The Trade Bridge Blog

Trade Resources Proliferating

Proliferation can mean "an idea whose time has come." I came across two interesting trade resources today and was reminded of a third. Check out GlobalGoodsTV for online video featuring international trade news and analysis AND product videos. This is brand new and could be a great way to get online video exposure for importers and exporters. Then my friend, Huyen Bui of DI-Central, sent me a link to a super intermediary, B2X, which specializes in acting as importer of record for importers that want to bring in products from China, virtually risk free. I'm anxious to find out how their platform actually performs as they progress. And that lead me to the international trade expert, journalist and publisher, Michael White, and his podcast, the International Business Report. Michael is a trailblazer and innovator in using media to expand the cause of international trade, to educate and to inform. I can almost imagine no borders as I surf betwixt and between these sites.

Top IT Pain Points for Global SMEs

I stumbled on a blog called "The Entreprenuerial Mind" by Jeff Cornwall who is the Director of the Belmont University Center for Entrepreneurship in Nashville. He cites a new study from the International Office of the International Council for Small Business (ICSB):  Global Technology Study conducted in collaboration with DELL Inc. I resonated with the Top IT Pain points not only because I think they apply to all SMEs but also because these are the very issues that TBI sponsors wrestled with when developing the TRG Direct product for US importers: managing costs of technology, product complexity making them too dependent on an outside company for support, and issues with trial-ware installed on new computers.

Fortunately, TRG Direct addresses these IT Pain Points very well.

The cost of accessing the technology is a small, one-time, upfront fee ($1000) and a per entry fee ($20-$30/entry) with no long term commitments or volume contracts to agree to. All the cost of upgrades are borne by the provider, TRG Direct. The issue of support is non-existent because the product is web-based and therefore there is no need for supporting software that is housed on the customer's server. Finally, as the product is web-based, there is no trial-ware to have issues (no need for new computers either).

As we say in my house, "No pain, no pain."

Associations Bore Me

Most associations are pretty boring. Committees, annual meetings, conferences, volunteers, the usual discounts on FedEx and other commonly used services and association dues all resulting in questionable value. That's one reason we don't use the word "association" very much when referring to Trade Bridge International. Even "organization" has a better connotation. (After you read this post, if you have a better word to describe what TBI is, please, leave a Comment for me.)

When we started to develop TBI we realized that it was not worth bupkes (Yiddish for "beans") unless it could offer something of measurable value to small and medium importers and exporters. Small business people don't have time, money or energy for perusing the minutes of meetings to see if there is something of interest to them.

You want unique products and services that address the specific needs of importers and exporters. So that's what we decided to create (see TRG Direct). We offer products and services for small and medium importers and exporters that you just can't find elsewhere: services that increase your competitiveness.

TBI sponsors, Corporation for International Business ( direct ATA Carnets)and Trade Risk Guaranty (direct Customs bonds), have been offering two of those services for years. TBI is taking on the challenge of researching and developing products and services that can truly transform the way you do business and provide measurable improvements in profitability and efficiency.

Our hottest offering right now is self-filing of customs entries for importers. In the works is an alternative to the traditional letter of credit or, as we call it, a "Better Letter of Credit."

I invite you to stick around. Tell us what you want. Let us know how we can help your business. This organization won't bore you.

Falling in the Rabbit Hole

I'm free falling in the blogosphere. Trade Bridge International has a new service that will save US importers millions of dollars a year. I can't wait to tell everyone about it so it seemed like the right time to start blogging. Of course, this blog is still password protected so the news is going to travel pretty darn slowly! I had to start somewhere. The next post will explain the new service. I'm too giddy with excitement to go into details now.