[section section_id=”” auto_generated=”1″ _made_with_builder=”true”][row][column width=”1_1″ extraclasses=”” _made_with_builder=”true”][text_block text=”<p><strong>In the first of our series of blogs about selling to overseas markets, we touch on the importance of doing your market research.</strong></p><p>With an ever increasing number of P’s in the Marketing Mix, doing your homework for the UK is hard enough let alone researching international markets. Exporting can however be a very costly exercise if time is not dedicated to understanding client needs in each target market.</p><p>You’ll need to find out:</p><ul><li><strong>Is your product ready?</strong></li><li><strong>Customer buying trends</strong></li><li><strong>Best route to market</strong></li><li><strong>Potential value in terms of sales</strong></li><li><strong>Current price levels</strong></li><li><strong>Competitor activity</strong></li><li><strong>Any relevant legal factors including IP</strong></li></ul><p> </p><p>In fact it is almost impossible to quote for export opportunities without having the above information to hand. This will help you determine exactly what is needed to win the order.</p><p>There are several different ways to carry out market research for export.</p><p>Visit a <strong>trade show</strong> in that country, speak to UK businesses exporting <strong>complimentary products</strong> to that market, use an industry directory and/or <strong>research tools</strong>, explore internet/social media or use UKTI services.</p><p>In all likelihood it will require a combination of all these tools to start putting together that all important Export Plan.</p>” _made_with_builder=”true”][/text_block][/column][/row][row][column width=”1_1″ extraclasses=”” _made_with_builder=”true”][divider style=”{"ruler_type":"line","space":{"height":"50"}}” _array_keys=”{"style":"style"}” _made_with_builder=”true”][/divider][/column][/row][row][column width=”1_3″ extraclasses=”” _made_with_builder=”true”][text_block text=”<p><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-2691 aligncenter" src="https://tda-business.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/advisors-1-150×150.png" alt="Wayne Loschi – Business Advisor" width="150" height="150" /></p>” _made_with_builder=”true”][/text_block][/column][column width=”2_3″ extraclasses=”” _made_with_builder=”true”][text_block text=”<p> </p><p><strong>Wayne Loschi</strong>, Business Advisor<br /><a href="mailto:wayne.loschi@tedcltd.com" target="_blank">wayne.loschi@tedcltd.com<br /></a><a href="https://twitter.com/wayne_TDA" target="_blank"><img class="alignnone wp-image-2705" src="https://tda-business.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/follow-on-twitter.png" alt="follow-on-twitter" width="147" height="42" /></a></p>” _made_with_builder=”true”][/text_block][/column][/row][/section]