Start Rowing

“Only the guy who isn't rowing has time to rock the boat.” ~ Jean-Paul Sartre

Enjoy your weekend.

Photo credit: Laurel J. Delaney, President, GlobeTrade.com

Posted by: The Global Small Business Blog

A Smarter City Vision: Ho Chi Minh

Follow the progress of all IBM Corporate Service Corps teams.

On this one, Michele Grieshaber shares her team's vision: Ho Chi Minh City

Posted by: The Global Small Business Blog (a GlobeTrade.com company)

Banks on Wheels: Bankmobiles

Instead of Good Humor or Bookmobile trucks, in this case we have what are called Good Mobile Bank trucks ... and they are doing a whole lot more good for so many people who need access to capital in remote parts of the world.

Read more about this here. This bank "gets it."

Illustration credit here.

Posted by: The Global Small Business Blog

KFC's Parent Company Conquers the World

What's mightier or bigger than McDonald's? KFC's parent company, Yum! Brands, which also owns Pizza Hut and Taco Bell, has earned the exclamation mark on which it insists as the world's largest restaurant company -- is poised to grow fast in China, Russia and India.

With 37,000 restaurants in 110 countries, Yum! even eclipses that more famous icon of American colonization, McDonald's, to rank as the world's largest restaurant chain in terms of numbers of outlets.

Read more here.

Illustration credit here.

Posted by: The Global Small Business Blog

Open to International Investors: Indonesia

Why is Indonesia so ripe to international investment opportunities?

Indonesia has a very positive story to tell -- for openers, its economy is on track to hit $1 trillion in GDP by 2014. The country is the third-largest democracy in the world and it is in a demographic sweet spot -- half its population is under 30.

Read more on why Indonesia might be a good place to invest or export to -- here.

Posted by: The Global Small Business Blog

Flags of the World

The Central Intelligence Agency does a magnificent job featuring flags of the world. You absolutely must check it out. Great history lesson.

In addition, they publish and update The World Factbook, world leaders, CIA maps and publications and so much more.

It's worth a nice long visit. Go here for more education.

Photo credit here.

Posted by: The Global Small Business Blog

Be Open to Possibilities in Our World

The sky is the daily bread of the eyes ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Photo credit: Laurel J. Delaney (Chicago skyline extraordinaire -- current weather here)

Posted by: The Global Small Business Blog

Why a Franchise Company Should Go Global

The article, "Why Go Global? Compelling Reasons to Expand Internationally," outlines key steps for marketing a franchise organization in other countries, and examines a few simple reasons for going global.

Go here to read the entire article.

Posted by: The Global Small Business Blog

No Excuses, Just Export Results

Now there's absolutely no excuses for not learning how to export. There are a number of training opportunities available to both companies who are new to exporting and companies who are experienced exporters.

Check them out here.

Do Not Fear the Globalization of Higher Education

The new global brain race is intensely competitive.

Read all about it here.

Posted by: The Global Small Business Blog

SBA's Podcasts on Small Business Exports

The SBA offers podcast feeds on a range of small business topics. You can listen to these files on your computer or download them to your MP3 player and take them with you.

A few offer tips on exporting. Example:

Exporting to Bahrain
Featuring Nabeel A. Rahman al-Mamood, Bahrain Chamber of Commerce

Bahrain is encouraging U.S. small business to explore exporting. This Middle Eastern country does business in English and is looking to expand imports in a variety of industry sectors.

( Transcript )

Learn more here.

General Mills Seeks Deals to Expand Internationally

As the luck of General Mills (world's six largest food company) would have it, the maker of Lucky Charms cereal and Progresso soup said sales will rise to $18 billion by 2015, driven by international expansion.

General Mills projects the international unit, its fastest growing division over the last five years, will generate more than $3.7 billion in sales in 2015, up from $2.7 billion in 2010. The company is also “actively working” to find deals to expand overseas, particularly in emerging markets such as Brazil, Russia, India and China.

Read more here.

Perched On Top of the World

Hope you are setting your sights high for the weekend. Enjoy!

Photo credit: Laurel Delaney, Chicago lakefront

Posted by: The Global Small Business Blog

Global and Domestic Demand Begins to Return

The Atlantic reports:

Even though the trade gap hit an 18-month high in May, exports rose substantially, by $3.5 billion. Imports just grew faster, by $5.5 billion. But increasing exports is pretty significant news. Last month they declined by $1 billion, so a big bump in the positive direction is welcome news. In fact, exports grew to the largest amount we've seen since September 2008, hitting a 20-month high.

Read more here.

Posted by: The Global Small Business Blog

Exports Are Rebounding Slowly

Why look here:

Entrepreneur.com's Daily Dose indicates:

Exports Are Up -- Here's How to Get Your Share

The news everywhere is that exports are up 17 percent -- from when and which companies? I'm all for it but my hope is that small businesses are truly benefiting from this new wave of exports.

Check this piece out too. Statistics referenced on exports are slightly different than elsewhere.

Illustration source here.

How Much Will Our Global Economy Grow?

Are Americans buying more than they are selling overseas?

