Only Love Can Drive Out Hate

©2018 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that.  Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that." -- Martin Luther King Jr.

Going Global is the Next Step for Startups

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Entrepreneur India spoke to entrepreneurs and investors to know why startups should consider global expansion after raising funds. We've known all along that launching an online company, even if it is to introduce who you are and what you do, instantaneously makes you accessible to customers worldwide.  Why not learn how to sell those customers sooner, rather than later?

Learn more on why global expansion should be the next step for startups after raising funds.

Why Digital Transformations Fail

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Sometimes you think you are doing everything right but it still isn't good enough.  In the case of Tom Puthiyamadam, a principal with PwC US, based in New York, he shares a story on what he learned when a project he had been working on failed.

The project failed, we realized, for two key reasons. First, although the project’s goals were well defined, they were not communicated across the client’s departments. And second, we were thinking about how the company would work in the present, not how it would work in the future.

Learn more about what he discovered in his journey.

Many Small Independent Players Are Going Global

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It's not just the big restaurant chains (e.g., Tim Hortons, Freshii and Smoke's Poutinerie) going global, for many small independent players are making the jump, too. One such player is Kinka Family, which owns restaurant brands such as Kinka Izakaya and Kinton Ramen, and now has locations in Japan and South Korea.

Kinka's Japan location is a hybrid of the group's Kinka Izakaya banner and its Toronto sushi restaurant JaBistro, according to Ms. Yu [director of marketing and communications for Toronto-based Kinka Family]. The company has tweaked its international branding and menus to stand out in the Asian markets and bring some Canadian-inflected specialties.

Read more about how alternative growth -- international expansion -- can pay off big time for small players.

Helping Sellers Unlock Global Markets

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Thai SMEs want to be competitive and expand their product offerings globally.  CloudCommerce is a one-stop solution for cross-border e-commerce. The channel aims to help sellers, many SMEs, unlock the potential of global markets by connecting with other popular e-marketplaces such as Facebook, Amazon and eBay.

The platform will enable SMEs to manage both e-marketplaces and stock, and will also connect with payment gateways worldwide as well as accommodate multiple languages and currencies. 

Read more on how SMEs are urged to embrace e-commerce.

Today in Global Small Business: How to Build a Global Footprint

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What's affecting me, my clients, my colleagues and other global small business owners:

• Meet the startup CEOs going global with EY.
• China pushes forward a new initiative to help small companies go global.
• How to build a global footprint.
• Pour yourself a cup of tea and then sign up for a WEGGinar™, How a Wicked Road Trip to Minturn, Colorado Inspired a Thriving Global Design Business, held on Wednesday, April 4 at 11:00 a.m. Central time and presented by Julia Knight, founder of Julia Knight Collection.  Julia has created a thriving global design business and you'll hear how she did it. The WEGGinar™ is free of charge thanks to the generous support from IBM, UPS and Bank of America but you must sign up to attend: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/8918865979114339587.
• Breaking the barriers of expansion for SMBs and it starts with going global.
• Is there a secret to achieving success with a business?  No.  There isn't.  But you can glean some insights from others who have come before you.

Today, Make a Mistake

©2018 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new." -- Albert Einstein

Lessons From Experts on Going Global

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Expanding a business into a new overseas market oftentimes requires boots on the ground to ensure you understand local consumption patterns, marketing strategies and the regulatory environment.

In the article below, two experts, Igal Stolpner, Head of Growth and Marketing, Investing.com and John Pollard, Executive Vice President, Registry for Donuts Inc., share hard-won lessons and strategies that you can adopt at your business -- immediately.

Read more about tips for growing your business internationally.

Angel Investor: The Latest Insights and News on Angel Investing Worldwide

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Angel Investor magazine, published by World Business Angels Investment Forum, contains valuable insights and the latest news on angel investing around the world.  It is the only magazine in the world focusing on angel investing and early-stage equity markets.

