Are you Export ready?

Before you rush out the door to find an overseas buyer, it is extremely important that you take the time to plan your export drive. By completing an export readiness review you will receive practical guidance on the essential factors required in your business to develop a sustainable export market. This phase will help you assess your business's existing marketing performance, and help you determine whether you are "export ready" or just "export willing".

Remember, exporting is just one of your growth options. Real commitment to export depends on the relative attractiveness of export versus other growth options. Determining your business’s short and long term growth strategy is something in which your entire management team should participate. Exporting is costly and time consuming and should therefore not be considered purely to dispose of surplus production or to provide quick cash flow during domestic market slumps.

See the Victorian Government&s Export Readiness Checklist which highlight things you may need to consider and prepare before you embark on exporting.

The process of creating an export strategy is as follows:

  1. Gauge your business's export readiness.

The following section details the areas you need to cover to complete this assessment. If the outcome of this activity is positive then you should consider proceeding to the next stage.

If the outcome is not positive, you may want to consider the SBDC Export Ready Program.

  1. Completing market research.

This will help you determine where you should export as well as assist in addressing issues such as your product's suitability for that market and any requirements you must meet in order for your product to gain entry.

In the event that your initial assessment indicates that your business is not ready for export, then use the knowledge that you have gathered to set yourself goals to enable you to become export ready. One option would be to consider selling your product inter-state if you are not already doing so. Many of the logistical and supply issues of selling domestically are similar to export and can therefore provide good experience to build your business.