult to find.

The Kansas SBDC recognizes this and is prepared to help you find the global market research you need when deciding the how, why, and what of determining where in the world you should sell your products and services.

Here’s how we can help.

We can introduce you to the 8 steps of exporting through a one-day workshop.
We can connect you to the resources you need to fully vet your ideas.
We can help through one-on-one advising at no cost to you.

Let’s explore each option.

The one-day workshop

We try to make business fun when we can. That’s why we’ve licensed Riddle of the Exporter. Check out this video testimonial from Greg Kindle, President, Wyandotte County Economic Development Council when he attended Riddle of the Exporter.

If you are in or near the Kansas City area check out our next Riddle of the Exporter event on April 20, 2018. While you won’t see Will playing the guitar (as he is in our video) John Addessi will be catching you off-guard with his humorous take on international trade.

For our training we’re encouraging attendees to take advantage of a $175 grant offered by the Kansas Department of Commerce. The grant will offset nearly the entire fee for the class, $175 of the $199. Participants need to apply for the funds, which is quite straightforward, prior to taking the class. If accepted, you’ll take the class and then be reimbursed the $175. Before you enroll in the class, learn more about the grant by contacting: Chang Lu, International Trade Representative, Kansas Department of Commerce at 913-307-7378 or Chang.Lu@ks.gov.

Connecting you to global market research resources

Sometimes it’s not possible to get away from your business. We understand. So, we’re sharing a list of some of our favorite global market research resources. We can pull this information for you or we can help you look through international market research you’ve already collected and help you identify markets that work with your business.

In addition to these resources, we have a fairly extensive list of domestic secondary market research that can help you with domestic market decisions. As our client we provide this data at no charge to your business.

ITC Trade Map
Trade Stats Express
UN Comtrade
The CIA World Fact book
World Bank Indicators
MSU’s Global Edge
Trade Compliance Institute

One-on-one advising

No matter where your business is located in Kansas we have NASBITE Certified Global Business Professionals that work hand-in-hand with a local SBDC business advisor to advise you on exporting and global trade. We encourage you to check out an introductory workshop first, then set an appointment with our team. Find a location near you by using the interactive map in this website or by visiting our locations page.

 

The Kansas SBDC is partially funded through the Kansas Department of Commerce. We encourage you to learn more about the Kansas Department of Commerce International Trade programs and grants that are designed to help your business.

 

 

Filed Under: exporting, global trade, training, workshops Tagged With: analyze foreign competition to create a sustainable international competitive advantage, assess and minimize export risk, develop an international budget and marketing plan, educate them in export compliance, export buyers list, find buyers for your products, find new markets for my products, how to access export financing, how to contact foreign buyers, how to find buyers for export products, how to get export orders how to determine the exportability of their products, how to sell overseas, how to sell products internationally, how to ship overseas, product preparation and international logistics, riddle of the exporter

Kansas SBDC March 8, 2018 Leave a Comment

NorthWind Technical Services

northwind technical kansas small business award

Connections are incredibly important in business.

Michael and Marlene Bosworth started their engineering services and control system integration business, NorthWind Technical Services, LLC, in Sabetha, Kansas in 1997. Since that time, the Bosworth’s have expanded their business to employ 38 people and sell in international markets.

To continue growing their operations they began working with the Kansas SBDC at Washburn University (WU) in 2012. The following is a short interview with Marlene Bosworth, Vice President of NorthWind Technical Services, LLC.

 

Kansas SBDC: What specific challenge(s) prompted you to contact the Kansas SBDC?

NorthWind: We were looking for ways to improve our business operations and for assistance with international shipping and business management. In addition, we were involved with a local initiative that prompted us to contact Mary Ann Riederer [SBDC business advisor] about assistance for local businesses and retail establishments in our community.

 

Kansas SBDC: How did your Kansas SBDC advisor or advisor team help you overcome these challenges? What solutions did you and your advisor discover together?Northwind technical services small business award

NorthWind: We attended Profit Competencies seminars. Mary Ann also got us in contact with individuals who helped us formulate ways to address international business issues we were dealing with as well as other resources. She and the Glacial Hills RC&D Enterprise Facilitation program have been very helpful to our local businesses and retail establishments, providing needed educational resources and events as well as one-on-one consults.

 

Kansas SBDC: What specific results or outcomes have you experienced in your business since implementing these solutions? How have these results changed your business?

NorthWind: International business and shipping resources helped us make contacts with others who are helping us, we gained confidence in pursuing new avenues of business, and are moving forward. I think the international component of our business will increase going forward.

I am also very pleased with the assistance our local Chamber has received from SBDC and Enterprise Facilitation. The establishment of the Glacial Hills Business Center in Sabetha has also been instrumental in increasing the small business assistance and improved climate business in our community.

