Understanding the opportunities and chanllenges

2. INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS:
UNDERSTANDING THE
OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES

3. INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS:
STEREOTYPES & GENERALISATIONS
Definition: Stereotype
– A fixed, unvarying idea
about something or
someone
– Believing that people of a
certain group, race or
religion are all the same
‘Danger’ words
– Always, never, all, none,
only
– “You know what they’re
like”
Definition: Generalisation
– A principle, statement or idea
having general application
Selective Descriptions
– Some, often, seldom, may,
could, possibly, generally
– “In certain circumstances”

4. INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS
What happens when
Americans try to place
European countries on
a map

5. 5

6. 6

7. 7

8. INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS
What happens when
Brits try to place the U.S.
states on a map

9. 9

11. 11

12. EXPANDING TO NORTH AMERICA:
THE FACTS

13.  Highly diversified economy
 An astonishing $17 trillion GDP (2013)
 Highest ranking for doing business
 U.S. could double imports by 2020
 Over 25% of North West exports go to the U.S.
 Open for doing business – however, beware “Buy America” Policy
 UK is by far the leader in investment
 1 million Americans work for UK companies
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS:
THE US MARKET

14. NORTH AMERICA:
THE SHEER SIZE OF IT
 9.54 million square miles
 577 million people

15.  State of Oregon: about 98,466
square miles with a population
estimated at nearly 3.8 million.
 The United Kingdom: about 93,278
square miles bearing more than 64
million people.
THE UNITED STATES:
SIZE COMPARED TO UK

16. THE UNITED STATES:
THINK REGIONAL

17. THE UNITED STATES:
50 STATES… 50 COUNTRIES
 Each state has its own state government
 Each state has its own constitution
 Every state is further divided into counties that
also have their own laws and regulations

18. THE UNITED STATES:
CITIES/METRO AREAS by Population
(2014 estimates)

19. THE UNITED STATES:
TEXAS
 Population: 27.7 million
 America’s second largest economy –
produced $1.4 trillion of economic output
in 2013…
 Placing it slightly behind the world’s 13th
largest country by GDP (Australia) with
$1.56 trillion of economic output.

20. THE UNITED STATES:
THE INTERSTATE 95 CORRIDOR
 Economy: $4.7 trillion (37% of US GDP)
 3rd largest economy in the world

21. THE UNITED STATES:
THE ECONOMIC HOT SPOTS
Key Market Sectors:
 Energy
 Oil & Gas, Renewables & Environment
 ICT & Homeland Security
 Life Sciences & Healthcare
 Business & Financial Services
 Aerospace
 Advanced Engineering
 Creative Industries & Digital Media
 Consumer Goods
 E-Commerce

22. INTERNATIONALIZING YOUR BUSINESS:
NORTH AMERICAN MARKET ENTRY
Your main entry options could be:
 Internal and/or Social Media
 Agents, Distributors &
Representatives
 Own office with JV Partner’s staff
 Own office with own staff
 Contract sales consultants
 Joint Venture/Strategic Alliance
 Acquisition
 E-Commerce

23. INTERNATIONALIZING YOUR BUSINESS:
A MELTING POT OF
CULTURE & LANGUAGE
 Diversity of Culture
 North, South and More
 Language Consideration
 Interpretation of Language
 Business Attire
 Open for Doing Business
 Networking

24. INTERNATIONALIZING YOUR BUSINESS:
THERE’S NO SUCH
THING AS A
BRITISH ACCENT

25. INTERNATIONALIZING YOUR BUSINESS:
BRITISH INDIRECTNESS
 Not bad…..........................................
 Quite good….....................................
 Very
interesting…..............................
 Maybe we could consider other
options…...........................................
 Perhaps you might like to think
about……..........................................
 More or less okay
 A little disappointing
 Let’s talk about something else
 I don’t like your idea at all - or
Your idea is rubbish
 We won’t take this idea any further or
Do it or else…
 I am a bit disappointed…..................
 With respect……...............................
 I am annoyed
 I completely disagree with you

26. ENTERING THE UNITED STATES:
APPEAR AMERICAN
 Pricing and invoicing/billing
shown in U.S. dollars - $
 Paper size
 Business cards
 Metric vs Imperial
 Business address (or virtual
office)
 U.S. telephone number
 Domains: “.com” not “.co.uk”
 Stock/Inventory Fulfilment House

27.  ‘Parochial’ view of the world
 Short-termism is endemic
 Superficial
 Directness of approach:
What is in for me?
 The bottom line.
 The power of the CEO:
Shareholder value
 Sell, sell, sell!!!
ENTERING THE UNITED STATES:
THE CULTURE OF BUSINESS

28. ENTERING THE UNITED STATES:
THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS
 Never underestimate the cost
of doing business in the U.S.
 Approval Process/Fact
Sheets/MSDS
 FDA Approvals (where
applicable)
 UL Approvals – Underwriting
Laboratories
 GSA Approvals – General
Services Administration
 Insurance – Product Liability
& PI Insurance
 TTIP – Transatlantic Trade &
Investment Partnership

29. ENTERING THE UNITED STATES:
UNDERSTANDING NEXUS IN
SALES AND USE TAX
No uniform approach. However, some of the ways Nexus can be created
outside of having a physical presence can include:
 People located in the State, which as remote employees affiliate partners.
 Visiting staff conducting business - in training or attending professional.
 Deliveries or shipping to the area.
 A temporary presence, such as solicitation / business conferences.
 Internet Nexus.

30. ENTERING THE UNITED STATES:
THE UNIONS
Union Membership Rates by State, 2015

31. ENTERING THE UNITED STATES:
RIGHT TO WORK LAW
Right to Work Map by State, 2015

32. AVITUS GROUP:
FACILITATING U.S. ENTRY
AND GROWTH

33. FACILITATING U.S. ENTRY AND GROWTH:
WE ARE HERE TO HELP
Providing a Turnkey Solution For You.
• We understand the laws and regulations of both the
British and United States markets
• We help you plan and execute a U.S. move, and then
manage your business’ administration and profitability.
• Avitus Group helps you reduce the risks with a fully
tailored plan, adaptable as and when you need.
• Our services and expertise include:
PLANNING
FINANCE
PEOPLE
COMPLIANCE
TECHNOLOGY
MARKETING

34. Robanda International.
“We face complex employee administrative
challenges in the US and without Avitus Group,
we would not have had the same success we
enjoy today. I would recommend them to any
business that is looking for the guidance and
help to do business in the US. Having peace of
mind and knowing that our company is following
state regulations regarding employment laws
allows us to focus on our passion and expertise.”
FACILITATING U.S. ENTRY AND GROWTH:
WHAT OUR CLIENT’S HAVE TO SAY

35. Contact Us
Welcome to North America. Welcome to Avitus
Group.
For a no obligation exploratory meeting,
contact us today to start the conversation.
Frank Levene | Director | UK & Europe
m:+44 (0) 7758 586059
t: +44 (0) 1428 723444
e: flevene@avitusgroup.com
w: avitusgroup.com

36. About Us
With Avitus Group you will be in safe hands.
Director of UK operations, Frank Levene is an
experienced CEO. He has a unique track record of
growth by delivering outstanding revenue, margin
and market share success across commercial,
retail, healthcare, auto and life insurance, in
Australia, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Pakistan,
Russia, South Korea, the UK and USA.
Combining this extensive experience with the long-
established infrastructure of Avitus Group, Frank
brings the skills and foresight to add true value
through planning, thought leadership and delivery
to support your exploration of the U.S. market.