Course Outline
Instructor: John Spiers
5902 East Mercer Way Mercer Island, WA 98040
eMail: john@johnspiers.com
Course Objective: To establish an import company, or export company, or both.
Summary: The fundamental steps to trade worldwide are simple if broken down and explained. Week by week, each participant will perform one essential step, leading to the founding of an import or export company (or both). Finding products, sourcing, costing, marketing, financing, computerization and distribution are completed week by week, working out of your home to start. We meet "on the internet", so a computer is required to participate.
First week I. Introduction
What we must do to make money in international trade. Learning
on the internet, how to participate fully, rules and standards.
Lecture: Problems and opportunities in small business international
trade; why this course focuses on classic wholesale/distribution
model. Assignment: First reading.
Second week II. The Field of International Trade
The role and value of the small business international trader;
an overview of world trade; the basis for competing. Assignment:
Second reading.
Third Week III. Organizing for Trade; Finding the Best Products
to Sell
Setting yourself up to communicate world-wide, working out of
your home; Finding the best product in the world to sell. Contact
the buyers, explain the product you seek to sell, with a twist.
Getting to the point it is declared a "good idea, it does
not exist." Assignment: Third reading; develop letterhead,
get license; pick a product.
Fourth Week IV. How Importers Find Sources, and Exporters
Find Customers, Part 1.
Working with the NTDB. For importing, where is the best place
in the world to have the product made? For exporting, what country
is the best customer for these products? Contact the target country.
Assignment: Run analysis of your product of NTDB data.
Fifth week V. How Importers Find Sources, and Exporters
Find Customers, Part 2.
Research steps required and more on NTDB analysis. Assignment:
Research your product area, following outline in readings; Conflicting
trends in international trade, do we hafta NAFTA? Fourth Reading.
Sixth week VI. Costings
Plan costs, time line, set up, pricing your products. Assignment:
Fifth reading; cost your product.
Seventh week VII. Selling your Products
Working with standard marketing structures; independent sales
reps, export agents. Prove your concept with customers. Assignment:
Sixth reading.
Eighth week. VIII. Financing When the Banks Will
Not.
Getting paid, banks, letters of Credit and other options. Assignment:
Seventh reading; contact a banker.
Ninth Week IX. Summary and Review.
The fundamental tasks, and which ones to farm out. Writing your
business plan. The post-test.