In its current issue you will find interviews, opinions of guest editors, an in-depth focus on the Visegrad Four Group and insights into the Turkish entrepreneurship ecosystem. You will also hear from the Chairman of the World Business Angels Investment Forum: 6 reasons why 2018 is the year for angel investment to reach new heights.

What else does this new issue have for you?

Engaging interviews:

1. Sweating Over Small Business Finance, Matthew Gamser of USA
2. Taking Ownership of National Progress, Abdulaziz bin Nasser Al-Khalifa of Qatar
3. Shredding the Conventions of Scale-Up & Exit, Callum Laing of Singapore
4. Joining the Dots, Bostjan Skalar of Slovenia
5. Don’t Take the Bull by the Horns, Ari Korhonen of Finland
6. Peppers & Rogers, Dr Abdul Malek Al Jabaar of Middle East
7. Luxembourg’s Rocketing Space Business Industry, Étienne Schneider of Luxembourg

A diverse list of guest editors from around the world:

• The Global Development of Chinese Entrepreneurs, Wang Hui of China
• President Trump Chooses India, Dr Nikhil Agarwal of India
• High-Impact Micro-Angels, Bridging Gaps, Prof Ketikidis and Adriane Thrash of Greece
• Financial Advice R-Evolution, Paolo Sironi of Italy
• Capital Carnaval As Brazilian Angel Investment Flourishes, Cassio Spina of Brazil
• Spread Your Wings In Asia!, Andrew Work of Hong Kong
• Developing India Through Rural Entrepreneurship, Zakir Hussain of India
• Ten Truths About Entrepreneurial Ecosystems, Norris Krueger of USA
• Developing Entrepreneurs Who Will Change The World, Dr Hashim S Hussein of Bahrain
• Realities of Female Entrepreneurship In North Africa, Douja Gharbi of Tunisia
• The Davos of the Global Early-Stage Investment Community, Candace Johnson of France
• Crowdfunding: Seeing Over the Crowd, Dr Charles Sidman of USA
• From Idea to IDO in Six Months, Viktor Romaniuk Wanli of Poland
• Growing Wings: Transitioning From CEO To Angel Investor, Paul Doany of Lebanon
• 6 Keys to Unlocking Angel Investing Success, Baybars Altuntas of Turkey
• The African Opportunity, Tomi Davies of Nigeria

You can download your complimentary copy here:  https://issuu.com/wbaforum/docs/angel_investor_2018

Cross-Border Data Flows Create New Digital Opportunities For Small Businesses

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Cross-border data access, usage, and exchange are essential to economic growth in the digital age.  The world is experiencing unprecedented increases in connectivity and global data flows.

This is underpinning the so-called fourth industrial revolution, which is characterized by end-to-end digitization of all assets and integration into a digital ecosystem.

According to Brookings, at its core, the digitization of economies and international trade should improve efficiency and increase productivity.

Learn more about how the internet and global data flows are a particular opportunity for small businesses to participate in international trade.

Download the report:  Global Economy and Development at Brookings | Regulating for a Digital Economy; Understanding the Importance of Cross-Border Data Flows in Asia by Joshua P. Meltzer and Peter Lovelock

The Sky is the Limit to Going Global

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In the past, successful entrepreneurs had to spend time and money hawking their wares at craft fairs or trade shows, but those days could be over. It’s possible for makers to instantly connect with a global buying community.

In this article, the author unknown, claims it is important for any business idea to be based on a strong foundation, and what this comes down to is identifying a demand that can be dynamically supplied globally.  The author addresses the following five points.

1. Bringing great ideas together as one.
2. Cutting out the middle men.
3. Connecting the dots in real time.
4. Doing much more with less.
5. Bringing the wall down at last.

Read more about the secret weapon to go global with your idea or small business.