More about NorthWind Technical Services

Website: NorthWind Technical Services
Facebook: NorthWind Technical Services
LinkedIn: NorthWind Technical Services

SBDC advisory team

Mary Ann Riederer, WU
Karl Klein, WU
John Addessi, JCCC
Ross Jordan, WSU

A note from SBDC business advisor, Mary Ann Riederer: NorthWind Technical was growing their business, and we simply supported them, as we would any other business, by providing information on the utility tax exemption, collaborating with other advisors in the Kansas SBDC network for research on international markets, and by serving as a conduit to additional resources.

How Kansas SBDC helped NorthWind Technical Services

Market Research
Export

Filed Under: exporting, global trade, market research, success stories Tagged With: automation services, businesses in sabetha, help for my business near washburn, help for my business near washburn university, help with marketing, north wind, northwind, northwind technical services, sbdc, technical services

Kansas SBDC March 2, 2018 Leave a Comment

Double D Family Mat Shop

Double D family mat Kansas SBDC awardIn 1995 when Dale Goetz began using old tires as door mats on his family farm in Park, Kansas, he didn’t know it at the time, but he was laying the groundwork for what would become Double D Family Mat Shop Inc.

While Dale had created a pragmatic solution out of old tires, a fellow feedlot owner from St. Francis noticed a different opportunity. He noticed the tire treads being discarded to make the door mats and asked Dale if it would be possible to produce mats from the treads to be used in the feedlots.

This made total sense to Dale. Tire tread was an effective and durable anti-slip surface. By applying the material attributes of treads, Dale could develop mats that could be used to protect his cattle from injury. ‘‘I fed cattle my whole life,” shared Dale. “I noticed that they would slip, fall and get hurt in our feedlot. Those injuries were costing us a lot of money. The concrete surface was uncomfortable for them, and it made the processing area very noisy.” Dale cut the sidewalls out of the tires and created a machine that would cross cut the tread so that it was able to lay flat. To create the mats he would manually assemble basket-weave style mats cattle could walk on.

Curious about performance of the mats, Dale tested several at a St. Francis feedlot.

After seeing the mats in action at the feedlot, farmers and feedlot owners from surrounding towns began contacting Dale to purchase his mats proving the concept of the product.

Dale and his wife Dena decided to officially launch their cattle mats manufacturing business in 1995.

Since that time their journey has been full of successes both domestically and internationally. In 2014, the company decided to enter the global market. Their first major international order came from Mort & Co., feeding lot specialists in Australia.

‘’In the beginning, it was difficult and scary because we had no exporting experience’’ says Christin Merwald, marketing director of the company. ‘‘That is when we decided to contact the Kansas SBDC. The SBDC was very helpful in providing initial export guidance on how to correctly file export documentation. They referred us to the right resources – like the International Trade Administration and the U.S. Commercial Service – who helped us participate in the Alberta Beef Industry Conference in Canada. We generated $10,000 in sales from this connection. They also guided us in the process of obtaining a D.U.N.S. number and provided us with a list of potential local customers in a 100 miles radius.’’

The company has successfully entered the Canadian and Australian markets. In three years, they have shipped over $270,000 worth of products. Currently, they ship annually three containers to Australia and an average of 10 pallets to Canada. ‘‘We are looking forward to continuing our work with the Kansas SBDC and Mariel, our advisor, to help us find distributors in Australia and Canada, and develop an international business and marketing plan that will allows us to successfully enter new markets in South America, Central America and Asia.’’ says Amber Hutchison, Double D Family Mat Shop’s COO.

Dale’s advice to someone thinking about starting a business is to ‘’Go for it. Whatever your idea is, don’t be scared. But always be careful who you let in the door. Protect your secret of success, and take the time to find and use the resources available to help you grow.’’

This year, Double D Family Mat Shop celebrates 22 years of manufacturing custom-built, heavy-duty livestock slip reduction mats.

More about Double D Family Mat Shop

Website: Double D Family Mat Shop
Facebook: Double D Family Mat Shop

Kansas SBDC Advisor

Mariel Huasanga, FHSU

How Kansas SBDC helped Double D Family Mat Shop

Business Plan
Marketing Plan
Market Research
Export

 

 

Filed Under: Business Planning, exporting, global trade, market research, marketing, success stories Tagged With: business help in kansas, dd family mats, Double D family Mat Shop, feed lot equipment, feed lots, feeding america, park kansas businesses, prevent cattle injuries, rubber mats, sbdc, slip resistant mats

Kansas SBDC February 7, 2018 Leave a Comment

Kansas SBDC Exporting and Global Trade

kansas sbdc export and global trade

For Kansas SBDC business clients we make it manageable for small businesses to thrive locally while expanding globally. We advise, refer, and connect businesses to the resources they need to succeed.

