Who Will You Inspire Today?

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One never knows who may be inspired by what you do.  Take Rana Campbell.

“I mentored a freshman in our dance company at college, and, five years later, she’s working for ‘The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon,’” Campbell said. “She reached out to me because she had heard my podcast interview with a stuntwoman in ‘Black Panther,’ Janeshia Adams-Ginyard, and invited me on the show."

Read more about who you inspire today can help you grow your tribe.

Tip:  Collaboration is far more important than competition.

Atharva Enterprises: Capturing the International Market

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From turning her childhood hobby into a successful business. Kalpana Gayikwad, 35, is the proud owner of Atharva Enterprises, a company that makes diyas, which recently went international, having already captured the national market over the last few years.

Kalpana has 18 women employees, most of them mothers, working to ensure a good future for their children. They earn Rs 6,000-Rs 8,000 every month for around six hours of work daily.

Learn more about her story here.

Today in Global Small Business: Ripple Is About to Make Waves Globally

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

• Four eCommerce CEOs share insights about how they plan, prepare and execute global sales during holiday crunch time.
• 20 new small business ideas in India with low investment or no investment
• Where should global marketers look for partners?
• Will Ripple make waves globally?  Don't know about Ripple?  Learn more.
• Our favorite tool, SurveyMonkey, goes public.
• wegginar®  Learn how to offer your international consumers the same shopping experience on your website that you offer to shoppers in the US.  It's free but you must register to participate 11/7.

The Party Grill

©2018 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

Every meal is a party time.
Perfect for "around the clock" use
Breakfast treat to TV snacks.

The all new Sunbeam automatic electric Party Grill.  (Circa 1965).

Look Beyond Borders to Trade Internationally

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No matter the challenges, Scottish businesses have always ventured out into the world with confidence, rather than turning inward.  And they have extra support through ScotExport 2018, which provides the right information and access to people and organizations that will allow a company to look beyond borders to trade internationally.

"This is where companies can find out more about how to take that next step to exporting or expand on already healthy international trade.  ScotExport also provides access to the wide range of support that Scottish Enterprise, SDI, and our partners in the public and private sectors can provide to exporters.”

Learn more about how easy it is to get set, connect and go global.

Helping SMEs Across the UK Unleash Their International Potential

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FedEx Express has launched a Small Business £20,000 Grant that aims to help SMEs across the UK unleash their international potential by providing a platform to go global and expand their horizons.

“Small and medium businesses are the backbone of the economy and in order to help fast-track their growth, more often than not a ‘boost’ is required in terms of funding," says Martin Davidian Managing Director, Sales, UK North and Ireland, FedEx Express and TNT.

To enter the Small Business Grant, SME owners must register online and showcase their international ambitions and future business success for the judges’ consideration -- up until November 28.

Read more about the grant that helps boost British SMEs.

Say hello to K-beauty

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The global beauty industry is experiencing a revolution driven by South Korea, who tends to be 10-12 years ahead of the rest of the world, helped by the expansion of Instagram, YouTube and beauty blogging.  Say hello to K-beauty, an umbrella term for skin-care products that derive from South Korea.

"The fascination with Korean cosmetics is due to how innovative they are," says Marie Claire's digital beauty editor Katie Thomas.

Before even putting any make-up on, Koreans put in a lot of effort to take care of their skin.  What are some of the unique ingredients in the products?  Brace yourself.

"Snail mucin for moisturizing, pearl for brightening, green tea for oil control and propolis from bees for soothing and nourishing," she [Karen Hong, the founder of K Beauty Bar] reels off.

Learn more about the rise of Korean makeup in the West and how K-beauty is a large part of it.

Solving Global Literacy

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A native of Pakistan, Shafiq Khan was a remarkable digital leader at Marriott International.  He would return frequently to Pakistan, and the state of the country's education system for the poorest members of society were stark. Khan began to connect the dots between the work he did at Marriott and a way to help solve global literacy.  Teach the World Foundation was born.

The company has developed digital tools to help teach those children who cannot afford basic education Pakistan, and the program has expended to Bangladesh, as well.

Read the interview with Shafiq Kahn where he talks about Teach the World Foundation and its mission.

Today in Global Small Business: Keep an Eye on Global

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

• Vote for the next global firm of the future here.
• Keep your eye on global, that is, for MENA e-commerce players.
• Small Chinese e-commerce businesses will suffer most from the US decision to withdraw from the international arrangement that sets global postal rates, with some likely to struggle to survive, company representatives said.
• An oldie but goodie article on the global company's challenge.
• Some good reads ... and don't forget this one.
• How to offer your international consumers the same shopping experience on your website that you offer to shoppers in the US.

