Longview, TX — The Kilgore College Small Business Development Center will host a training seminar that will teach the basics of international sales, resources to assist growth and answer international sales-related questions.

The seminar is set for 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 13, at the Hampton Inn North, 3044 N. Eastman Road in Longview.

Fee to attend is $20 which includes lunch.

To register by credit card, contact the Kilgore College SBDC at 903-757-5857, or 1-800-338-7232.

Visit the KC SBDC homepage at: www.KilgoreSBDC.com.

For more information, e-mail: MNorthcutt@kilgore.edu.

The seminar will teach how to:

• Identify to the top scams when doing business internationally
• Do your due diligence on a foreign buyer or distributor that has contacted you
• Use sample questionnaires and distributor contracts to craft documents for your company
• Determine your intellectual property needs and get assistance at trade shows
• Navigate through the regulations and requirements of food products and animal exports
• Use competitive payment credit tools and access to working capital to help create incremental sales
• Leverage programs to assist your small business to gather data and find partners
• Know who to call and when to call for all of your international questions

The seminar will cover the following topics:
• Research and Data – organizing and developing an export strategy based on data
• International Sales and Marketing – Selecting best prospect markets and operating overseas
• Free Trade Agreements – An update on our new FTA and how to use those to grow sales
• Exporting Agriculture and Animals – Specialty programs available for Ag products
• International Trade Finance – Financing your international sales and protecting your foreign receivables
• Legal Concerns of International Business – Protecting intellectual property, contractual issues and export compliance

Seminar additional info:

The seminar is sponsored by the KC SBDC, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Division in coordination with the State of Texas, Longview Economic Development Corporation, International Trade Center, Export-Import Bank of the U.S. and the Southern U.S. Trade Association

Every year more small businesses find themselves thrust into the global economy through the internet. Questionable incoming international inquires, uncertain international documentation/certification requirements and little export knowledge leave many businesses unable to respond and successfully sell to international customers.

With 95 percent of the world’s population and 78 percent of the world’s purchasing power outside of the United States, small businesses should consider global markets to grow sales -- there are numerous local, state and federal resources available to assist you with your international questions at little or no cost to your business. Hear from small businesses just like yours who have been successful selling internationally.