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Source: Small Business
Management
In an export business,
selecting and
preparing a product for export requires not only product knowledge but also knowledge of
the unique characteristics of each market being targeted. The market research conducted
and the contacts made with foreign representatives should give the exporting company an
idea of what products can be sold where. Before the sale can occur, however, the company
may need to modify a particular product to satisfy buyer tastes or needs in foreign
markets.
The extent to which the
export business
will modify products sold in export markets is a key
policy issue to be addressed by management. Some exporters believe the domestic product
can be exported without significant changes. Others seek to consciously develop uniform
products that are acceptable in all export markets.
If the company manufactures more than one product or offers many models of a single
product, it should start with the one best suited to the targeted market. Ideally, the
firm chooses one or two products that fit the market without major design or engineering
modifications. Doing so is possible when the company
deals with international customers with the same demographic characteristics or with
the same specifications for manufactured goods,
supplies parts for domestic goods that are exported to foreign countries without
modifications,
produces a unique product that is sold on the basis of its status or foreign appeal, or
produces a product that has few or no distinguishing features and that is sold almost
exclusively on a commodity or price basis.
PRODUCT PREPARATION CONSIDERATIONS
What foreign needs does the product satisfy?
Should the firm modify its domestic-market product for sale abroad? Should it develop a
new product for the foreign market?
What product should the firm offer abroad?
What specific features - design, color, size, packaging, brand, warranty, and so on -
should the product have?
What specific services are necessary abroad at the presale and postsale stages?
Are the firm's service and repair facilities adequate?
To
Export Business -
Top
PRODUCT ADAPTATION
To enter a foreign market successfully, a company may have to modify its product to
conform to government regulations, geographic and climatic conditions, buyer preferences,
or standard of living. The company may also need to modify its product to facilitate
shipment or to compensate for possible differences in engineering or design standards.
Foreign government product regulations are common in international trade and are
expected to expand in the future. These regulations can take the form of high tariffs or
of nontariff barriers, such as regulations or product specifications. Governments impose
these regulations to
protect domestic industries from foreign competition,
protect the health of their citizens,
force importers to comply with environmental controls,
ensure that importers meet local requirements for electrical or measurement systems,
restrict the flow of goods originating in or having components from certain countries,
and
protect their citizens from cultural influences deemed inappropriate.
It is often necessary for a company to adapt its product to account for geographic and
climatic conditions as well as for availability of resources. Factors such as topography,
humidity, and energy costs can affect the performance of a product or even define its use.
The cost of petroleum products along with a country's infrastructure, for example, may
indicate the demand for a company's energy-consuming products.
Buyer preferences in a foreign market may also lead a manufacturer to modify its
product. Local customs, such as religion or the use of leisure time, often determine
whether a product will sell. The sensory impact of a product, such as taste or visual
impact, may also be a critical factor. The Japanese desire for beautiful packaging, for
example, has led many companies to redesign cartons and packages specifically for this
market.
A country's standard of living can also determine whether a company needs to modify a
product. The level of income, the level of education, and the availability of energy are
all factors that help predict the acceptance of a product in a foreign market. If a
country's standard of living is lower than that of the exporters’, a manufacturer may
find a market for less sophisticated product models that have become obsolete in his
domestic market. Certain high-technology products are inappropriate in some countries not
only because of their cost, but also because of their function. For example, a
computerized industrial washing machine might replace workers in a country where
employment is a high priority. In addition, these products may need a level of servicing
that is unavailable in some countries.
Market potential must be large enough to justify the direct and indirect costs involved
in product adaptation. The firm should assess the costs to be incurred and the increased
revenues expected from adaptation (they may be difficult to determine). The decision to
adapt a product is based in part on the degree of commitment to the specific foreign
market; two firms, one with short-term goals and the other with long-term goals, may have
different perspectives.
To
Export Business - Top
ENGINEERING AND REDESIGN
In addition to adaptations related to cultural and consumer preference, the exporter
should be aware that even fundamental aspects of its products may require changing. For
example, electrical standards in many foreign countries differ from the exporters’.
