Exporting to Europe: Not the Challenges You ThinkWritten by Steve McLaughlin
If you plan to do sell your product or service in Europe problems you encounter may not be ones you expect. It’s easy to focus on perceived difficulties, such as so-called ‘language barrier’, while not noticing real pitfalls – until it’s too late. I learned three lessons hard way: appreciate different cultures, understand value of quality vs. speed, and know which foreign language is key to your business.If you hope to compete with local firms in Europe you must understand European business cultures. Notice use of word of word ‘cultures’ - plural. When I first started doing business in Europe, three years ago, one of first things I learned was that European business environment is much more diverse than in States. Despite introduction of single currency, Europe is not a single business entity. Different countries retain different ways of doing things. Like many Americans doing business in Europe for first time, I learned this hard way. After a number of awkward meetings and deals that mysteriously didn’t go through I began to understand that it was a bad idea to deal with Europeans like I dealt with people back home. The American business model prevails in northern Europe – with UK and possibly Germany representing nearest thing Europe has to a US-style approach. Businesses in former Easter Bloc countries that have recently joined EU are also very US-friendly. During Soviet years America represented freedom; American business can now reap rewards of that iconic status. The rest of ‘old Europe’ is a little different and you should be aware of each country’s customs. Italy, for example, retains a way of doing business that might seem bureaucratic and patriarchal to Americans. Even Silvio Berlusconi - a good friend of US business - is known as ‘Papa’ Berlusconi in some Italian circles. In France, a history of civil libertarianism twinned with state control that stretches back to revolution of 1789 has nurtured a business culture that favors consensus rather than individual leadership. It’s important to do your research – not only on a country’s business structures but also on its general culture and history. It’s even more important to get to know people. If you travel to Madrid to cut a deal having never before set foot in Spain you are at a disadvantage. Business people in old Europe have slightly different perceptions of what constitutes good practice from their US counterparts. Although it would be patronizing to say that a mańana culture persists in southern European business, it is true that timeliness is not considered a virtue in way it is in States. For European business people, providing a quality product or service is much more important than adhering slavishly to deadlines or driving hardest possible bargain. Because of this difference in values, Europeans often perceive Americans as being ‘pushy’ – when Americans in question think they’re simply being businesslike.
| | What’s the Mystery behind Large Format Posters?Written by Maricon Williams
Why is large format poster printing a big hit? Perhaps you are also wondering why large format posters are swarming business and marketing industries. Well, you are not alone with craving to know what’s behind it.Our natural tendency as a person is to unravel mystery of every phenomenon. That is quite normal to all of us. To suffice this urge and to make it easy for you, I will give you some factors why fame is soaring… 1.Virtually endless applications. Variables of printing which include color, time, quantity and cost are well harmonized in this printing. The materials are great in both outdoor and indoor purposes. 2.Accurate colors, detailed graphics. Large format poster printing also triggered expertise in grain direction, toner or ink coverage and humidity. It produces precise colors that blast and detail-oriented graphics. This is reason why its growth and popularity seem to soar like a rocket. 3.High -quality printing equipments. Digital enhancement techniques are created by utilizing our high-powered computers, large format printers, and state-of-the-art printing supplies. Every printing company involve in this type of printing provides evaluation to inkjet printers, archival inks, media, canvass, vinyl, and photo paper to guarantee customer satisfaction. Large format poster printing services use supplies that are compatible with wide variety of large format printers, large format cameras, laminates and accessories.
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