| Think about this. You are planning to engage in | | | | So, if your product is bulky or heavy, selling |
| "eCommerce", to take your business online. So, | | | | outside your locale may not be |
| you need to learn a new set of business rules, a | | | | practical.Furthermore, you need to consider that, |
| new way of doing things, because online business | | | | whilst most countries use the same Standard |
| is "different", right? | | | | International Trade Classification (S.I.T.C) codes for |
| Well, actually, no, not really. You still have a | | | | deciding on how much import duty to levy on a |
| product or service to sell. You still have a store | | | | particular product, the actual duty to be paid |
| with a shop "window" (your website) and you still | | | | varies from country to country, and such |
| need the customers to visit your store, in order | | | | variations can (and will) lead to disputes. Again, |
| to buy whatever it is that you are selling.The only | | | | using my client as an example, they sold a |
| major difference is that (continuing the analogy) | | | | consignment of toner cartridges to a customer in |
| your local store window can only be seen by a | | | | Finland, which got held up in Customs for several |
| small group of people, whereas your online | | | | weeks on arrival in Helsinki, because of a dispute |
| business can be seen by the whole world. By | | | | over the Import Duties to be paid.Whilst this was |
| engaging in eCommerce, you can take your | | | | not the fault of my client or his customer, |
| business "global". | | | | nevertheless, the result was an unhappy |
| For many businesses, this is truly an advantage, | | | | customer, who obviously did not become a |
| representing a wonderful opportunity.But that is | | | | regular customer. |
| not the case for everyone, particularly for | | | | Likewise, if you plan on selling a service online, |
| companies who sell a physical, tangible product. | | | | can that service be provided outside your local |
| When planning to go online, therefore, you should | | | | area in such a way that you still make money? |
| spend some time thinking about your product and | | | | Do you need to have one of your own staff |
| exactly who your target market is, because this | | | | actually work with the customer (in which case, |
| will be a crucial factor in determining whether your | | | | you need to stay local) or can the work be easily |
| venture is a success or a failure. | | | | subcontracted on a global basis? Would it be easy |
| What it is that you plan to market on your | | | | to find such a local subcontractor capable of |
| eCommerce enabled website, and who will want | | | | supplying your advertised service in such a way |
| to buy it? Some products will, by their very | | | | that both you and the customer are happy? How |
| nature, not be totally suited to a world wide | | | | much would such a subcontractor cost?Unless you |
| market. Pork based food products for example, | | | | can get positive answers to all of these questions, |
| will not be popular in Muslim countries, nor will | | | | then, again, it may pay you to keep your |
| wine, whisky or beer. Sales of open toed sandals | | | | services local, rather than overreaching, in order |
| may be disappointing in Iceland, Greenland and the | | | | to become a global player. |
| frozen polar North.Secondly, give very careful | | | | The simple truth is that, whilst the global nature |
| thought about how you will get your product to | | | | of the internet allows you so sell to the whole |
| the customer. For example, if you were to make | | | | world, it is the nature of your product or service |
| laser toner cartridges in Asia (as one of my client | | | | that will ultimately decide whether this is practical |
| companies does) there is absolutely no sense in | | | | for your potential customers, and profitable for |
| trying to sell one or two cartridges at a time to a | | | | you, or not. Cowan is an enterpeneur, |
| customer in the USA, because of the cost of | | | | businessman & writer. He is also an international |
| delivery. | | | | racing driver & full time father. |