It is not unusual to find phases, cycles, or voltages (both in home and commercial use)
that would damage or impair the operating efficiency of equipment designed for use in the
domestic country. These electrical standards sometimes vary even in the same country.
Knowing this requirement, the manufacturer can determine whether a special motor must be
substituted or arrange for a different drive ratio to achieve the desired operating
revolutions per minute.
Similarly, many kinds of equipment must be engineered in the metric system for
integration with other pieces of equipment or for compliance with the standards of a given
country.
Since freight charges are usually assessed by weight or volume (whichever provides the
greater revenue for the carrier), a company should give some consideration to shipping an
item unassembled to reduce delivery costs. Shipping unassembled also facilitates movement
on narrow roads or through doorways and elevators.
To
Export Business - Top
BRANDING, LABELING, AND PACKAGING
Consumers are concerned with both the product itself and the product's supplementary
features, such as packaging, warranties, and service. Branding and labeling of products in
foreign markets raise new considerations for the company:
- Are international brand names important to promote and distinguish a product?
Conversely, should local brands or private labels be employed to heighten local interest?
- Are the colors used on labels and packages offensive or attractive to the foreign buyer?
In some countries, certain colors are associated with death, national flags, or other
cultural factors.
- Can labels be produced in official or customary languages if required by law or
practice?
- Does information on product content and country of origin have to be provided?
- Are weights and measures stated in the local unit?
- Must each item be labeled individually?
- Are local tastes and knowledge considered? A dry cereal box picturing a local athlete
may not be as attractive to overseas consumers as the picture of a local sports hero.
A company may find that building international recognition for a brand is expensive.
Protection for brand names varies from one country to another, and in some developing
countries, barriers to the use of foreign brands or trademarks may exist. In other
countries, piracy of a company's brand names and counterfeiting of its products are
widespread. To protect its products and brand names, a company must comply with local laws
on patents, copyrights, and trademarks. A firm may find it useful to obtain the advice of
local lawyers and consultants where appropriate.
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Export Business - Top
INSTALLATION
Another element of product preparation that a company should consider is the ease of
installing that product overseas. If technicians or engineers are needed overseas to
assist in installation, the company should minimize their time in the field if possible.
To do so, the company may wish to preassemble or pretest the product before shipping.
Disassembling the product for shipment and reassembling abroad may be considered by the
company. This method can save the firm shipping costs, but it may add to delay in payment
if the sale is contingent on an assembled product. Even if trained personnel do not have
to be sent, the company should be careful to provide all product information, such as
training manuals, installation instructions, and parts lists, in the local language.
WARRANTIES
The company should include a warranty on the product, since the buyer expects a
specific level of performance and a guarantee that it will be achieved. Levels of
expectation for a warranty vary from country to country depending on its level of
development, competitive practices, the activism of consumer groups, local standards of
production quality, and other similar factors.
A company may use warranties for advertising purposes to distinguish its product from
its competition. Strong warranties may be required to break into a new market, especially
if the company is an unknown supplier. In some cases, warranties may be instrumental in
making the sale and may be a major element of negotiation. In other cases, however,
warranties similar to those in the exporters’ country are not expected. By providing
an unnecessary warranty, the company may raise the cost of the product higher than the
competitors' costs. When considering this point, exporters should keep in mind that
servicing warranties will probably be more expensive and troublesome in foreign markets.
It is desirable to arrange warranty service locally with the assistance of a
representative or distributor.
SERVICING
Of special concern to foreign consumers is the service the company provides for its
product. Service after the sale is critical for some products; generally, the more complex
the product technology, the greater the demand for presale and postsale service. There is,
therefore, pressure in some firms to offer simpler, more robust products overseas to
reduce the need for maintenance and repairs. exporters who rely on a foreign distributor
or agent to provide service backup must take steps to ensure an adequate level of service.
These steps include training, periodically checking service quality, and monitoring
inventories of spare parts.
To
Export Business - Top
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