Step-by-step exporting in 9 practical sheets
If your company is in good health and you're looking to make it grow, exporting your goods or services is one solution! Although rich in opportunities, Belgium remains a small market, with borders that can't be extended. To help you take your first steps in exporting, the export team of hub.brussels has compiled a series of instructional sheets. These include questions to ask at each stage of your prospecting process, expert advice and useful links and contacts to help you go further. Let's get going!
It's not enough to have a product or service that works in Brussels to thrive also internationally. Many factors come into play, such as the competition in the chosen market, of course, but also your online referencing, possible staff secondment and your company's social responsibility.
Are you ready to export? Take the test. Did you get the green light? Then let's dive into the adventure.
How to put your company in prospecting mode
In these initial sheets, you'll analyse whether your company is ready to export (cash flow, stock, market/product suitability, prospects), whether your product/service needs to be adapted (packaging, compliance with international standards), whether the pricing needs to be reviewed (calculation of fixed/variable prices, customs fees, transport, warehousing and insurance costs, etc.), which market(s) your products/services might be well received in (culture, political and economic climate, etc.), as well as the most appropriate distribution method (intermediaries, local representative, representative office, etc.).
Download the Prospection fact sheet (PDF)
How to manage the administrative formalities
In these technical sheets, we'll look at the VAT arrangements for international sales (whether or not your products/services are subject to VAT, modes of transport, etc.), the rules applicable within and outside the EU, customs formalities and the different types of international commercial contracts.
Download the Formalities fact sheet (PDF)
How to avoid export pitfalls with solid contracts
International business requires a sound strategy, reliable partners and good contracts. In this guide, we'll highlight the importance of drafting them as carefully as possible to minimise your risks. These can be political (change of regime, terrorism, expropriation, etc.), cultural or exchange-related (depreciation of the local currency, etc.).
We'll also look at funding mechanisms: how to ensure your bank trusts you, how to maintain good cash flow, and how to calculate financing costs depending on the country (taxes, logistics, customs, etc.).
Download the Contracts fact sheet (PDF)
How to simplify export logistics
When exporting your goods to a country outside the European Union, you must first find out about the formalities and documents required by the buyer's country, as well as the procedures to be carried out with the Belgian authorities (federal, regional or sectoral). These sheets will therefore deal with Incoterms® (rules used in national and international trade to facilitate global commerce) and the origin of goods.
Download the Logistics fact sheet (PDF)
How to set up your digital prospecting
Website, social networks, newsletters... there's no shortage of ways to attract and retain new prospects. The purpose of these is to help you target your audience and adapt your communication. These sheets should enable you to carry out a digital marketing analysis, to show you how customers find and select your products, and how you're positioned compared to your competitors. The aim is to implement a targeted digital strategy.
Download the Digital Prospecting fact sheet (PDF)
How to stand out at an international trade fair
Trade fairs and shows are a must if you want to make a name for yourself in a market. They enable you to promote and get direct feedback on your products and services, meet new prospects, meet or select agents, distributors and suppliers, and measure yourself against the competition. This instructional sheet will help you make sure your brand is un-miss-able.
Download the Trade fair fact sheet (PDF)
How to grow your e-commerce business internationally
There are three main online sales strategies for your brand, depending on its maturity: E-tailers (for traffic generation & logistics), Market Places (to kick-start your e-commerce growth quickly if your brand is already established) and Direct (requires significant investment in IT and audience creation, but gives you full control over the sales process). In these sheets, we'll look at which model is best suited to your brand and take a closer look at the specific case of alcoholic beverages.
Download the E-commerce fact sheet (PDF)
How to protect your brand
Copyright, intellectual property, certificate of origin: once you've launched your product or service to international markets, you'd have reason to hope that it will generate interest. The key is to protect it so that it remains YOUR product.
We'll also look at how to package and label your products so that they comply with the certification for exports of foodstuffs, as well as the possible secondment of staff when you're selling abroad.
Download the Intellectual Property fact sheet (PDF)
How to sell your organic products in neighbouring countries
This last sheet is aimed at any food companies wishing to sell their organic products in France or Germany, this sector's two biggest markets worldwide. Find all the useful contacts to help you get started in these neighbouring markets!
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