At the end of this webinar you should be able to:

• Identify major international payment methods and risks associated with each method.
• Evaluate financing options for small and medium size companies.
• Learn when to use documentary collection or letter of credit and their advantages and disadvantages.
• Identify the major letter of credit discrepancies and how to avoid them.

No password, use of web browser only! No dial in required use your computer speakers.

Event Date: Friday, May 25, 2012

Event Link: http://www.gvolive.com/conference,78353144

Time: 11:00 AM PST – 12:00 AM MST – 1:00 PM CST – 2:00 PM EST

Duration: 45 minutes to 60 minutes

Presenter: Tekle Sebhatu, Principal, STC International

http://www.stcinternational.us

stcintL@stcinternational.us

Copyright © 2012 STC International All Rights Reserved.

At the end of this webinar you should be able to:

• Understand the four essentials for export success
• Learn the export transaction process
• Learn how to structure a winning quotation
• Understand the risk and choose the best payment option
• Avoid mistakes made by other exporters
• Identify export help and other resources.

This webinar will benefit:

• Those with a product suitable for exporting, but no previous exporting experience.
• Those with some export experiences, but are seeking to expand their exporting knowledge.
• Export Managers, and Supervisors (good refresher!)
• Private organizations with export related activities banks, insurance and shipping companies.
• Entrepreneurs and trade consultants.
• Professional organizations – trade and industry associations, Chamber of Commerce’s.
• Government agencies – foreign trade agencies, business development centers

No password, use of web browser only! No dial in required you will use your computer speakers. You may e-mail your questions in advance to stcintL@stcinternational.us

Event Date: Friday, May 11, 2012

Event Link: http://www.gvolive.com/conference,78353144

Time: 11:00 AM PST – 12:00 AM MST – 1:00 PM CST – 2:00 PM EST

For further information please visit our website:  http://www.stcinternational.us

At the end of this webinar you should be able to:

• Understand the differences between entering domestic markets and  global markets.
• Understand the different modes of entering new markets and risks associated with them
• Learn on the most popular mode of entry used by the majority of small and medium size companies
• Explore the different exporting approaches that your company can use
• Identify the role of Export Management Companies (EMC) and Export Trading Companies (ETC)
• Understand criteria’s to consider when choosing distributor or Agent

This webinar will benefit:

• Firms that have plan to enter new markets (new and existing firms)
• Those with a product suitable for export, but no previous exporting experience.
• Export Managers, and Supervisors (good refresher!)
• Entrepreneurs and trade consultants.
• Professional organizations – trade and industry associations, Chamber of Commerce’s.
• Government agencies – foreign trade agencies, business development centers.

No password, no dial in required use of web browser only. You may e-mail your questions in advance to stcintL@stcinternational.us

Event Date: Friday, April 20, 2012

Time: 11:00 AM PST – 12:00 AM MST – 1:00 PM CST – 2:00 PM EST

Event Link:  http://www.gvolive.com/conference,78353144

For further information please go to:  http://www.stcinternational.us

At the end of this webinar you should be able to:

• Identify major international payment methods and risks associated with each method.
• Evaluate financing options for small and medium size companies.
• Learn when to use documentary collection or letter of credit and their advantages and disadvantages.
• Identify the major letter of credit discrepancies and learn on how to avoid them.
• Understand public and private financing options.

This webinar will benefit:

• Those with a product suitable for exporting, but no previous exporting experience.
• Those with some export experiences, but are seeking to expand their exporting knowledge.
• Export Managers, and Supervisors (good refresher!)
• Private organizations with export related activities banks, insurance and shipping companies.
• Entrepreneurs and trade consultants.
• Professional organizations – trade and industry associations, Chamber of Commerce’s.

No password, use of web browser only! No dial in required you will use your computer speakers. You may e-mail your questions in advance to stcintL@stcinternational.us

Event Date: Friday, March 9,  2012

Event Link: http://www.gvolive.com/conference,78353144

Time: 11:00 AM PST – 12:00 AM MST – 1:00 PM CST – 2:00 PM EST

For more information about courses offered please visit our website  http://www.stcinternational.us

• Understand the four essentials for export success
• Learn the export transaction process
• Learn how to structure a winning quotation
• Understand the risk and choose the best payment option
• Avoid mistakes made by other exporters
• Identify export help and other resources.

