Frequently Asked Questions

The key to developing an export business is know-how. Know-how can be obtained through hiring experienced staff or through engaging a specialist consultant with experience in export markets.

The risks are many and varied. Some basics risks are:

• Securing payment
• Goods not arriving in the same condition as they left
• Developing trust with the partners you choose to engage
• The risks will vary depending on your product or service

ClientLink is affiliated with organisations in Japan, China and throughout Australia. We are continually growing our network and expanding to new countries.

There are varied grant schemes available from both the Federal and State Governments. The Australian Government provides information about the available grants via its online services on the internet. There are also specialist companies handling grant applications.

Whether new to export, wondering how and where to begin, seeking a fresh opinion or simply needing a sounding board, ClientLink will help you to expand your global reach, and connect with customers in foreign countries.

ClientLink's offerings are tailored to suit the individual needs of your business. ClientLink will assist you to understand where the best opportunities for your business exist in overseas markets. ClientLink will provide professional expert opinion and advice. ClientLink will help you plan and manage your exports efficiently and effectively.

ClientLink's speciality is assisting your business to achieve Global Market Access™ and connect with customers in foreign countries. We believe in the Global Market Access™ program because devising an appropriate strategy for your business will magnify your chances of greater success.

ClientLink has over 17 years' experience in international business & export marketing within the sectors of household appliances, fast moving consumer goods and commodities.

You may forgo your opportunity to increase your bottom line as well as expand your brand reach by not venturing into overseas markets. Your return on investment will be less favourable in many circumstances.

By engaging ClientLink you will gain the ability to pinpoint the markets with the greatest potential. And you will be in control of the way you are perceived globally. You will be guided and learn how to attain the mindset necessary to engage at an international level in trade. Not to mention the economic contribution to the local and Australian community.

Each business has unique needs and so there is no "one plan that fits all" rule. That's why it's important to analyse which paths will provide the desired outcome to achieve your business objectives. ClientLink will assist your business to develop an international strategy that best suit your business objectives. Our Global Market Access™ program is ideal for this

ClientLink has had dealings with a wide array of cultures including Japan, Taiwan, Korea, China, Thailand, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, The European Community, The Pacific Islands, South Africa, New Zealand, Canada and the United States of America.

ClientLink's principal consultant and director, Mr Steve Dowling began work in the hospitality industry and has since continued on a journey that has spanned two decades and seen him gain experience in the tourism, printing, consumer goods, commodities, household appliances, fast-moving consumer goods and building sectors. Steve has transitioned through various roles that have enabled him to develop skills in goal facilitation, team co-ordination, project management, quality assurance, export operations, marketing communications, organisational and administration management, product development, technical communication, committee membership, translation and interpretation, international business relations, marketing management and general management.

The cost is totally dependent on how much you are willing to invest. Each business is unique and therefore the investment that is required will differ. However, on average you should be prepared to engage a specialist for somewhere between (AUD) $1,000-$2,000 per day. Up to 50% could be eligible for rebate from the government under grants scheme depending on how much you actually spend annually or on a project basis.

ClientLink has adopted a structured approach which combines common sense and gut feel. We ask for your personal opinions and then we bring our own to the table as well. We work together with you to determine the critical success factors for the product or service in a foreign market. We conduct international market research and individual market attractiveness assessments. The result of all these activities is a prioritized list of the top five destinations that are expected to provide the best return on your foreign expansion investment.

We will conduct a readiness assessment. It's really not a matter of whether you are ready for export now if you aren't, but when you will be ready, if you currently are not. ClientLink will help you to reach the stage of readiness if you are not already at that stage.

Developing metrics is an important aspect of any export marketing plan. As each business is unique, the metrics will be determined uniquely also. These will be developed based on the expected goals, objectives and desired outcomes for your business objectives in relation to export.

There is assistance from both State and Federal Governments and it is available to businesses that meet specific criteria. ClientLink can show you where to find this information and we can also help you to understand and investigate how to gain access to these grants.

ClientLink will make your life easier by bringing to you the expertise you need to develop your international business reach. We will help you to achieve your export objectives. We will eliminate the headache for you. We well take the pain out of developing that road-map for expanding abroad.

You will need to devote some time on a regular basis - we will take care of leading the charge though. You will also need to be open and honest about your business. And you will need to allow ClientLink to have access to many parts of your business, the more insights and understanding we have the better equipped we are to consider how we can help you realize your export objectives.

ClientLink will spend as much time as necessary with you and your business. We will also spend some time conducting independent international market research as well as independent follow up. There will also be plenty of time devoted to planning and preparing options and managing a project timetable. ClientLink will drive and facilitate the outcome you require for your business.

ClientLink is available for you at any reasonable time of the day, including weekends and evenings.

