Small Businesses Thrive in the International Marketplace (Video)

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A video, "Small Businesses That Are Thriving in the International Marketplace," features three small business owners (noted below) who reveal why foreign trade is vital to the growth and success of their companies. The video underscores the importance of trade and highlights how small businesses are engaged in the global economy.

Each of the companies also share how they are able to export their products to highly competitive markets such as Mexico and China.

1. Drew Greenblat of Marlin Steel
2. Roy Paulson of Paulson Manufacturing
3. Robert Patton of Patton Electronics

WATCH the video here.

And there's more!

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has also updated its TradeSupportsJobs.com, an interactive site that shows how exports drive economic growth and support jobs in all 50 states and all 435 congressional districts. The site breaks down the value of exports to every state by total dollar amount, by industry sector, and by the number of jobs directly supported by exports.

The United States of Small Businesses

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America's 5th Annual Small Business Summit is underway this week and already we learned that one of the breakout sessions focused on how to do business internationally. Interestingly enough, the moderator for that session, Leslie Schweitzer, is a friend and colleague of mine. She serves as one of our many talented contributors on Women Entrepreneurs GROW Global (WEGG) which The Global Small Business Blog sponsors. Additionally, she was a panelist in Chicago a couple of years ago when I moderated a discussion on the very same subject of going global.

Great quote from Leslie:

One of the misconceptions of trade is that the only beneficiaries of trade are large companies, and that's not true. 97% of international traders are small businesses.

Read more about what went on during the international business session here.

Globally Protect Your Property

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The mission of the Global Intellectual Property Center, an affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, is to champion intellectual property as vital to creating jobs, saving lives, advancing global economic growth, and generating breakthrough solutions to global challenges.

Find out more here.

Check out the "Fight the Fakes" poster contest here.

Global Trade Toolkit

Thinking of exporting or expanding into new markets? It's a great time to get started! Ninety-six percent of the world's consumers live outside of the United States and free trade agreements are opening new markets for U.S. businesses everyday.

Here's a GREAT way to get started in the trade export process.

And listen in on this interview about strategies small businesses can implement to go global.