This webinar will benefit:

• Those with a product suitable for exporting, but no previous exporting experience.
• Those with some export experiences, but are seeking to expand their exporting knowledge.
• Export Managers, and Supervisors (good refresher!)
• Private organizations with export related activities banks, insurance and shipping companies.
• Entrepreneurs and trade consultants.
• Professional organizations – trade and industry associations, Chamber of Commerce’s.
• Government agencies – foreign trade agencies, business development centers

No password, use of web browser only! No dial in required you will use your computer speakers. You may e-mail your questions in advance to stcintL@stcinternational.us

Event Date: Friday, February 17, 2012

Event Link: http://www.gvolive.com/conference,78353144

Time: 11:00 AM PST – 12:00 AM MST – 1:00 PM CST – 2:00 PM EST

As national boundaries become more permeable to trade and investments so is fraudulent activities. In the old days scammers used to meet face-to-face with people they want to prey. Welcome to globalization! Now, modern technology (digital world) has allowed con artistes to globalize and to become more sophisticated using e-mail, message board and chat rooms to effectively con individuals and businesses. A con artist can be anywhere-anytime and he or she is just a click away from his ‘mark” a language used by con artists to identify a victim. Anonymity, ease of promotion and reach on global scale that technology offers are contributing to con artists rapid expansion.

The fast growing international fraud is not confined to any particular region, country or industry. The phenomenon is so prevalent and international fraud is behaving like a wild fire that can not be contained. Because of increased scam activity sellers that have a good product to sell are becoming reluctant to go international and therefore, remain domestic and loose millions of dollars from global sales. While your company might have legal forces that can help go after con artists in your country the legal remedy outside of your country to catch and punish these fraudsters is almost non-existent.

There is no sure way to protect your company against con artists than to be educated on the different types of scams that keep constantly changing with technology. Here are the most common international scams that you should watch for:

“419/Advance Fee Scam. Also known as Nigerian or West African scam is a type of fraud named after an article of the Nigerian penal code under which it is prosecuted.
This ‘the mother of all scams’ scheme typically starts with a letter from Nigeria or another country e-mailed and offers the recipient the “opportunity” to share a percentage between 20% to 40% of millions of dollars that the author, a former government official or relative of high ranking wealthy government officer is trying to transfer illegal money out of Nigeria or another country. If the victim is interested then he will be asked to forward documents including bank account number, blank company letterhead, telephone and fax number and other documents to make it look real. The possible victim is then asked to deposit money into a bank account provided by the scammer to cover expenses and complete the process. The scammer uses the funds deposited in his account to commit other crimes.

Escrow Fraud. This involves a third party escrow service company to help facilitate the exchange of money and goods. The scammer advices the victim to use an escrow service website that the scammer created. The website resembles a legitimate escrow service company website. The victim sends the payment through the bogus website or the victim sends goods and waits for payment.

Letter of Credit Fraud. Letter of credit is always issued by the buyers’ bank (issuing bank) and is forwarded to the advising bank located in the sellers’ country to notify the seller. Scammers often produce identical documents that a bank produces and send the documents directly to the seller. The seller assumes that those are legitimate documents from a bank and ships and waits for payment by his bank that will never happen. Another common letter of credit scam is presentation of false shipping documents by the exporter to the advising bank to show that the goods were indeed shipped and payment have to be made, when in fact the goods were not shipped.

Phishing scam. A scammer attempts to extract sensitive information such us credit card number, password, drivers license or passport number that can be used to commit crimes using the victims identity. Most phishing scams start with an e-mail or instant message sent to the victim. The message asks the possible victim to update personal information in a web site created by the scammer that resembles an institution’s web site that the possible victim does business with. The victims personal information is then used to commit crime.

Counterfeit International Money Order and Cashers Check scam. A scammer agrees to buy goods with the arrangement that payment to be made using International Money Order or Cahiers Check. The money order or check that appears to be authentic with all its bells and whistles including magnetic routing codes and name of a legitimate bank is directly mailed to the seller and is often higher than the value of the transaction. The scammer suggests to the seller to keep portion and wire back immediately the rest into the scammer’s account. The seller approaches his bank to cash the counterfeit money order or cashiers check after sending the extra funds, only to be told that it is fake.