Today in Global Small Business: The Irish Impact Edition

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What's affecting me, my clients, my colleagues and other global small business owners:

• Ireland's top 10 exports.
• Ireland starts the year with a boon in exports.
• Trade across the Irish border is bustling.
• Whiskey is exported from Ireland to over 135 international markets. 
• Irish innovation and investment in America drives record employment and economic growth in 2018.
• How creative inspiration can inspire a thriving global design business.  Sign up for a WEGGinar™ held on Wednesday, April 4 at 11:00 a.m. Central time and presented by Julia Knight, founder of Julia Knight Collection. The WEGGinar™ is free of charge thanks to the generous support from IBM, UPS and Bank of America but you must sign up to attend: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/8918865979114339587.

Best Day of the Year: St. Patrick's Day!

"May joy and peace surround you,
contentment latch your door,
and happiness be with you now
and bless you evermore!" -- Irish Blessing

Photos courtesy:  ©2018 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

New Global Shipping App

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International express delivery services provider DHL unveils MyDHL+, an app aimed at the UAE to bring new levels of speed and simplicity to the cross-border shipping process.

Shippers ranging from small businesses to large global corporations will be able to benefit from MyDHL.

Read more about how and why DHL picked the UAE market to launch its new app.

An Unrecognizable Brand Goes Global

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Athletic Propulsion Labs (APL) is a new player from California that is climbing the ranks to take on rivals such as Nike and Adidas.  It is considered an unrecognizable brand that is going global.

APL is different from shoe brands like Nike and Adidas. These big labels have become household names and their logos are globally recognizable. But instead of competing by forcing recognition of its own logo, APL is lettings its design speak for itself.

Learn more about how APL is paying attention to its core customers and outshining the glimmer of the Nike Swoosh or the Adidas triple stripe.

Is Coca Cola Killing the Business of its SME Distributors?

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According to information gathered by a reporter, Coca Cola Company had about twelve distributors in Sierra Leone when it first started operations.  These distributors were known as Key Distributors, some as small business owners. They were responsible for the distribution of all Coca Cola products in the country.

Fast forward to now.

There is a court case looming between the Sierra Leone Bottling Company better known as Coca Cola Company and some of its former Manual Distribution Centres Operators. These Manual Distribution Centre Owners (MDCO) who were Small Business Entrepreneurs (SME) claim that Coca Cola Company has killed their businesses instead of supporting them.

Learn more about how SMEs are taking Coca Cola to court.

Enabler of Global Reach

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How do you shine online to survive or thrive in the global marketplace?  You take it to either Amazon or eBay.

As one business owner puts it about eBay:

Selling on the eBay platform is a natural complement to your small business, your brick-and-mortar store. And it's an enabler of global reach. And so immediately, you go from being just, you know, a store maybe based in Akron [Ohio] to a store that people can see anywhere around the world.

As national public radio station WKSU reports, the eBay Retail Revival is a new project designed to help give local brick-and-mortar businesses, like the Akron, Ohio-based business owner, a global boost and eBay a new way to take on Amazon.

Read more about how eBay trains Ohio retailers to take on the world.

Today in Global Small Business: The Trade War Edition

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What's affecting me, my clients, my colleagues and other global small business owners:

• Oh the trade wars ... it's scary.
• U.S. President Trump is getting the trade war he wants.
• The politics of trade wars.
• The looming global trade war.
• What Trump's trade war could mean for you.
• How a wicked road trip to Minturn, Colorado inspired a thriving global design business.  Sign up for a WEGGinar™ held on Wednesday, April 4 at 11:00 a.m. Central time and presented by Julia Knight, founder of Julia Knight Collection. The WEGGinar™ is free of charge thanks to the generous support from IBM, UPS and Bank of America but you must sign up to attend: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/8918865979114339587.

Weather the Storm

©2018 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved. 

©2018 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved. 

©2018 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved. 

©2018 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"If you want to see sunshine, weather the storm." -- Frank Lane

Young People in Europe are Deferring Their dreams Due to Poverty and Excessive Inequality

Be Ruthlessly Selective

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The Global Small Business Blog helps you take your business global, which means increased revenues and profitability for your business.  Global expansion typically makes you become bigger -- number of employees, new markets and new products, for example.  Yet bigger on everything isn't always better.