We help business owners who are interested in expanding their sales to new overseas markets. They may just be trying to find buyers for their products or deciding on which markets to enter. Our clients include business services, resellers, and manufacturers.

 

KANSAS SBDC EXPORTING AND GLOBAL TRADE Business owners are often unsure about the processes, rules, and regulations as well as the time and effort it will take to explore new markets.

THEY WANT research on international markets, information on how to do business overseas, connections with the right distributors and government assistance organizations

WE PROVIDE strategy development, market research, as well as connections to market research providers, connection to government organizations

THEY BENEFIT We help them determine if and how exporting fits with their overall business, how to find the right markets, establish the right distribution chains, and price effectively to preserve profits.

Do you need help weighing your options? We invite you to contact a location near you when you are ready for assistance.

Business advising is confidential and at no cost to the owner. SBDC services are made available to you and your business by funding from the U.S. SBA, Kansas Department of Commerce, and university hosts and other partners. Curious? Read our FAQs.

So, how does this work?

First, to become a client, you sign up online. Next, a center rep near you will contact you to cover your next steps. Next steps may include an online assessment, training, or it may be a one-on-one meeting with a business advisor.

When you meet with a business advisor the advisor’s role is to listen to you and learn about your market expansion challenges in a judgement-free environment. The advisor will ask about your goals, your needs, and your expectations. They’ll ask about the implications that your market development has on other aspects of your business. We know that marketing doesn’t exist on its own, so to really help your business, we like to look at the whole picture.

When you and your advisor agree on a plan of action, we’ll proceed.

Curious about your company’s export readiness? Take this short export assessment from Global Edge.

What you might discover

You might find that we work best as objective outsider that can be there to talk through ideas or to serve as a sounding board. Or you may need us to dig in and help you prepare or revise a international trade plan. Or you may find that you need us to get deep into the details and work together to develop strategies and tactics to test for a specific product or for your overall brand. Whatever approach works best for you, we’re here to assist.

If we discover that what you need is beyond our scope, we can refer you to great international resources operating as government and other small businesses in Kansas. Even if we refer you to outside resources, you’ll find that we willing to be there to work with you as you implement new programs in your business.

Want to get started? Sign up online.

Businesses interested in exporting and expanding through global markets were often also interested in

  • Strategic Planning
  • Market Research
  • Business Planning

Filed Under: exporting, global trade Tagged With: analyze foreign competition to create sustainable international competitive advantage, assess and minimize export risk, educate export compliance, export buyers list, find buyers for your products, find new markets for my products, hot to find buyers for export products, how to access export financing, how to contact foreign buyers, how to determine the exportability of your products, how to get export orders, how to sell overseas, how to sell products internationally, how to ship overseas, international budget and marketing plan, international logists, product preparation for export

Kansas SBDC January 18, 2018 Leave a Comment

Business Services in Kansas

Services

By guiding small businesses through our services including strategic planning, market evaluation, and more, our clients have reported a significant impact on their business in the form of profitable business expansion, increased sales, as well as job expansion and retention – outcomes that show in our clients’ success.

This year you can learn more about the services our clients use by typing in the service (i.e. market research) in the search box on any page of our website to connect with more stories and resources.

Some of the key areas where we consistently help our clients are the areas of marketing, business planning, and financial analysis. In addition to advising, we refer and connect businesses to the resources they need to succeed. Our clients include business service providers, retailers, and others in business-to-consumer B2C and business-to-business B2B entities.

Any business can access any of our services no matter where they are located in Kansas.

Kansas SBDC Core Services

Marketing

For Kansas SBDC business clients, we help them get their hands around ‘all things marketing.’ We make it manageable for businesses to evaluate their advertising, promotion, and sales efforts.

Often our clients come to us looking for help with marketing choices and are frustrated with trying to evaluate options on their own. We help them weigh the options to make effective decisions that in turn can help their businesses succeed.

Read more about Kansas SBDC Marketing

Business Planning

For Kansas SBDC business clients, we help them develop business plans that make sense. We help business owners that are expanding, reorganizing, or just starting.

Often our clients come to us looking for help with the idea of developing or modifying a business plan. We help them cut through the extras, dive deeper into the analysis, and focus on what they really need to develop a workable plan.

In addition to assisting with business plan development, we help with other organizational choices. Our goal is to make it manageable for businesses to evaluate their market opportunities, project cash flow, and leverage the right financing.

Read more about Kansas SBDC Business Planning

Financial Analysis

For Kansas SBDC business clients, we help them make sense of their numbers. We help business owners that are scaling up, reorganizing, or just starting.

Our clients come to us often looking for help with the data they need to be watching and what cash demand can mean to their business, . In other words, we help them focus on managing by the numbers instead of having them numbers manage them.