Click Fraud. Is also referred as pay per click advertising. Scammer will imitate a legitimate website. A user will click on an ad to purchase and all financial information is provided to the scammer through the website. The scammer uses these personal information to commit crime.

Eight ways to avoid fraudulent activities:
1) Education. Remember that there are several types of scams, learn what scammers are looking for. Watch out for new scams.
2) Investigate. Do thorough investigation yourself. Do not depend on message board answers, the same person who is trying to scam you might respond to your message with positive comments
3) Be patient. Do not make quick decisions that is what exactly scammers want you to do, to make fast irrational decision. Remember that every journey starts with a single step.
4) Use commonsense. Look for red-flags examples, high return, complex transactions, letters or messages that are not professionally written.
5) Do not be greedy. Do not let greed drive you to take unnecessary risk. Remember the saying ‘if it looks too good to be true, it probably is!’
6) Be skeptical. Question every aspect of transaction very carefully, it is good business.
7) Ask for references. Check with government agencies including trade agencies or chamber of commerce of the seller or buyer country, invest time to verify legitimacy of the company or individual.
Country of origin. The location of a scammer is irrelevant a scammers can be any where including in your community.

Use the following website to learn more about fraudulent activities.
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
Common Fraud Schemes

http://www.fbi.gov/majcases/fraud/fraudschemes.htm

Fraud Aid .com
Letter of Credit fraud: truth vs. scam

http://www.fraudaid.com/letter_of_credit_fraud.htm

U.S. Secret Service
PUBLIC AWARENESS ADVISORY REGARDING “419″ OR “ADVANCE FEE FRAUD” SCHEMES

http://www.secretservice.gov/alert419.shtml

Looks Too Good To Be True
Types of Frauds

http://www.lookstoogoodtobetrue.com/

At the end of this webinar you should be able to:
• Evaluate the differences between domestic and international marketing.
• Learn on how to conduct international market research.
• Explore international marketing planning process.
• Evaluate the implications of e-business on international marketing.
• Learn the effect of regionalization and globalization on international marketing.

This webinar will benefit:
• Firms that plan to expand into the international markets (new and existing firms)
• Those with a product suitable to enter foreign markets.
• Export Managers, and Supervisors (good refresher!)
• Entrepreneurs and trade consultants.
• Professional organizations – trade and industry associations, Chamber of Commerce’s.
• Government agencies – foreign trade agencies, business development centers.

No password, no dial in required use of web browser only. You may e-mail your questions in advance to stcintL@stcinternational.us

Event Date: Friday, February 3, 2012

Time: 11:00 AM PST – 12:00 AM MST – 1:00 PM CST – 2:00 PM EST

Event Link: http://www.gvolive.com/conference,78353144

For further information please visit our web site: http://www.stcinternational.us

At the end of this webinar you should be able to:

• Understand license requirements.
• Identify the role of U.S Customs and Border Protection (CBP); and Custom House Brokers (CHB)
• Learn your responsibilities when conducting transactions with Customs
• Understand Customs Entry Process including Informal and Formal Entry.
• Identify documents required to clear Customs.
• Locate resources you need to help you import

This webinar will benefit:

• Those with a product suitable for importing, but no previous importing experience.
• Those with some import experience, but are seeking to expand their importing knowledge.
• Import Managers, and Supervisors (good refresher!)
• Private organizations with import related activities banks, insurance and shipping companies.
• Entrepreneurs and trade consultants.
• Professional organizations – trade and industry associations, Chamber of Commerce’s.

No password, use of web browser only! No dial in required you will use your computer speakers. You may e-mail your questions in advance to stcintL@stcinternational.us

Event Date: Friday, January 20, 2012

Time: 11:00 AM PST – 12:00 AM MST – 1:00 PM CST – 2:00 PM EST

Event Link:  http://www.gvolive.com/conference,78353144

For further information please go to:  http://www.stcinternational.us

At the end of this webinar you should be able to:

• Understand the essentials for export success
• Learn steps to conduct export market research
• Identify countries and products to export
• Learn the export process
• Avoid mistakes made by other exporters
• Identify export help and other resources.

