Discover How To Use an Inspection Certificate

Inspection certificates 101:

When shipping high-value products or when you are dealing with a very conscientious customer, an inspection certificate might be requested. An inspection certificate provides proof that what you are shipping is, in fact, what the customer ordered, and is also of good quality. 

Learn more (including companies who do this sort of work) here.

Illustration credit:  SGS

Import and Export: Join the Discussion

These things take time and dedication (I've got both) -- join in on the discussion over at the About.com Import and Export site:

Welcome to the Import and Export Forum! 

Connect with you there.

Competitive Import/Export Intelligence

In case you missed this, there are three online resources (that I am aware of) that offer import/export trade data, competitive intelligence and more.

Learn all about them here.  Sign up for the newsletter while you're there.

Sweet Singapore

Some tips and stats on doing business in Singapore.

Singapore:  The Entrepreneurial Capital of the World
by Laurel Delaney, Import and Export Guide, About.com

Photo credit:  Laurel Delaney, Singapore

Posted by:  The Global Small Business Blog

Which Export Sales Strategy is Best For Your Business?

There are several factors to consider when determining whether a direct or indirect export sales strategy is best for you and your business -- most important, the extent of your resources and the degree of control you wish to exercise over your export ventures.

The following article (that I wrote as the About.com Import and Export Guide) will help you with direct exporting.  Later, I'll cover indirect exporting.

Direct Exporting: Advantages and Disadvantages to Direct Exporting

Posted by:  Laurel Delaney, The Global Small Business Blog

A Five-Point Strategy For Making Global Sourcing Successful

As the new Import and Export Guide for About.com, I wrote this article on global sourcing:

Global sourcing offers many benefits, including lower costs, faster go-to market time and a broader resource pool. This article provides tips on how to make the most of global sourcing. But first, it's important to understand exactly what global sourcing means.

Global Sourcing:  5 Ways to Make Global Sourcing a Success

What other tips am I missing?

About.com: Laurel Delaney, Import and Export Guide

Please join me for some serious discussions and sharing of vital information on importing/exporting over at About.com (a part of The New York Times Company).

About.com
Laurel Delaney
Import and Export Guide

Sign up for the newsletter and participate in My Forum.

This site is brand new.  Watch it morph into the go-to-destination for anything to do with importing and exporting.