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A rush, a push, the land is ours

The full title for this article (A rush, a push and the land is ours) is also the title of a new report, and comes courtesy of The Smiths, a 1980’s alternative rock band. Not that I was a big fan, but the title fits with the current interest for companies on international expansion. The report, authored by Fieldworks, and sponsored by GXS, investigates the current state of thought in UK companies on the opportunity of international expansion.

The idea of expanding your business into a BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, and China) market may seem intimidating, however, a closer look at the challenges reveals one startling truth; the opportunities are significant and available to those who can capture them.

Many European retailers, whether they are trading up or down, are operating in increasingly sluggish domestic markets, characterised by low growth, intense competition and ever more demanding consumer expectations. As a result, many are now accelerating their expansion ambitions, looking to capture new sales growth away from home in new territories that are demonstrating rapid growth.

International expansion was once considered the province of the multinational giants, but the opportunities are so strong that even mid-market retailers and brands are making moves, viewing it at the very least as a necessary survival strategy to secure their domestic position.

Spurred on by the relatively low-risk attractions of reaching new customers that are buying online, many firms are now refining their balance of sales channels, whether physical or digital, and finalising which territories to target.

Despite the significant challenges involved in embracing a multiplicity of local variables including; partner relationships, workforce management, government regulations, physical distribution, local culture and economic factors – the good news is that there is now significant best practice on which to draw.

Increasingly integrated global supply chains are enabling companies to leverage new cost efficiencies. This latest report examines the major challenges in building a supply chain to support a global business. Download a copyand read more from contributing companies including:Tesco, TM Lewin, Boden, Phase Eight, Crew Clothing, Martec and Planet Retail.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Denise Oakley .