Exporting for 2021 and Beyond

​2020 has certainly thrown our personal and professional worlds into disarray. Listening to a news program several months ago, I was reminded by a fellow ND alumnus of the Serenity Prayer by Reinhold Niebuhr:

“God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.”

Kitty and I have grown tired of the negativism and divisiveness of the highly partisan electorate. Change is in the air and we believe this phenomenon can work for us. The response to my last blog Making the World Less Crazy was incredibly positive, but it is time to move forward.  We need to begin thinking about what the business and exporting environment will look like post-recovery and how we can capitalize on the chaos and change all around us.

There is a great future ahead if we keep advancing globalism.  I have been reminded of the favorable effects of globalism in several books I’ve reread this year; Thank you for Being Late by Thomas Friedman, Factfulness by Hans Rosling and The Smartest Kids in the World by Amanda Ripley.

Why am I optimistic about globalism and opportunities for Exporters in 2021?

1. A weaker $US.  America’s recent pendulum swing to nativism has caused other countries to embrace new country partners and has chipped away at America’s soft power.  Other countries have become economically stronger and independent without the US. Their strength can work to our favor as their economies thrive earlier than ours.
2. A return to lower global import tariffs.  Import tariffs shift a heavier cost burden on to the ultimate consumer.  Trade barriers and immigration restrictions are on a historic swing of the pendulum. The cost increases associated with these barriers and restrictions are inefficient and, when properly exposed, will go into retreat. Costs for products and services will come down again when the pendulum swings back.
3. Lower travel and trade show expenses for US exporters. We are a nation with fewer borders than most, my Aussie friends being among the truest country without borders.  We have learned to sell virtually and market at lower costs not being able to travel overseas.  Video conferencing has been embraced and has its place in our sales toolbox.  The rising cost of trade shows has been stemmed as virtual product demonstrations come into vogue as a competitive marketing outlet.  Better usage of productive time and $ will flow from more efficient sales visits and trade show expense reductions.
4. Although innovation and product launches have been stunted during this crazy period, recovery will lead to a proliferation of new products and services.  Every salesperson (and Bonnie Raitt) likes to have “something to talk about” excitedly.  There is a pent-up demand to hear more about innovation.  Few things are as energizing as a new product. Many other prosperous countries have recouped from the pandemic faster than US (and on their 2nd and 3rd waves). They are on their way back and will be receptive to strengthening their recovery with our new product offerings.

I do not consider myself an economic prognosticator, just an incurable optimist-two cancers will do that for you. 

We will soon start our sixth year of the Tradewinds Council™ https://www.jimthomasintl.com/the-tradewinds-counciltrade.html .  We are Minnesota exporters looking to advance and grow through common experiences.  We never run out of topics to discuss. We have added scheduled virtual meetings to our 2021 program.  Contact Kenan Hanhan or me with membership questions and test drive a meeting (next one is a virtual meeting February 12 over the lunch hour).  The topic is Using Video as Sales Tool.

Remember: We cannot get through these times without each other so embrace each other virtually for the time being! 

You can receive this blog directly by subscribing @ https://www.jimthomasintl.com/blog.  Past blogs can be viewed on my web site.
 

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