5 entrepreneurs share global expansion stories

How these companies overcame hurdles to grow and source outside the U.S.
JUL 29, 2014
The world is a big place. So it's hard to picture how to enter an entirely different country, with its unknown idiosyncrasies and expectations, on limited resources. Do you jump on a plane, stack of business cards in your pocket, and hope for the best? Attack the Internet and prepare to send awkward emails? Hire a consultant? So how do small and medium-sized firms with global ambitions get that elusive first toehold in another land? Crain's asked five area businesses to share how they got from vague idea to "Hey, this could actually work." Here are their stories: An industrial coverings firm finds a way into Mexico A Cantonese-speaking consultant was key to bodywear firm's growth A sports company's bare bones web site led to international business How an architectural design firm landed a piece of a $400M project in South Korea Team's reconnaissance in Ecuador led to chocolate supply

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