This webinar will benefit:

• Those with a product suitable for exporting, but no previous exporting experience.
• Those with some export experiences, but are seeking to expand their exporting knowledge.
• Export Managers, and Supervisors (good refresher!)
• Private organizations with export related activities banks, insurance and shipping companies.
• Entrepreneurs and trade consultants.
• Professional organizations – trade and industry associations, Chamber of Commerce’s.
• Government agencies – foreign trade agencies, business development centers

No password, use of web browser only! No dial in required you will use your computer speakers. You may e-mail your questions in advance to stcintL@stcinternational.us

Event Date: Friday, January 13, 2012

Event Link: http://www.gvolive.com/conference,78353144

Time: 11:00 AM PST – 12:00 AM MST – 1:00 PM CST – 2:00 PM EST

For further information please visit our website:  http://www.stcinternational.us

There is no question that internationalization of markets is becoming increasingly important to the growth of small to medium-sized enterprises (SME) and their countries as these enterprises globalize their businesses and become the main engine of economic growth in their countries. Globalization has a direct impact on SMEs. The success of SMEs is directly related to jobs that helps stimulate the economic growth of a country.

As part of the globalization phenomenon, some SMEs may only market their product/service globally and others may have production facilities in one place and market their product/services in others. Most often SMEs use exporting as a primary mode of entry into a new market only because their risk is limited to the product sold.

While some SMEs realize the benefits of exporting/importing and are attempting to comprehend the world marketplace in which they must operate, many companies, have not looked to exporting/importing as a growth area. This is changing, however, as most SMEs are slowly realizing that success in the marketplace requires looking beyond national borders. The move to become a global player, whether it is a proactive decision or one imposed by competitive dynamics, has extensive implications for an SME’s growth. If a company is to export/import it has to evaluate available human and capital resources, commitment by top management, market strength, product strength and establishing good relationships with suppliers or buyers.

SMEs are no longer confined to their national boundaries as they have been for decades. In many countries supported by their governments, business-friendly incentive programs are looking for opportunities to capitalize on the removal of barriers due to regional economic integration or agreement by member countries of the World Trade Organization (WTO). Global economics is all but breaking down international barriers and encouraging the free flow of goods, services, capital and people. Good examples of this are the European Union (EU), the North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the Associations of South East Asia Nations (ASEAN), MERCOSUR in South America and ECOWA in West Africa. These are all regional agreements with objectives to remove trade and non-trade barriers among the member countries, thus providing opportunities for SME’s to gain market share.

Many SMEs recognize, now more than ever, the need to be competitive in the marketplace; they have to look to other countries for markets, raw materials, components and final products. Additionally, many SME’s have made dramatic changes in their organizational, quality and price structures for their products. These changes are helping them compete more effectively in the global marketplace. SMEs need to pursue aggressive business strategies for selling or purchasing goods and services if they are to remain competitive globally.

Making Export Decisions

Small and medium enterprises’ attitudes toward going global are slowly changing. Many are finding that their product is competitive in price and quality, and, as a result, are seeing an overall increase in demand for their product or service. This increase in demand could be for current proven products that they have in the existing market, or for products that are facing obsolescence. Generally, SMEs have always felt that exporting was only for large companies; this, however, is changing and is driven by advancement in telecommunication, the Internet and transportation technologies. Even the smallest companies with limited resources are participating and are gaining market share from outside their boarders.

There are several ways that SMEs can measure their products’ potential and to help them decide whether to export/import or not. One of the most popular indicators of a product’s potential is the company’s success in the domestic markets. If a company is selling successfully in the domestic market, there is a good chance that the company will be successful in selling its products or services in the international marketplace. For some SMEs, exporting/importing may not be all that different from domestic selling. A company may choose to sell its products or services to another domestic company, which then sells the product or service in the overseas market or purchase good for resale from an importer that purchased goods from foreign markets. The seller or buyer will probably notice little difference between that sale and other domestic sales.

The second indicator is the introduction of new products into both the domestic and international marketplace. This could also include a product that has reached its maturity stage in the product life cycle; when its sales starts to decline, the same product could be introduced in other markets in which the product was not previously sold, allowing SMEs entry into newer markets.

Finally, in concept, most experts agree that any decision to export/import requires the same ingredients as decisions in domestic business. That is, the firm’s commitment, knowledge of the market, a realistic budget, time and patience. Still, going global can be a challenging experience for SMEs, but the rewards can be substantial. To remain competitive, profitable and to be part of the main engine of economic growth in their country, SMEs must look beyond their borders and seek and capitalize on new opportunities in the global arena.