ClientLink will help your business to save money in various ways. For instance, we will save you time and money by clarifying your objectives and by pinpointing the markets of greatest potential leveraging our experience. ClientLink will also help by devising a strategy to identify the appropriate staff required before you invest in human resources. ClientLink will provide multi options when it comes to planning the entry mode or before engaging any promotions activities - all this will save you money. With ClientLink's help and experience, you will make fewer mistakes and of course this saves you more money. You will therefore expect to have greater success and less need to re-invest and re-invent.

The export market opportunities are totally dependent on the products or services you offer. For example, Australian organic produce currently represents less than 1% of the organic market share in the Japanese marketplace. In some instances there will be a vast potential for smart Australian enterprises to gain market share and to increase profits by achieving greater sales.

ClientLink's Market Attractiveness Assessment will help guide you and prioritise the best markets for your product or service. The market attractiveness assessment considers all the critical success criteria of your product or service in conjunction with individual market data on legal, cultural, economic, competitive, political trade and financial characteristics.

The timeframe required is dependent on your time investment to the process. For example, the greater your time investment the sooner your goals will be achieved. Because each business is unique they will require unique solutions in order to attain results.

The Global Market Access™ program involves developing insights into:

• Identifying foreign market needs and opportunities
• Surveying current situations and status with regards to foreign market transferability
• Formulating and devising a plan of action for foreign market entry

The Global Market Access™ program focuses upon:

• Analysing your business's development and current program
• Reviewing the culture and resources within your company
• Confirming that an international proposal is appropriate
• Developing international marketing strategies and plans to enter foreign markets
• Establishing a road map for commencement of international initiatives

The Global Market Access™ program combines:

• Group discussion sessions to scope out parameters and key issues
• Research on foreign markets relative to the organisation's objectives
• One-on-one discussions to clarify variables impacting ability to globalise
• Frequent discussions and debrief sessions
• Individual market attractiveness assessments
• A documented foreign market entry strategy
• Facilitating and co-ordinating the delivery of action plans as agreed

During the capability review ClientLink will probe your company's level of understanding of internationalisation issues as well as your company background. This will help us to understand the level of potential for your product or service adaptability.

An export marketing plan is essentially a template of action objectives. Without an appropriate export marketing plan for your business, we will not know what you are trying to achieve and we will not understand what we are trying to achieve together. An export marketing plan ensures that our understanding is aligned and that all action plans are in your best interests for increasing your return on investment.

You will see results immediately, because at every step along the way you will see how ClientLink responds to your needs. Before ClientLink commences work, we will produce a timetable that is devised as part of our initial proposal so that you can see what major milestones we expect to reach and roughly when this will be achievable.

ClientLink's Market Attractiveness Assessment will help you to determine this.

There are many reasons why your businesses should consider export and international business. For example, you may have saturated the market penetration in the local or domestic market. The product or service may simply be attractive in many locations, and this alone is a good enough reason to tackle it. It makes good sense to offer your product or service where you can if this will provide a increased return and profit for your business with regards monetary, positioning, and branding perception.

Engaging a consultant ensures that you receive access to a depth of experience that may not be available currently in your organisation. ClientLink networks with industry groups and members as well as other service providers. We have learned from past mistakes and will help you save money by not repeating the same mistakes in your business. ClientLink are well versed on how to devise an approach to foreign market entry because this is our core business. Our consultants have the tools and background to achieve your objectives more cost-effectively and efficiently than you will achieve alone.

• You envision overseas sales but you have no idea how to achieve this
• You need to adapt your offering and require assistance from professionals with connections who will help you achieve this
• You believe that your offering will be attractive to a certain market but you require a dedicated market attractiveness assessment to ensure you have pinpointed the market of greatest potential
• You have never exported before and therefore you wish to leverage off someone else's experience and be up and operating in the international arena as soon as possible
• ClientLink has the skills and connections that you will require to tap into overseas opportunities

ClientLink will:

1. save you time
2. reduce your effort
3. prevent stress
4. make your work easier and more enjoyable and
5. make you more money

ClientLink won't take over the business. What ClientLink can do is what we agree to do together with you. ClientLink's involvement is flexible and is determined in consultation to best suit your business objectives.

If we agree to a proposal to work together then you can expect either progress payments or a deposit up front as a requisite. The terms will be agreed uniquely to suit the structure of our engagement with your business.

ClientLink offers an obligation-free consultation initially. ClientLink will prepare a proposal if appropriate. Until your commitment is entered into, you don't have to pay anything. A payment will be expected though once we do commence but you will know clearly what you are paying for and when it is required.

Potentially YES, but as each business is unique you will need to check this carefully with your tax accountant. Remember there are also generous government rebate schemes available for most businesses.

The Global Market Access™ program is aimed at accelerating export market development in a structured process of review, assessment and planning. It consists of international capability reviews and international marketing planning.

The Global Market Access™ program analyses the market, reviews your company's capabilities and devises an appropriate strategy to help magnify your chances of greater return. It will also help you pinpoint the markets of greatest potential and assist you in understanding how to control the way you are perceived globally.