By: Colleen Kardasz, Director Ohio SBDC Export Assistance Network
 | With a growing middle class whose size is larger than the entire population of the United States, China is and will continue to be an important market for companies who sell internationally. To emphasize this point and to reach out to small businesses across the USA, Alibaba, Inc. hosted a two-day conference in Detroit in June. Gateway ‘17 was billed as the next step in a continued commitment to help American businesses, farmers and entrepreneurs grow and thrive. |
When I first learned about Gateway ’17 I was told the organizers expected about 1,000 attendees. They were wrong. The event was sold out with 3,000 attendees. If you read about the event you probably heard about the amazing speakers including founder and Chairman of Alibaba, Jack Ma, Marcus Lemonis, and Martha Stewart. Every speaker was inspiring and educational, but that wasn’t what caught my attention. Instead, what resonated above all the lights and glitz was the emphasis on small businesses. This wasn’t a showcase of large companies as many conferences tend to be, this was a chance for entrepreneurs to see themselves as part of a global marketplace, to understand that companies who think globally are generally speaking stronger, better able to weather financial crises, and more likely to survive in the fast-paced digital age.
Video Credit: Alizila YouTube Channel
Breakout sessions focused on who is the Chinese consumer, what are they looking for, and how do you as a small company in Ohio, Michigan, or California, get your product into their hands. From designer sneakers, to Washington-grown apples, the common theme was that exploring global markets, and especially China, is open to any company of any size with the right tools and mindset to do it. Working with small and medium-sized Ohio exporters I hear regularly the concerns about selling to China; the cost, the IP problems others have faced, the logistics, and every single one of those items is a legitimate question, it’s just not automatically a barrier. Thinking globally requires putting aside preconceived notions about yourself, your company, and the country and culture you are trying to enter. You may have to approach the sale differently, there may be extra steps, or additional partners involved, but when the opportunity is growing exponentially, and the landscape is evolving constantly, not exploring those markets stops becoming an option.
If you are a small business in Northwest Ohio exploring your global options, you can receive no-cost confidential counseling, market research, attend export training classes, and get help utilizing State services for exporters including grants, internships and more via the Ohio SBDC Export Assistance Network at the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce. Give me a call, or send me an email and let’s put your company into this growing global marketplace.
 | Colleen Marie Kardasz is the Ohio SBDC Export Assistance Network Director at the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce. Colleen is a licensed attorney with a background in marketing and PR who works with SMEs to start or expand their international business. |
The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) program of Ohio is funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. The SBDC is also funded in part by the Ohio Development Services Agency. All opinions, conclusions, and/or recommendations expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA.
Please contact Emily Dammeyer, Communications Manager, Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce, to submit a story for our blog.
RSS Feed
