We Are the World
Think only gigantic corporations can take part in the global village? Not so. Even for homebased entrepreneurs, international markets are only a click away.
By Moira Allen
Once upon a time, the global marketplace was an arena reserved
for the big players-companies that could afford access to the
information and communications necessary to do business around the
world. Today, the power of the Internet and communication
technologies has made the global market just as accessible to the
homebased entrepreneur. "The Internet is an unbelievable tool," says Abby
Shapiro, co-founder and CEO of International
Strategies Inc. According to Shapiro, small businesses can
access a wealth of country reports, market information and
international business directories online, often at no cost.
"With a few good sites and a directory of folks to contact
outside the United States, you can do a lot just sitting in your
living room," says Shapiro, whose Boston-based firm offers a
wide range of reports and materials for import/export businesses.
"Using e-mail and faxes, you don't even have to pick up
the phone." For many homebased businesses, a Web site is the first portal to
the world. Steve Veltkamp, president of Biz$hop, a homebased
publishing company in Port Angeles, Washington, that produces
business guides and newsletters, points out that you don't even
have to translate your site into another language. "English is
the language of commerce, and the dollar is the currency of
commerce," says Veltkamp, who began assisting other companies
in developing foreign markets through Biz$hop in 1986. What
matters, he says, is making your site "friendly" to
international visitors. Content Continues Below
Shapiro believes your Web site can also be an important source
of leads if you're thinking of developing an import or export
business. "Analyze where [orders] are coming from. If you have
two dozen bids out of Canada, that tells you you have leads in that
area." Still another option for the homebased entrepreneur who wants to
explore international markets is to act as an export intermediary,
connecting U.S. suppliers and international buyers. According to
Dennis Hessler, whose homebased Pensacola, Florida, company,
Spyglass
Point Productions , offers import/export and international
business advice, all you need is sweat equity-and an understanding
of the edge you bring to the marketplace.
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