Welcome
The Abstract
Thesis Introduction
The Aim
Background to the Research Topics
The Research Topics
The Targeted Audience
Disposition
Research Approach
The Thesis in Context
Export Guide Construction
Questionnaire Construction
Information Gathering
The Export Guide
Introduction to the Export Guide
Export Guide Overview
Export Readiness
Trade Condition
Foreign Market Analysis
Questionnaire
Research Results
Export Readiness
Trade Condition
Foreign Market Analysis
Discussion
Export Readiness
Trade Condition
Foreign Market Analysis
Conclusion
Export Readiness
Trade Condition
Foreign Market Analysis
The Next Step
Supplements
Introduction to Sunfoods and Konnyaku-Chips
Site Map
The Complete Interview Answers
Glossary
Sources
Questionnaire
1: The Company's Export Readiness
a) Does the company presently export?
I. To which markets does the company export?
II. Since when does the company export?
b) Is exports given high priority within the company?
I. What are the company's export-plans for the future?
II. To which countries, if any, does the company plan to export?
c) Does the company have personnel with knowledge of foreign cultures and languages?
I. Which cultures are they familiar with?
II. In which context are they familiar with these cultures? (i.e. Have they lived there or have they worked there?)
III. Which languages are they able to communicate with on an everyday basis?
IV. Which languages are they able to communicate with in a business context?
d) Does the company have personnel with export experience?
I. Which countries and markets do they have experience with?
II. In which position did they require the experience?
III. Which positions do these employees have in the company today?
IV. How many years of experience do they each have?
e) Is the company financially sound?
I. What amount of capital can be allocated to the export venture annually?
II. How is the export venture to be financed?
f) To which extent would the company be able to meet an increased demand, coming from export sale?
I. Does the company have excess production capacity?
II. To which extent will the company be able to fill export orders without hurting domestic sales, investing in additional production facilities etc.?
III. What will be the cost of increased production?
IV. Is the raw material supply steady and secure?
V. To which extent will the raw material suppliers be able to meet an increased demand?
g) Does the company's product have a distinct competitive advantage?
I. Does the company have a unique product?
II. What is the product's main advantage compared to competitors products?
h) Can the product and packaging be adapted to the host market?
I. What will be required to adapt the product and packaging to the potential needs of the host market?
II. To which extent can the product and packaging be adapted without investing in additional production facilities?
III. To which extent is the company prepared to adapt the product and the packaging to the foreign market?
i) Can the product easily be transported to the host market?
I. Is the product fragile or dangerous to handle?
II. What are the physical constraints of the product? (Weigh, size, temperature resistance, etc.)
III. What is the cost of transporting the product?
j) Is the product selling well in the home market?
I. Is the home market share steady or growing?
k) What is the existing customer profile?
I. What is the gender, age and income level of the typical customer?
II. Where does the typical customer buy the product?
l) What are the company's expectations of the export venture?
I. What are the reasons behind the export venture?
II. What other plans of the company may compete or intervene with these export plans?
2: Trade Condition
a) What export regulations apply to the product?
b) What import tariffs and other import related taxes apply to the product?
c) What non-tariff import requirements apply to the product?
d) Which organizations etc may assist the company in the export venture?
3: The Targeted Host Market
a) What product modifications may be necessary to adapt to the targeted host market?
b) In the case that the product needs to be protected legally, how can this be made in the host country?
c) What does demographic information indicate regarding the intended target customers?
d) What is the per capita income in the targeted host country?
e) What information may potential competitors reveal regarding price levels etc.?
f) Is the product politically vulnerable and in this case how may this effect the export venture?
g) Is the host market politically stable and trade-friendly?
h) How is the business culture in the host country compared with the business culture in the home country?