As the needs of small business owners have changed, we’ve kept our core services while adding specialized assistance to keep up with their needs.

The following are specialty services we offer at the Kansas SBDC. Advising is offered at no cost to the business. Fee-based consulting is offered for businesses that need a more hands on approach. In all areas we advise, refer, and connect businesses to the resources they need to succeed.

Read more about Kansas SBDC Financial Analysis

Kansas SBDC Specialized Services

Cyber security cybersecurity assessment button click here

For Kansas SBDC business clients, we break down the complexity of cyber security. We make it possible for all businesses to reduce their risks in real time. We advise, refer, and connect businesses to the resources they need to succeed.

We help business owners and decision makers faced with HIPAA and other regulations and businesses that need to comply with new NIST cybersecurity framework and standards to continue doing business with the federal government. Our clients include pharmacies, manufacturers, and business services. Our clients are trying to comply with regulations on their own so we assist them to ensure they are not only in compliance, but more importantly, pull together a manageable plan to protect their businesses.

Read more about Kansas SBDC Cyber security

Technology Commercialization

For Kansas SBDC innovators, we break down the complexity of commercialization. We make it manageable for businesses to run their existing business while expanding through research and development. We advise, refer, and connect businesses to the resources they need to succeed and ensure the engagement on both sides of the table is more productive.

We help innovators interested in working with the U.S. government and private enterprise by connecting the idea people with the people that need the ideas. Our clients include individual developers as well as industries such as biomedical, software development, and UAS. We help our clients make meaningful connections to take the next steps in commercialization.

Read more about Kansas SBDC Technology Commercialization

Succession and Exit Planning

For Kansas SBDC business clients, we help them through the challenge of leaving their business. We make it manageable for business owners to evaluate their options with confidence.

We help business owners who are interested in selling their business to internal or external buyers. By working with owners on how to make the most of their business value, we address their retirement or exit financial needs, and plan for what happens after they sell. Our advising helps reduce the stress of the process.

Our clients include business owners in a variety of industries that want to transition their business to their children, to employees, or to partners as well as sell the business on the market to an outside buyer. Our clients are often unsure of what steps to take to make a smooth transition so we help them plan for a future with which they can be comfortable.

Read more about Kansas SBDC Succession, Transition, and Exit Planning

Exporting and International Business

For Kansas SBDC business clients we make it manageable for small businesses to thrive locally while expanding globally. We advise, refer, and connect businesses to the resources they need to succeed.

We help business owners who are interested in expanding their sales to new overseas markets. They may just be trying to find buyers for their products or deciding on which markets to enter. Our clients include business services, resellers, and manufacturers. Business owners are often unsure about the processes, rules, and regulations as well as the time and effort it will take to explore new markets. We help them determine if and how exporting fits with their overall business, how to find the right markets, establish the right distribution chains, and price effectively to preserve profits.

Read more about Kansas SBDC Exporting and Global Trade

Market Research

For Kansas SBDC business clients we break down the complexity of market research. We make it manageable for small businesses to stay focused on their current day-to-day operations while helping them develop plans for the future.

We help business decision makers from the operations, sales, or marketing side of business by finding the data they need to make critical marketing decisions. By providing our clients with research they can use, we help our clients break down the complex data into actionable information. Our clients often couldn’t afford extensive research and became overwhelmed when deciding what data to use. Using our research with our one-on-one advising we’ve helped our clients determine where to locate, which markets to pursue, and which markets to avoid.

Read more about Kansas SBDC Market Research

Strategic Planning

For Kansas SBDC business clients, we break down the complexity of strategic planning. We make it manageable for small businesses to stay focused on their current day-to-day operations while helping them develop plans for the future. We advise, refer, and connect businesses to the resources they need to succeed.

We make it manageable by providing a customizable approach to fit their specific needs. Our clients include business service providers, manufacturing, retail, ecommerce, and high tech. Our clients come to us at a point where they need a team from the outside to provide a fresh look into their businesses. So we help our clients develop strategies they can live and work with while meeting their current obligations and future goals.

Read more about Kansas SBDC Strategic Planning

Filed Under: Business Planning, cybersecurity, exporting, financial analysis, global trade, government contracting, market research, marketing, strategic planning, succession transition exit planning, Technology Commercialization Tagged With: business help in kansas, business plan, business planning, core services, cyber security, cybersecurity, exit planning, exporting, innovation, international business, market research, marketing, nist cybersecurity framework, sbdc, specialty services, strategic planning, succession planning, technology commercialization

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Contact Us

Greg Panichello, Kansas SBDC State Director
800 SW Jackson St Ste 900
Topeka KS 66612
785-296-6514
panichello@ksbdc.net

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