What a crazy few months it has been, and all because we boldly decided that we would launch this business into the global market from day one – selling our products in any currency, any time and to any location in the world (with a few small exceptions).
When we first committed to our global approach I was certain that our flight and travel expenses would break the bank but the internet truly has made global commerce not only possible, but unbelievably easy as well. From incorporating a limited US business and opening a bank account there, to registering toll-free numbers in all our major markets – all of this was done from the comfort of my office.
I have also been calling customers from around the world using Skype and our very first client found us online from Serbia and made a detour on his way to a hunting trip in Namibia just to make a purchase in South Africa.
I have not been in the same room as our other two co-founders since April and yet we are all on the same page with regards to developments on a daily basis. Conference calls from our mobiles and bitesize e-mails seems to be all it takes.
There is only one last challenge I have to overcome with regards to the “think global” approach – that being reaching out to all our suppliers (spread across 5 countries around the world) and agreeing upon our terms of trade. This challenge begins today.
Apologies to any regular readers for the post drought of late, it seems the more I have to blog about the less time I have to blog.