Key learnings
- Trade partners can be international commercial agents that work on your behalf to introduce your products or services to potential customers, or distributors that buy your products and sell them to the final customer.
- When choosing a trade partner, you should consider several factors, including complementary products or services, financial stability, market knowledge, quality standards, communication and support, logistics, and references and reputation.
- Remember that your brand reputation in your new market will be influenced by how your trade partner conducts themselves and many customers won’t separate the two organisations when making judgements.
- Seek support from government bodies, chambers of commerce, export organisations, banks, and logistics companies to find potential partners and put the right documentation in place.