Finding international customers

[fahad]

Hello all. I'm an entrepreneur from Pakistan. I've completed my studies a year ago and am now in the business of exporting foodstuff.

I export fruit (Mango and Mandarins), basmati and non-basmati rice and indian spices. The major issue I face is getting into contact with clients. In my first year I have only managed to export to 4 clients (Mauritius, Singapore, Qatar and Kuwait).

I have premium quality products in very good packaging, how do I get good clients. Pakistani rice and spices are exported all over the world. There are many websites in USA and Canada that sell these spices and rice online.

I need a way to connect to new buyers.

[canado]

If you can economically send small batches, try contacting some restaurants in the areas you want to get into, then when contacting larger organizations you can say you already sell to people in their area, if only in small amounts.

It's easier to contact smaller organizations like restaurants than larger ones like grocery chains (safeway, loblaws...etc), but at least when you do contact the big guys,you will have a relevant testimonial to give them....I think it would help.

Also try and find out if anyone in your area is exporting to the places you want to export to, try and work together, until you build a name that purchasers in North America recognize.

I hope that helps....

[Wayne Liew]

Is your business listed on popular trade directories or suppliers marketplace like AliBaba.com? These are places that a lot of decision makers go to when they want to look for suppliers locally and from abroad.

Another thing you can probably do is to contact or visit your country's government agency that concerns international trade. I am sure that they will have the contact details or information about other potential export destinations that you can make use of.