For example, to get answers to growth challenges, your inner circle of confidants should stay small.  Oh really, you ask, when your LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook fans might number in the thousands?

According to Harvard Business Review, they have advice on how to shrink it.

Here's one of their tips:

In other words, you need to be ruthlessly selective, because everyone in your core group also has an inner circle with which you will ultimately be connected, and those people will have an inner circle, and so on. 

They go on to say, "Carefully curate your most trusted, inner circle and you’ll be surprised at how much more valuable you’ll become to the larger community of people in the world who care about the same things you do."

Can Any Country Slap on Tariffs Easily?

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U.S. President Donald Trump said he would impose a 25 percent tariff, or tax, on steel imports and 10 percent on aluminum.

The questions that beg to be answered are:

1. Why does Trump want to impose tariffs?
2. Can any country slap on tariffs so easily?
3. Why do stocks shift when tariffs are levied?
4. What's a trade war?
5. How are tariffs affecting negotiations to review the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)?

Learn more about how Trump's planned steel, and aluminum tariffs will affect you.

Global Small Business Success: Identify An Unfilled Niche and Fill it

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While Hubba CEO Ben Zifkin was searching for a birthday present for his wife, he identified an problematic situation and recognized it as a niche waiting to be filled.

Zifkin envisioned a B2B platform to connect brands with the right retail buyers. The point was to empower a new wave of emerging brands and help them grow in today's transforming world of commerce. 

Did he do it?  Yes, and to date the site has connected with more than 60,000 brands and retailers.

Read more about how Hubba helps you go global.

Today in Global Small Business: Women Are Driving the Global Economy

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What's affecting me, my clients, my colleagues and other global small business owners:

• If you are a Canadian, dare to go global.  Here's why.
• Look who's leveling the playing field for SMEs via AI.
• US President Donald Trump is rocking the world -- but not in a fun way.
• Women are driving the global economy.
• Check out five key challenges to global e-commerce growth.
• Become your own global distribution solution.  Listen to a WEGGinar™ held on Wednesday, March 7 at 11:00 a.m. Central time and presented by Rebecca Herwick, President and CEO, Global Products Inc. The WEGGinar™ is free of charge thanks to generous support from IBM, UPS and Bank of America but you must sign up to attend: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/144914921515073794.

The Ladder of Success

©2018 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"The ladder of success is best climbed by stepping on the rungs of opportunity." -- Ayn Rand

Is the Freight Forwarding Industry Primitive In Its Approach?

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Hundreds of thousands of small businesses constitute nearly 97% of total registered companies, collectively responsible for one-third of all U.S. imports and technology.  This industry has helped in making international trade processes a lot smoother than what the scenario was a decade ago but international freight still has a long way to go.

Though the popular opinion about the international freight forwarding industry is that it is primitive in its approach to technology, [Eytan] Buchman the VP of Marketing at Freightos] contends that the situation is a lot different than it looks. He believes this boils down to the dissonance between the perceptions of the shipper and freight forwarder towards international freight processes - while existing on opposite ends of the spectrum.

Read more to learn the effects of the international freight movement on small businesses.

The World Evolves Unevenly

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According to a January survey by JPMorgan Chase’s commercial unit, some 62 percent of small companies, those with yearly revenue of $100,000 to $20 million, expect sales to increase this year. More than 80 percent of mid-size businesses, with up to $500 million a year, expect increased sales.

Still, some people think that small businesses are the last to really notice a change in the economy.

“The world evolves unevenly,” Jim Glassman, head economist for Chase Commercial Bank, told the Washington Examiner. “When the economy starts to get back on its feet, it’s always the big guys that are the first to see it. Smaller businesses hear about things happening but don’t really see it.”

Read more about the global economic outlook for 2018 and how it might impact smaller companies.