Export

exporting opens new channels of work at higher margins

To help micro business owners find international customers and create additional revenue streams, the managing director of Plastic Card Services reflects on his firm’s own exporting experiences.

Name:adam Unsworth
Position:managing director
Business:plastic Card Services
Website:?www.plasticcardservices.co.uk
Number of employees:£50
Export markets:?Predominantly Scandinavia and on a more ad-hoc basis to the rest of the world.

Describe your business in one sentence

Manufacturer of plastic cards and associated services including personalisation, artwork, data processing and mailing and fulfilment.

Describe your business model

To do what we do better than the competition, with an emphasis on service and doing that bit extra. We look to lead the way in the market and evolve through innovation whilst targeting areas we know we can add value.

Why do you export and what’s the impact on your business?

We export primarily because it is good business sense to do so. If you can offer a product that is exportable, then why not?

In addition, there are opportunities to open new channels of work at higher margins obviously adding benefit to the business.

What is the most difficult part of selling internationally?

The difficulties are many, language and cultural variances being the most obvious. However, agreeing procedures for both parties to understand and adhere to, and satisfactory payment terms for both parties can be a real challenge.

In short, the same difficulties as any other customer, just further away.

What’s your biggest piece of advice for other business owners?