Studying competing products in the country where you wish to do business is a great way to target what works in that market. If you cannot visit the country and scan store shelves yourself, get in touch with folks on the ground there and see if they can apprise you of what products are comparable to yours.

Meanwhile, grab a sample of your own import/export-ready product, and let’s run through our checklist:

1. The name of your product.

Sure, it sounds fine and intriguing to an American, but what does it mean in the target market? Find out beforehand. If you don’t, you will end up with a fiasco like Chevrolet had on their hands when they introduced their new automobile called the “Nova” in Venezuela — which, in Spanish, means “doesn’t go”!

2. The colors of your packaging. Continue reading “How to Prepare Your Product for Import/Export” →