Most Canadians share an inaccurate, out-of-date view of how businesses grow and succeed in international markets. Gone are the days where businesses manufactured products in Canada and shipped them internationally; now companies must extend beyond borders and become part of an integrated international value chain. Traditional trade measurements fail to recognize is the effect that…
Ferrero International is the world’s third-largest manufacturer and distributor of confectionary goods. The company, best known for their chocolate treats, has an expansive network of 22 manufacturing facilities worldwide including Canadian operations in Brantford, Ontario. Ferrero Rocher, Nutella, Tic Tac, and Kinder Surprise are just some of the products made there. The company’s Canadian subsidiary,…
Exporting is one of the most important growth strategies used by businesses across Canada. Nearly 73,000 Canadian small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) leverage new markets and opportunities outside of the country by exporting goods or services. This, however, only accounted for 11.8% of SMEs in Canada signaling that there is reluctance among Canadian businesses to…
It’s no secret. Expanding your business into new international markets can help access additional suppliers, customers, and increase profits. Growing into strategically selected markets will make for a more competitive business, however selecting the wrong market could result in wasting precious company resources. A variety of tools and resources are available to help companies select…
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in the following article are those of the guest author and do not necessarily represent or reflect Mentor Works Ltd. If you don’t know the rules of the game, how can you expect to compete fairly and win? Let’s not kid ourselves, exporting is a very competitive game, played…
The Canadian manufacturing industry remains cautiously optimistic moving forward in 2016. While some sectors within the manufacturing industry are seeing rapid growth, others are stagnant or contracting due to a variety of economic and labour issues. This type of uncertainty isn’t new to manufacturing executives, but being able to plan ahead and execute growth strategies…
Great Britain has officially begun the process of exiting the European Union after a highly contentious, and incredibly narrow vote to leave. There were immediate impacts in international markets – a global sell off of the Pound saw the currency hit its lowest point since 1985. Global markets (including the TSX) dropped substantially, and virtually…
North Star Windows and Doors is a highly competitive manufacturer of energy-efficient commercial and residential building products. Since 1985, the St. Thomas, Ontario business has provided quality workmanship and attentive service to customers spanning across the world. The company was recently announced as recipients of up to $1.2 million through the Southwestern Ontario Development Fund…
Canadian businesses must look for ways to increase exports and drive revenue from international customers. Especially in the technology industry, companies should always be looking for new ways to grow their business both domestically and on a global scale. With a high demand for Canadian products and economic conditions that support increased exports, businesses should…
Canadian exporters received good news earlier this month when Statistics Canada announced that national exports rose by 1.5% in April. This momentum was largely attributed to rising prices (1.1%) and an increase in export volumes (0.5%). What’s better still is that the Canadian dollar continues to rebound and is, at the time of this article’s…