Exporting: Great Opportunities to Grow Your Business   

Enterprise Minnesota will host a webinar on July 9 from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. to help manufacturers make sense of exporting in foreign markets.

"Exporting is a great opportunity for medium size and smaller companies to grow their revenue,"says Business Growth Advisor Roger Hurd, who will conduct the webinar. "Many manufacturers are sitting on a treasure chest with their products and they may not even know it."

Just about half of Minnesota manufacturers are currently exporting their products, according to the annual State of Manufacturing® survey. Of the manufacturers who do sell internationally, most sell in just one country, Hurd says, often because of "accidental exporting," unsolicited  orders that come in from overseas that turn into lucrative sales. "The trouble with these orders is that there is no plan in place to sustain those sales."

"A focused market strategy can help manufacturers move toward exporting in a way that will bring growth to their company," Hurd says. 

Enterprise Minnesota's webinar will lay to rest some of the apprehension manufacturers feel about selling globally. "People get nervous when they are working in foreign currency, unfamiliar distribution networks and dealing with different languages," he says.

One company that found success exporting is GVL Poly in Litchfield. GVL Poly partnered with Enterprise Minnesota to develop a focused strategy. Before GMS services, GVL Poly had about five percent revenue from international sales, excluding Canada. Now, its non-Canada number is 10 percent. The company hopes to reach 20 percent in 2012 with a long-term goal of 50 percent. (See the online version of the December 2011 issue of Enterprise Magazine).

"We can assist companies in moving beyond being 'accidental exporters' and implementing a definitive strategy that has great potential to reap the benefits of international sales," Hurd says.

At the July 9 webinar, Hurd will explain how to develop a proactive marketing strategy for international growth and how to connect with reputable international business experts who help navigate the export process. "Exporting is complicated, but it helps to have resources. There are many resources available at little or no cost to help companies be successful in exporting," Hurd says..

To register for the July 9 webinar call Enterprise Minnesota's events line at 612-455-4239. Also, don't miss our August 22 Business Event on exporting. "Exporting in 2012: The Practices of Profitable Companies" will be held at Mortenson Construction in Minneapolis from 8:00 am. to 11:00 am. Registration information will be available soon.

The Best Approaches to Marketing
in Manufacturing

June 27, 2012
8am-11am Argosy University, Eagan, MN
Registration: $79 Early Bird (before June 12) or $110 regular
Register Online Now!
 

What to Expect

• Can you define the value of marketing for your business?
  

• Is marketing a part of your business strategy?
  

• How can a strategic marketing program contribute to your revenue, profit and growth goals?
  
  

Deb Bly, Enterprise Minnesota Business Growth Advisor, will define true marketing and demonstrate how a focused, strategic marketng plan can drive your business growth and profitability.

Deb brings a solid background in strategic marketing, product marketing, branding, pricing and channel management. She has more than 20 years of experience in identifying new opportunities to grow revenue through new products and markets with in-depth analysis and interpretation of market segments.

Prior to joining Enterprise Minnesota, Deb served as senior marketing manager of new business corporate for Bloomington-based The Toro Company, where she also served in positions as director of marketing for commercial products. Previously, Deb worked for Fridley-based Cummins Power Generation as director/general manager of the mobile business group and as director of marketing for the consumer products division.  

To register for "Best Approaches to Marketing in Manufacturing" Business Event on June 27, 2012
go here