| Trade makes the world go round. The world is a | | | | keep your customers happy. An unsatisfied customer |
| smaller place, thanks to the way in which import and | | | | will not return and might criticize your shoddy service |
| export has changed. These days, almost everything | | | | on the internet, so don't be a bad trader! |
| is available either in shops or by order over the | | | | You need a business plan before you begin. You |
| internet. It is, of course, possible to get great | | | | need to work out what you are going to trade, how |
| bargains if you travel and explore but this is | | | | you are going to trade, how much money you need |
| time-consuming and expensive unless you buy in bulk | | | | to make, which countries you want to trade with (if |
| and there are language barriers. People like their | | | | you speak another language, this might help, although |
| shopping to be as easy as possible, which is why | | | | English tends to be widely spoken), what method of |
| they don't mind paying a bit more for their purchases. | | | | payments will you use and what about foreign |
| This is where the importers and exporters come into | | | | regulations? You need to research everything. Don't |
| play. | | | | let the preparation put you off before you get |
| Import and export is a business you can easily do | | | | started. Every new company requires adequate |
| from home. You need very little to start up, just a | | | | preparation and it will be worth it in the end, once |
| computer and some common sense. There are great | | | | your business is up and running well. |
| benefits in working from home, as you can imagine. | | | | You need to decide what scale your business is going |
| You can choose your own hours and have great | | | | to run on - are you going to work alone, as a |
| flexibility. | | | | partnership or a limited company or something bigger, |
| The first thing to do is to create contacts. This is | | | | or will you start small and work your way up? |
| even easier online than offline because you can talk | | | | You should decide what kind of products you want |
| to anyone in the world from the comfort of your | | | | to sell. This depends on what your interests are (it is |
| home, using the Internet. You can browse online | | | | easier to sell something you can rave about!), what |
| advertisements and buy in bulk using a credit card | | | | you are knowledgeable about and, of course, what is |
| over a secure site. You can advertise and sell your | | | | available. If you buy in bulk, you can make good |
| products online. In fact, in some trading methods, you | | | | money but make sure you are going to be able to |
| can buy and sell without even having to receive or | | | | sell it again this end. If you plan well and are |
| ship the products yourself! As with any business, it is | | | | successful, you can make enough profit to cover |
| important to be efficient, keep perfect records and | | | | your travel expenses and earn a good living too. |