America the Beautiful

©2018 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

The author of "America the Beautiful," Katharine Lee Bates, was born in Falmouth, Massachusetts in 1859 and grew up near the rolling sea. Her graceful poetic style came through in poems such as "The Falmouth Bell" ... read more here.

Upskilling and Educating SMEs in Ireland

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Staying Ahead Digital Roadshow, the second in a series of events held by Google in partnership with Enterprise Ireland, aims to upskill and educate Irish SMEs in reaching new customers, expanding their businesses, and future-proofing their operations for a digital world.

Fionnuala Meehan, Head of Google Ireland, says:

“With only 17% of Irish businesses selling across borders online, we see huge opportunities for Irish SMEs to be innovative in the digital marketplace and to become exporters of goods and services. We know that companies with a strong online presence will grow twice as fast and employ twice as many people as those with a minimal or no web presence, and at a time of uncertainty – now more than ever – we believe it is important that Irish SMEs are supported in getting online to build more successful and sustainable businesses.”

Read more about how Google is on the road in Cork, Ireland to to help SMEs stay ahead.

A Time Out with Global Classical Guitarist Alexandra Whittingham

4th Annual Global Small Business Forum 10/19/18 in Chicago

©2018 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

There is only one.  Spectacular.  Global Small Business Forum. And it is held in Chicago on Friday, October 19th, in the morning.  Don't miss it.

To learn more and to register, visit:
http://globalsmallbusinessforum.com

See you there.  (Sneak preview of the program.)

Is There a Wrong Way to Grow a Business Internationally?

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It's pretty easy for me to tell you all the wrong ways to grow a business internationally from failing to secure a guaranteed method of payment on a sale to not bothering to market your business to neglecting the rules and regulations of a country you are about to enter.

So, that all said, let's have a look at the right way to grow your business internationally.

Today in Global Small Business: False Song of Globalization

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

• Register for the 4th Annual Global Small Business Forum held in Chicago on Friday, October 19th; learn from 4 CEOs who talk about how they took their business global. Sponsored by MB Financial, Nixon Peabody and the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.
• Why globalization is under threat -- according to Nobel prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz.
• The false song of globalization.
• How can SMEs go global?
• Strengthening small enterprises worldwide.
• How to boost global e-commerce sales pre-holidays.

A View from Peet's Coffee in Chicago

©2018 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

You never know what you  are going to see when you look out a window on a Friday afternoon at Peet's Coffee & Tea at 400 N. Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Illinois.  There goes a bride.

The Brobe Sells to the World

©iStock/shironosov 

The Brobe, a medical garment company, was spurred by a local cause very dear to Allison Shickel's heart -- but her idea has translated into a rapidly expanding global company.

"A friend of mine had four surgeries for breast cancer," Shickel told CBS MoneyWatch in an interview. "She said they gave me these drains, and she showed me [the garment the hospital gave her]. It didn't hold up or give her any dignity. I was thinking there's no way if my mom or sister had their breast removed that I would give this to them," Shickel said.

That was the insight and inspiration that launched her Austin, Texas-based business the Brobe.  The garment includes engineered interior pockets to handle various post-surgical indignities such as drains, which allows for a very graceful recovery for all.

Learn more about how she pivoted into the global marketplace via her online platform that sells to the world.

Starbucks: Spurring Global Growth

How to Prep Accordingly for Holiday eCommerce Sales

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The holiday eCommerce selling season can be a real challenge — and a profit-booster, provided you prep accordingly.  I [Laurel Delaney] asked four eCommerce CEOs a handful of questions about how they plan, prepare and execute global sales during holiday crunch time.

Here are their answers.

How to Build a Global E-Commerce Brand

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Having a global customer base is a goal for many U.S. companies. Finding the right technology options to automate processes can be one large piece of the challenging puzzle. The right tools and tech can ease the burden of e-commerce businesses trying to grow internationally.

Here's how three companies with a direct-to-consumer online presence talk about the technological challenges and overall successes of going global.

Learn more about how it is easier than ever to build a global e-commerce brand.

Today in Global Small Business: Importing From China

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

• Do aging SME owners face the end of their business?
• Globalization is nothing new, research finds.
• Are your distribution and transportation costs out of control?
• Grab yourself a free book on importing from China.
• A look at an online export price calculator.
• U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement official tells COAC members that export enforcement remains a top priority for the agency.
• Next free of charge wegginar® 11/7:  Make your global online shoppers feel at home wherever they are.

