Victoria's Secrets Goes Middle East

In its early days of international expansion, Victoria's Secrets -- with the help of partner M. H. Alshaya, run by Mohammed Alshaya (operator of Aeropostale and H&M stores as well) -- will focus on the Middle East.

Big issue?  Whether or not to install fitting rooms at lingerie boutiques in Saudi Arabia.

Read the entire article here.

Photo credit:  Victoria's Secrets

Related article:  Victoria's Secrets:  Taking It Slowly in the International Marketplace

How to Translate Social Media Activities Into International Expansion

Liz Elting, co-founder and Co-CEO of TransPerfect, provides common pitfalls when translating social media activities into international expansion.

Four Social Media Pitfalls to Avoid As Your Business Goes Global

Here are the four:

1. Let social media efforts carry the international marketing campaign.
2. Isolate social media efforts from the rest of the international marketing strategy.
3. Adopt social media marketing abroad no matter what.
4. Put resources into social media at the beginning of a campaign, then taper off those efforts.

Victoria's Secrets: Taking It Slowly in the International Marketplace

Limited Brands, owner of lingerie Victoria's Secret (pictured) and personal-care retailer Bath & Body Works, is traveling slowly through the international marketplace.  According to The Wall Street Journal article, "Victoria's Secret Gets Out Overseas," VS doesn't have any locations overseas.  Why?

Find out more here.

Does a cautious approach to going global work for your business too?

Photo credit:  Victoria's Secret

General Mills Seeks Deals to Expand Internationally

As the luck of General Mills (world's six largest food company) would have it, the maker of Lucky Charms cereal and Progresso soup said sales will rise to $18 billion by 2015, driven by international expansion.

General Mills projects the international unit, its fastest growing division over the last five years, will generate more than $3.7 billion in sales in 2015, up from $2.7 billion in 2010. The company is also “actively working” to find deals to expand overseas, particularly in emerging markets such as Brazil, Russia, India and China.

Read more here.

Starbucks Keeps Growing Global

Starbucks has launched two new quick-brew products to expand the coffee giant's presence in the UK and Japan.

Read more here.

Pictured (the original VIA product).

P&G Extends Reach to Some of the Most Populous Countries in the World

The U.S. and Europe are in a slump so Procter and Gamble plans to target India -- where consumers remain a tough sell -- for its international expansion push.

Read more here.

P&G India here. P&G India: brands.

Photo credit: P&G Ariel, India