If you missed yesterday's 98th edition of GlobeTrade.com's monthly e-newsletter, Borderbuster, you missed a really good Q&A about how to access international trade stats. Here it is for your benefit:
Q: To Ask The Expert,
Where's a good place to search for U.S. import or export statistics?
A: Our recommendations are:
The U.S. Census Bureau, Foreign Trade
WTO
International trade and tariff data
International Trade Centre, International Trade Statistics
There are a couple of good places online that provide specific import-export trade data and other global intelligence for a fee. Conduct a Google or Bing search on key words "import-export trade data" or "international trade data," for they are sure to pop up.
And it can't hurt to take a look at some things going on here.
Posted by: Laurel Delaney, The Global Small Business Blog
Here are seven (7) amazing ways to filter (leverage) Twitter (a technology platform) to the hilt.
TechTip2U Powered by: Verio
@LaurelDelaney @Verio
How to Create a Culture of Innovation Within Your Global Small Business
My latest innovation installment for the American Express OPEN Forum:
And speaking of innovation, you might appreciate this as it relates to both innovation and exports!
Innovation and the 2010 Trade Policy Agenda
Graphic source: The Encyclopedia of Disney Animated Shorts
The boys from Brazil know that big money can be made in the rodeo.
Learn how and why here:
The Boys from Brazil
Why American rodeos are taking on a Latin flair
Meet the People Tree, the fair trade fashion pioneer based in the U.K. They are designers and manufacturers of fashion and garments that are primarily cotton certified organic and Fairtrade. All their clothes are dyed using safe and natural dyes. And they source as many products as they can locally, choosing natural and recycled products over toxic, synthetic and non-biodegradable materials.
For every beautiful garment People Tree makes, there's an equally beautiful change happening somewhere in the world.
We like to think of it in terms of our little shoots-and-roots motif. We provide you with exclusive fashion - the shoots - while at the same time we work deep down through the roots, improving the lives and environment of the artisans and farmers in developing countries who work to produce it. It's Fair Trade throughout. Simple.
How it works
In order to ensure People Tree fashion meets the Fair Trade principles set out by WFTO (World Fair Trade Organisation), we work closely with 50 Fair Trade groups in 15 countries. That way, we can bring benefits to people and the planet at as many steps of the production process as possible – growing cotton, weaving, dyeing, embroidery, stitching etc. – helping alleviate poverty in the world's most marginalised communities.
We also work hard to ensure that we pioneer ecologically sound methods of production and minimise environmental impact. Not only is most of our cotton certified organic and Fairtrade, all our clothes are dyed using safe and natural dyes. And we source as many products as we can locally, choosing natural and recycled products over toxic, synthetic and non-biodegradable materials.
All our designers – both in the UK and Japan – know how to work within this set-up, which means we can produce garments that are beautiful, as well as caring. So, our collections are all the more special because they make imaginative use of local skills (handwoven fabrics, hand screen printing and hand embroidery are used a great deal), which creates as much employment as possible in areas that really need it.
Learn more here.
Request a catalog here.
Photo credit: here.
The earthquake that hit Chile February 27, 2010 (8.8 magnitude) -- 5th largest in history -- has resulted in more than 800 casualties thus far and apparent infrastructure damage throughout the country, to the tune of more than U.S. $2 billion and growing. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the people of Chile over the loss of lives and property.
Our thoughts, prayers and energy also go out to all the strong survivors in Chile who are impacted by this terrible tragedy, including our Director of The World Entrepreneurship Forum (full disclosure: I am a member of The World Entrepreneurship Forum and appointed Board member), who is still in Chile on business. Thank goodness he is safe but we hope he will be able to return to France soon.
May all the Chilean residents get back to some form of order, safety and normalcy soon.
Chile earthquake: CNN
Photo credit: here.
As more of us take our business global, we need the best understanding possible of how to interact with people from difficult cultures. It's not just a case of learning a different language and showing a little respect. It's about digging deep to grapple with the nuances and complexities of cross-cultural experiences.
The book, "Leading With Cultural Intelligence" by David Livermore, Ph.D., is a terrific primer that will help you to stop feeling anxious and awkward when you travel overseas and enable you to get your global cultural groove in gear -- all while ensuring you don't wind up saying or doing something wrong.
Get your CQ (Cultural Intelligence) here. By the way, these skills and sensitivities can be learned and developed to liberate you to achieve global small business success.
We wrote about this topic October 27, 2009: Do You Have Cultural Intelligence? And here's David's comment on that post:
And I so appreciate the way you highlighted that cultural competence means so much more than just treating people with respect -- thought that's a great place for all of us to begin. Like you, I'm increasingly observing how communication, negotiation, marketing, and lots more are impacted by culture. This challenge/opportunity is only going to increase in the months ahead.