Some Chocolates Need to be Discovered: Donaldson's Is One of Them

I made a lovely road trip to Lexington, Kentucky and this is the little gem I discovered on my way back home:  Donaldson's Finer Chocolates -- around since 1966.  If you are traveling from Kentucky through Indiana (I-65) to Chicago, as I was, you never want to miss it.  The owner, George, is shown above.  When I asked to take his photo, George said, "If you don't want me to break your camera."

Needless to say, Donaldson's Finer Chocolates "are made with fresh creamery butter, rich whole milk, pure cane sugar, top quality chocolate and a lot of Hoosier pride.  It’s a difference you’ll taste immediately and never forget!"

Photos:  @2018 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

Show Results and Your Credibility Will Grow Global

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Ten insights into how you can prove to your clients that your business has all the bells and whistles of bigger companies, in addition to benefits unique to smaller business models.

1. Show, don't tell
2. Share your story
3. Become a partner not a vendor
4. Become more customer-focused
5. Build great case studies
6. Record and publish powerful testimonials
7. Personalize the partnership
8. Believe in yourself
9. Be No. 1 at something
10. Practice the upgrade

Bottom line:  show results and your credibility will grow global.

Positioning For Global Success 10/19/18 (Chicago)

©2018 GSBB Media LLC.  All rights reserved.

Join us for the 4th Annual Global Small Business Forum held in Chicago on Friday, October 19th from 8:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. at the Gleacher Center.

Companies of every size, in every industry and in every country who desire to grow face the prospect of expanding internationally. From finding customers, to making, sourcing and marketing products and services worldwide, to recruiting and retaining global talent with different backgrounds and capabilities, going global is no longer the exception but the rule. The big question is:  How do we do it?

Learn and hear from four (4) successful business owners, who are taking the world by storm as they talk about what it takes to go global, and how companies today can achieve the radical transformation they need if they are to continue to flourish worldwide.

Ten (10) great speakers are lined up:

1. Sonat Birnecker Hart, President, KOVAL Distillery (panelist)
2. Allison Larson, CEO, World Blazer LLC (panelist)
3. Christophe Ridet, co-founder and CEO, Wear Moi (panelist)
4. John Walton, Founder and Managing Director, Jackpoint Jackstand (panelist)
5. Chantal Wittman Meier, Vice President, International Trade Banking MB Financial Bank 
6. Deanna Kunze, Associate, Nixon Peabody 
7. Laurel Delaney, President, GlobeTrade.com and President, wegg® 
8. Ellen Rudnick, previously serving as executive director of the Polsky Center and clinical professor of entrepreneurship at Chicago Booth
9. Marc Schulman, President, Eli's Cheesecake
10. Richard Paullin, Executive Director, ITAGC

Special thanks to the forum sponsors:  MB Financial, Nixon Peabody and the University of Chicago Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.

To learn more and to register, visit:  http://www.globalsmallbusinessforum.com

The Global Small Business Insurance Market 2018

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The Global Small Business Insurance Market 2018 report studies the global small business insurance market size, industry status and forecast, competition landscape and growth opportunity.

What else?  Wait, there's more!

• Study and forecast the market size of Small Business Insurance in global market.
• Analyze the global key players, SWOT analysis, value and global market share for top players.
• Define, describe and forecast the market by type, end use and region.
• Analyze and compare the market status and forecast between China and major regions, namely, United States, Europe, China, Japan, Southeast Asia, India and Rest of World.
• Analyze the global key regions market potential and advantage, opportunity and challenge, restraints and risks.
• Identify significant trends and factors driving or inhibiting the market growth.
• Analyze the opportunities in the market for stakeholders by identifying the high growth segments.
• Strategically analyze each submarket with respect to individual growth trend and their contribution to the market.
• Analyze competitive developments such as expansions, agreements, new product launches, and acquisitions in the market.
• Strategically profile the key players and comprehensively analyze their growth strategies.

Learn more about the global top players, key stakeholders, the market segmented by regions, and the report's objectives.

The World in 2050: How Will We Adapt?

Today in Global Small Business: wegginar® "Small Startup, Big Global Impact"

©2018 Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global™.  All rights reserved.

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

• How does a female engineer and business owner win a $50,000 startup prize?  A month later win another prize of $30,000?  Find out her pitch secret, learn about how she treats water better worldwide, and more.  Register for wegg's® next wegginar® on October 3:  Small Startup, Big Global Impact, with Kati Kollhoff, CEO, NUMIX: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8060785115734801921 -- no charge but you must register to attend.
• Why now is the time to get started exporting online.
• A new wave of Welsh music bands are bidding for global fame - with a helping hand from some industry insiders.
• How this 31-year old makes millions selling soap online.
• Selling heavy construction equipment online.
• What is a good e-commerce conversion rate?