‘Export Connector’ To Travel Arkansas Promoting Benefits Of Exporting

A Texas-based “Export Connector” will visit Arkansas next month to talk to business leaders about the virtues of exporting goods and services. Elyse Erikkson recently said her talk, called “The Riddle of the Exporter,” will take another look at the complex issue.

Eriksson has developed a program looking at the issue through an entrepreneurial lens. Most programs take a look at the issue through a government approach, she said, adding that the governmental approach to the issue can serve as a “Whack a Mole,” with people learning little and becoming confused.

“You will be able to understand exporting in one day,” Eriksson said, noting the information learned can “create a filing cabinet in your brain.”

Eriksson, who worked as an official with the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock before going into business for herself, said Arkansas has developed a strong exporting system with several companies becoming successful.

Agriculture and steel, which are two mainstays in the state’s economy, rely on exports to be successful, Eriksson said. She also said the United States has benefited from having high-quality goods that are available on the market.

According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, Arkansas exported more than $6.9 billion in goods and services in 2014. The state’s largest export market in 2013 was Canada, followed by Mexico, France, China and Japan. The federal numbers also show that in 2013 there were 2,264 Arkansas companies that exported goods and services. Of those, 79% employed fewer than 500 employees.

KEYS
Eriksson said she has created an 8-step checklist for companies that are considering exporting products. The first step is getting started, followed by doing market research. Once the research is done, a company can then work on market entry.

From there, there has to be legal research done on contracts and intellectual property rights, Eriksson said. A company then works on studying regulations and compliance, followed by how to get the product to market. Payment and finance is also key as well as learning about the culture of the market, Eriksson said.

Eriksson said learning the market of an area is essential. She said a Texas-based air company, Air Tractor, saw its employment go up from 130 to 270 people just by moving on exports.

She said a prospective business owner, while having resources at their disposal, must do a lot of research before moving ahead. The research includes checking references for financing as well as suppliers, she said.

As for transportation, she said that a freight forwarder can be huge especially with logistics and creating documentation for products.

MEETINGS SET
There are three meetings set in Arkansas to discuss the issue.
• Tuesday, Oct. 13 at 9 a.m. – Fort Smith, Beall Barclay & Company.

• Thursday, Oct. 15 at 9 a.m. – Little Rock, Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce.

• Tuesday, Oct. 20 at 9 a.m. – Jonesboro, Arkansas State University Student Union.

Registration is available online at asbtdc.org/training. People interested in attending the events can contact Shannon Roberts at (501) 683-7700 or by email at [email protected]

The early bird cost is $99 with an 80 page workbook ($49 value) included.