| The experienced businessman dealing in international | | | | The Manufacturer: Companies that process materials |
| trade is well aware of the importance of the supply | | | | to create goods, everything from cars to clothing to |
| chain. The name alone clues the novice entrepreneur | | | | TV dinners. Many of these business may rely upon |
| to its meaning - each "link" represents an essential | | | | different raw materials to achieve their goals, thus |
| business or representative that relies on the other | | | | splitting adding tangent links to their part of the chain. |
| links to keep trade, sales, and supplies strong. When | | | | Warehousing and Inventory: Finished goods and |
| a link goes missing or breaks (i.e. is unable to perform | | | | stored and kept before they are sold and shipped |
| to capacity and satisfy the needs of others), all | | | | around the world. Manufacturers may handle their |
| connected to the chain suffer. | | | | own warehousing or arrange with a third party to |
| To better understand dealing in international business, | | | | take care of things. |
| assuming you have set up profiles on a global trade | | | | Vendors: Whether wholesale or retail, vendors are |
| forum or similar networks, it's necessary to know | | | | important in that they are the ones who will take the |
| exactly who are the links in the chain you'll build | | | | products and sell them to customers - large |
| yourself. It may surprise you to know, too, that you | | | | department stores, e-commerce gateways, or |
| are not always an anchor or end. How you conduct | | | | smaller retailers may fall into this category. |
| business and what you expect to do depends on | | | | Consumers: Yes, consumers are considered part of |
| your position, but know this: one link doesn't out rank | | | | the chain, as the money they spend on items figures |
| the other. All have their own duties to attend, and | | | | into international trade. The more people buy of one |
| that is what helps to strengthen global economies | | | | particular product, the more likely vendors will order |
| and relations. | | | | more, and manufacturers will create. |
| The Supply Chain: The Major Players | | | | In between these major links, you may find others |
| Browse any supply chain forum and you are likely to | | | | involved in the process of bringing goods to the |
| find a number of "links," including: | | | | public. Supplemental sales forces, quality control, and |
| The Supplier of Raw Materials: Companies that supply | | | | other jobs figure into the plan as well. However, |
| raw ore, iron, timber, coal, and other natural | | | | without the top players that provide resources, |
| resources used in the production of goods. Certain | | | | refine them and sell them, your link to financial |
| food growers may qualify here as well, if the | | | | success with your business is threatened. Research |
| foodstuff is used to produce different things (i.e. milk | | | | carefully which companies you add to your chain. |
| for dairy products). | | | | |