New Program Helps Local Small Businesses Diversify and Grow Through Cross-Border eCommerce

If luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity, a new World Trade Center Northern California program—made possible through funding from the Small Business Administration’s Norcal Small Business Development Center (SBDC)—is set to help local small businesses diversify revenue and grow through the right knowledge and resources to take advantage of cross-border eCommerce opportunities.

The program, Global Market Launchpad, is a combination of self-paced online learning available 24/7, group sessions and one-on-one coaching and counseling. The World Trade Center Northern California created it with a mix of expert partners with deep expertise in the world of international trade, including one firm that has developed similar programs in the U.S., Switzerland and Canada.

 
In developing the World Trade Center Northern California program, the goals were to:

• Approach it from the business owners’ perspective
• Identify their pain points to address, from basic to advanced
• Create the best content delivered by the best global experts and service providers
• Garner valuable feedback from participants to continuously fine-tune content to support their ongoing growth and resiliency

The program’s online learning platform, for example, was created for California-based companies to access on demand. It features all the facets they need for global expansion through eCommerce, including payments, logistics, duties and taxes, compliance and regulations, legal matters, digital marketing, marketplace strategies and more.

Small business owners who become SBDC clients are invited to enroll for free access—when, where and as often as they want—to content, education and resources designed to help them diversify their revenue and become more resilient through expansion into international eCommerce. Companies who enroll will be able to communicate directly with expert presenters, other business owners in groups and advisors for added support. As part of the program, they will also learn about grant opportunities to help with international expansion.

“Every company is different, so we wanted to create a program where business owners can engage and get the support they need,” explains Kevin Mather, President of the World Trade Center. “It’s not about how much time they engage, but about addressing their critical pain points so they can get on their way and grow their business. Our whole focus is helping businesses grow and be more resilient through international eCommerce.”

Whether small businesses are just starting out or have been around for years, one of the most critical parts of growth and resiliency is finding your core consumer—irrespective of geography. It makes no sense for a rock-climbing company, for instance, to try to sell products to people with no interest in rock climbing when there’s a strong interest in France. If you can get your product out there and get paid for it, then you might as well be selling anywhere in the world. This program prepares small business owners for the opportunity.

Ready to get started on preparing your business to grow and succeed through cross-border eCommerce opportunities? Click here to become a client of the SBDC and get enrolled in the program for free.