Growing Your Business Internationally:
Resources and Considerations
Over six thousand Oregon firms exported overseas last year and Southern Oregon companies were active in international markets. In 2014, the Medford area was responsible for over $195 million in international sales, a record increase of 25 percent over 2013. Grants Pass saw record shipments of $36 million in 2014, a 2 percent increase over the previous year. Southern Oregon exports products ranging from air pollution monitoring equipment to laser diodes to wine and pears. Services “exports” include foreign tourists visiting Crater Lake, foreign students paying full tuition at Southern Oregon University and Erickson Aviation aircraft fighting forest fires in Australia.
Success in exporting can be challenging but local, state, and federal resources can provide assistance with building an export business plan, conducting market research, participating in overseas trade shows and finding business partners to support your market entry. On October 19 and 20th, representatives from the Oregon Small Business Development Network (OSBDN), Business Oregon, the U.S. Commercial Service and the Small Business Administration will hold workshops in Grant Pass and Medford to address some of the challenges around marketing globally and describe the resources available to Oregon companies to support their success in international markets from planning, shipping, marketing and, crucially, getting paid.
The workshops will be approximately 90 minutes long with presentations and time budgeted for interaction with presenters. The event is complimentary but space is limited.
These workshops are brought to you in cooperation with Southern Oregon Regional Economic Development Inc. (SOREDI) and with the support of Rogue Credit Union and the Grants Pass & Josephine County Chamber of Commerce.