Business News

SME exports on the up

Filed under: Small business — Alan @ 2:31 am

Exports from SMEs in Britain have increased to their highest levels over the past two and a half years, according to new data from the CBI.

The CBI’s newest SME trends survey reported that 36% of SMEs had an increase in their orders during the first three months previous to April.

Also good news was the fact that while 26% of all the firms reported orders were still down, the 10% positive balance shows that there has been some movement of growth since January of 2008.

Manufactures stated that due to the fallen value of sterling export orders increased over what most observers expected.

About a third of the firms included in the survey also said that their export order volumes rose although ten percent reported they had decreased.  This 18% balance is the best growth that has been seen since July of 1995 with domestic orders showing a marginal ride.

Chairman of the CBI’s SME Council, Russell Griggs, stated that smaller manufacturers within the UK are starting to see their hard works pay off along with the weak currency.  He continued to say that domestic demand and production are starting to stabilize, exports are continuing to grow, and firms are starting to feel better about their overall prospects.

Griggs even added that since the demand is expected to increase over the next few months some manufacturers are going so far as to consider hiring extra staff to meet the increased demand over the next three months.

Company helps UK SMEs break into US

Filed under: Business Advice — Alan @ 6:17 am

Although it is hard for any SME from the UK to break into the sales field of the US, ExportAction Ltd is attempting to help struggling businesses by publishing ten free tip sheets that help out small businesses that have larger dreams.

The sheets will not be available to purview as a large batch, but instead will be emailed to interested businesses throughout ten working days in a row.  They will be written in simple English and kept brief but poignant.

There are ten major points that will be covered on each of the tips sheets including frequently asked questions such as LLC or Inc for the US, ROI, the US market in general, and how to use telephone and fax lines appropriately to reach the US.

ExportAction has plenty of credentials behind their new effort given the fact that the company president and co-founder Roger Frampton has assisted hundreds of companies across the UK develop sales and business strategies for breaking into the US.  He also has spent time employed with several US companies and working with the UKTI (UK Trade & Investment) for the last ten years.

The company additionally has headquarters in London and Florida, US plus satellite offices that operate out of New York and California.  Additionally, at the moment the company despite its expansion is debt free and earning a profit each year while continuing to fund its own efforts without help from any other financial institutions.