Global Art

Permission to use:  Bryan Marovich (2/24/07)

My American brother-in-law, Bryan Marovich, sent the above wonderful sketch by his artist friend, Luis Christello, who happened to be hanging out with Bryan and other musically inclined friends at the Lgare Cafe (bar) in Rua da Rosa, which is in Bairro Alto, Lisboa.

The jam session players are:

Bryan -- guitar (USA and featured far right back corner)
Carlos -- charango (Portugal)
Andre -- banjo (Portugal)
Manuel -- percussion (Argentina)
Luis -- at the drawing table (Brazil)

At this moment, I bet they are making beautiful world music together.

How To Win Over India's Consumers

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A growing number of U.S. entrepreneurs are reversing the outsourcing trend and exporting their own products to India. Here’s what’s hot and how to use online resources to expand your reach into India.

Happy Chinese New Year (2/18/07)

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Happy Chinese New Year of the Boar. May all your wishes come true (translation on the Hui Chun -- left -- four-character phrase written on pieces of red paper to express traditional sentiments for a rich and bountiful spring. Its origin can be traced back to antiquity, when people believed evil could be warded off by hanging a piece of peach wood painted in red on the wall).

Learn more about the Chinese New Year here, here, here and here.

Export-Import Bank of the United States

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If you have never explored the Export-Import Bank's site, kick back, relax and do it now. They have everything from conference news (click on What's New) to small business export financing help to key market guides. It's worth a visit.

Global Strength Will Boost U.S. Manufacturing

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For many years U.S. manufacturers have been hit by weakness in export markets and the strong dollar. As a result, the trade deficit in goods has surged. But this trend is about to turn, and the export sector will be a source of strength for the manufacturing economy in the years ahead. This is good news not only for the U.S. economy, but also could help stem the rising tide of protectionism.

Go guys. Go gals. Go global!

50 Ways To Go Global

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How do you go global? Let me count the ways. Here are fifty that will help get you started.

1. The Federation of International Trade Associations (FITA)
2. globalEDGE
3. GlobeTrade.com
4. International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce
5. Kompass
6. MyExports
7. U.S. Small Business Administration
8. Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
9. PIERS
10. Stat-USA / Internet
11. The U.S. Commercial Service / BuyUSA
12. The U.S. Government Export Portal
13. Laurel Delaney Company
14. Global Trade Atlas
15. Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation: Eleven Pitfalls to Avoid in Going Global
16. Borderbuster
17. Women Entrepreneurs, Inc.: Build a Website to Go Global
18. The World Bank
19. MarketingProfs Daily Fix: Building a Global Brand
20. Entrepreneur Magazine: Global Village archives
21. LeaderValues
22. UPS
23. National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America, Inc.
24. IOMA Managing Imports and Exports
25. Yale University Library: Emerging Markets Subject Guide
26. The International Chamber of Commerce
27. ICC Business Bookstore USA
28. United States Council for International Business
29. American Association of Exporters and Importers
30. World Trade Centers Association
31. National Council on International Trade Development
32. UPS Global Advisor
33. National Association of Exporting Companies
34. Small Business Edge: A Checklist for Preparing Your Package To Go Global
35. Borderbuster on Squidoo
36. The International Trade Association of Greater Chicago
37. Thunderbird School of Global Management
38. Harvard Business School: Global Initiative
39. Harvard Business Online: Global
40. E-Commerce News: How To Take Your Business Global
41. StartupNation: Taking Your Startup to a Foreign Market
42. Business Strategies Magazine: Go Global or Die
43. Priority Magazine: Going Global
44. The Global Small Business Blog: 20 Books To Get You Global in 2007
45. ChangeThis: Global Guru, Shaking Things Up, Making Things Happen
46. Global E-Newsletter: Borderbuster
47. The World Bank Group: Doing Business
48. U.S. Census Bureau: Foreign Trade Statistics
49. Beyster Institute
50. Love Goes Global

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Copyright ©2007 Laurel J. Delaney. All rights reserved.

Your Hired, But Global Business Experience Preferred

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As global information and communications technology (ICT) companies recognize that success in developing countries is essential to remain competitive, smart entrepreneurs -- like you -- around the world should be grinning with anticipation of the transformation ahead. And creative ICT professionals should consider spicing up their resumes with their emerging-market experiences.

Read more, here.  Or, try here.  Note:  Some links may not work due to companies going out of business or changing their servers.

Are You No. 1 Globally?

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In a bid to be No. 1 globally, Japan's top retailer opens a flagship Uniqlo store in Manhattan.

The unveiling of Uniqlo's new global flagship store was audacious, even to the jaded habitués of Manhattan's SoHo. At 36,000 square feet, it's the area's second-largest retail showroom after Bloomingdale's, dominating a block packed with rivals like H&M and Banana Republic.

The cool Japanese retailer tried to build buzz by blanketing the city with ads featuring offbeat celebrities like Sonic Youth guitarist Kim Gordon (pictured). It worked: Holiday crowds flocked to the slick emporium that seemed to have popped out of nowhere.

What are you doing to create global buzz?

No More Steps!

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For years, visitors to China have delighted in the unusual English translations that appear on the nation's signs. Now, through blogging, tourists and expatriates have been posting photographs reflecting these gaffes. One person wrote the following on his blog: This is about passion, not mockery.

Go here to check out where the English dictionary meets Chinese grammar.

Strategic Global Sourcing: Hitting A Moving Target

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When sourcing from Asia and the Pacific, manufacturers need to constantly keep on top of who does what well.

Imagine going to your favorite restaurant and finding out that there's a new chef in town and the dish you made a special trip for now tastes like wallpaper paste.

"Global sourcing dynamics are also always changing and a good source today may not be so good six months from now," observes Christopher W. Runckel, founder of Runckel & Associates, a Portland, Ore.-based consulting company that helps businesses expand in Asia.

Read more here to learn about tips on finding a good sourcing partner.