"Definitely the weakness in trade through May suggests less momentum in the economy," said Shawn DuBravac (Twitter), chief economist for the Consumer Electronics Assn.

Read more here.

Photo: American brands made in China.

Starbucks Keeps Growing Global

Starbucks has launched two new quick-brew products to expand the coffee giant's presence in the UK and Japan.

Read more here.

Pictured (the original VIA product).

Who's Using Facebook In Latin America?

Take a look at the demographics of Facebook's top Latin American markets (Argentina is one of them as featured) here.

Graph credit: As noted above.

Emerging Markets Make Up a Growing Share of Japanese Exports

Sound familiar?

Japanese companies from Toyota to Canon are for the first time looking at poor people in emerging markets as potential consumers.

To offset the slump at home, Japan is seeking new, high-growth markets.

See where they are headed here.

Similar story: "Japan's Exporters Eye Every Rupee"

Posted by: The Global Small Business Blog

Do Small Businesses Benefit From the National Export Initiative?

I've been wondering about this for some time. Do small businesses really benefit from the National Export Initiative? Every time a journalist/reporter asks me about it, I say the same thing: I am not so sure.

Has the number of U.S.A. small business exporters changed much over the last two decades let alone the last four months? I've tracked a number of anywhere from 240,000-270,000 SB exporters.

Anyone know what the current number is considering the BIG export push?

Please weigh in if you have the facts, thanks.

Read more here.

FYI: small business Boeing Chairman, President and CEO Jim McNerney is Chair of the President’s Export Council

How to Enter Into a U.S. Sales Agreement

We've known Cliff Ennico for a number of years (met him for the first time in Chicago back in 2001). He's a lawyer, syndicated columnist and author of numerous books/articles on entrepreneurship and small business.

He did a great job with this Q&A (still relevant) on:

Getting Started in an Import/Export Business (2007)

Danone's Emerging-Market Food Sales

Danone is on a mission to expand its pantry to woo the world's poor. It starts with a 10-cent tube of Dolima drinkable yogurt.

Read all about it here. Watch the video.

Here's another perspective.

Illustration source: Danone

Wood, For Wherever You Go in this World

Take a peek at the Global Passage Collection.

Photograph (above) of wood grain laminated onto particleboard. Nine choices available, including Indian tigerwood, Brazilian cherry, and African padauk.

Learn more about the company that produces this product:

Pergo.com

Pergo chooses to do business in Africa, Asia, North America and Europe. This video is a riot (very effective -- shows how beautiful yet tough Pergo's flooring is).

International Revenues Rising

According to the International Business Survey, released by HSBC's Commercial Banking division, it found that U.S. mid-sized companies, much like their large-cap brethren, are increasingly pinning their growth plans on markets overseas even as the U.S. economic recovery slowly takes hold.

Not surprising:

HSBC's International Business Survey found that the portion of U.S. executives planning to increase their overseas sales targets rose sharply to a survey high of 72%, up from 49% in 2008 and 56% in 2009, underscoring the rapid globalization of the core of America's economy. Fifty-six percent (56%) of the executives polled say their overseas sales are growing faster than domestic sales, a rebound from 52% last year though still below the 67% level seen in 2008.

Read the news release here.

Can't seem to find the actual study. If you need further information, contact Juanita below.

Media contacts

• Juanita Gutierrez
• juanita.gutierrez@us.hsbc.com

The U.S. Has Entered a New Era of Global Competitiveness

According to the McKinsey Global Institute report, "Growth and Competitiveness in the United States: The role of its multinational companies:"

• The global context in which U.S. MNCs compete and invest is shifting. The United States retains many strengths that make it one of the most attractive markets for multinational companies’ participation and investments. But numerous fast-growing emerging markets and some advanced economies are making huge strides in increasing their attractiveness. The United States has entered a new era of global competition for multinational activity.

This fact is merely one of numerous economic impacts U.S. multinationals are facing in the new world marketplace.

To learn more:

Read the executive summary (PDF - 1.93 MB)
Read the report (PDF - 3.18 MB)

In addition, if you've got the time, here are two interesting commentaries related to the report that are worth a read:

-> The Global Jobs Competition Heats Up

-> Time to Go Global with Great Economic Freedom

By the way, Happy Birthday No. 234 America!

Posted by: The Global Small Business Blog

Buffet Goes Global

We keep talking about the importance of taking your business global but now the American king of investing, Warren Buffett (pictured), is looking outside our borders for investments that bring lucrative returns.

Shouldn't that tell us something?

Read more here.

Refer to past posts about Buffett here, here and here.

Free eBook: Entrepreneurial Obsession by Laurel Delaney

Here's to a great 4th of July holiday weekend where you kick back yet make time for some good old-fashioned summer reading. We hope it starts here.

Download our new e-book:

"Entrepreneurial Obsession: 13 ways to create a brighter future for your business" by Laurel Delaney

This is a compilation of articles I authored as a global business expert for Small Business Trends that were originally published over at the American Express OPEN Forum.

It's our gift to you. Enjoy. Pass it along to anyone you know who might benefit from reading it.

Posted by: The Global Small Business Blog