EXPORTING INNOVATIVE GOODS FOR SMALL TO MID-SIZED BUSINESSES
There is no question that small and mid-sized businesses looking to increase sales and profit are taking their businesses global. Consumers and markets outside the United States amount to 80% of the World’s purchasing power, 92% of the World’s economic growth, and 95% of the world consumers. Particularly, U.S. innovative goods are a hot commodity and considered the “gold standard” to the world markets. According to a report by the U.S. Department of Commerce, 98% of U.S. exporters are small and medium-sized enterprises (less than $100 million in revenues) and they account for one-third of U.S. merchandise exports.
Exporting is not just for large national or multi-national companies. Small and mid-sized companies have the ability to take advantage of programs offered by organizations such as the South Carolina Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration, Upstate Alliance, SCMEP, US SBA, and others. Boyd Cycling is one successful example of how a small business can take advantage of these programs and have an active exporting program to increase sales and promote growth.
Come join our speakers to hear how you can get involved with exporting.
Anita Patel – South Carolina Department of Commerce. Anita will discuss South Carolina experts, why small and mid-sized businesses should start exporting and the services and assistance that SC Department of Commerce offers. Anita will discuss the SC Department of Commerce Export Incentives Programs that assist small and medium sized businesses enter new markets and/or increase their exporting activities. Over the last five years, these two programs have generated approximately $9.4 million in export sales, helping South Carolina companies sell products to more than 25 different countries around the world.
Nicole Johnson – Boyd Cycling. Launched in 2009 and formed by a husband and wife team of former professional cyclists, Boyd Cycling focuses on bicycle wheels and has developed innovative and cutting edge technology that are now being sold internationally. Learn how this company with less than 15 employees was able to implement an export program and open international markets for their innovative goods.
Doug Kim – McNair Law Firm. While exporting is certainly available for small and mid-sized businesses, there are a few legal considerations that should be understood. Doug will highlight these areas and provide overview of the topics and the practical ramifications. Topics will include export regulations that can restrict the exporting of certain goods, import regulations of you target country, high level outline of tax considerations, and intellectual property protection.
September 27, 2016
3:45 PM-4:00 PM – Registration
4:00 PM-5:30 PM- Presentations
5:30PM– 6:30 PM – Networking Reception