First half of 2024: highlights of our E-Export events and international projects!

Here's a recap of the first half of 2024, showcasing the key E-Export events and international business projects that have shaped our journey so far.

Partnership with Little balance

The year 2024 began on a high note with the return of a former client, Little balance, a specialist in small household appliances and innovative scale solutions. Since January, this company has partnered with us to develop its brand in Southern Europe, focusing on deploying multichannel strategies.

Over the past decade, Little balance has generated over 16 million euros in revenue in France through extensive B2B and B2C distribution networks and e-commerce optimization. These strategic choices have helped the company surpass industry leaders, particularly in the innovative eco-friendly scale segment. We look forward to continuing this success story by developing Little balance's presence in Italy and Spain. These new markets offer promising opportunities to build on the solid progress made in France.

Bpifrance webinar on E-Export

On January 18, we organized the E-Export, accélérez vos ventes à l'étranger grâce au multicanal training-webinar in partnership with Bpifrance . This event attracted nearly 500 subscribers, highlighting the growing interest in Digital Export strategies. It provided an excellent opportunity to share key concepts and actionable tips, including multilingual SEO techniques, multichannel digital marketing strategies, and logistics and customs considerations, to help SMEs get started with multichannel sales on an international scale.

This training-webinar is now accessible on the Bpifrance Export Academy platform here: https://www.bpifrance-universite.fr/formation/e-export-accelerez-vos-ventes-a-letranger-grace-au-multicanal/

Big thanks to Bpifrance for their trust and support, as well as to all the participants for their engagement during and after the webinar.

Cross-Border B2B eCommerce in partnership with Stratexio

In February and March, we conducted a cross-border B2B eCommerce session as part of our collaboration with Stratexio for the company EJ . This session included an E-Export audit and strategic recommendations to start and optimize B2B online sales abroad.

We thank Stratexio for seeking our expertise to support EJ in its international development.

New role at La Fabrique de l'Exportation

On March 15, Silvia Carter was appointed General Delegate of La Fabrique de l'Exportation. La Fabrique is a leading think tank in international trade, recognized for its expertise in supporting French companies.

With a renewed team including new members such as Sarah Temple-Boyer , Alain BENTEJAC , and ☰ Sophie G. , we are ready to pursue more ambitious goals for the internationalization of French businesses. We are committed to providing analyses, practical recommendations, and strategic advice to help companies expand their business into foreign markets!

New EBRD Project in Tunisia

Among the several international projects for the EBRD , the one in Tunisia concerning Société Tunisienne d'Elevage des Poissons is fascinating! It was the opportunity to travel to Tunis with the amazing experts Frantz Dumey and Andreas Ntatsopoulos to help the local team improve the performance of the fish farm and start export sales.

This project is part of our collaboration with the EBRD to help SMEs in the developing countries where the EBRD operates to close the business gap with the developed countries. The potential for these SMEs is huge, and it is an honor to contribute to their success within this initiative.

2nd webinar for Bpifrance: AI for export applications

This second training-webinar L’IA au service de votre activité Export took place on June 20 and focused on how to use AI and Generative AI to optimize export processes.

AI and Generative AI offer different capabilities for export usage. AI involves using algorithms to analyze data, automate tasks, and make decisions. For example, AI-driven inventory management systems can predict stock needs based on historical data, reducing overstock and stockouts. Generative AI, on the other hand, involves creating new content and data. For example, Gen-AI can develop content in multiple languages, such as product descriptions and ads, enhancing communication with local customers and making it easier for businesses to connect with diverse markets.

This event, along with all the real-world examples, is now accessible on the Bpifrance Export Academy platform here: https://www.bpifrance-universite.fr/formation/lia-au-service-de-votre-activite-export/

Big thanks once more to Bpifrance for enabling us to share our expertise with almost a thousand interested participants, and counting, on the topic of AI for export.

Webinar for Brest Métropole in partnership with La Fabrique de l'Exportation: B2B & B2C European Marketplaces

On June 24, in partnership with La Fabrique de l'Exportation and the Maison de l'International de la Métropole de Brest, we organized a webinar on the best practices on the European marketplaces to develop export sales.

The webinar began with an analysis of B2B and B2C business models in Europe, highlighting the unique characteristics and requirements of both approaches. Next, the session covered the success factors necessary for European marketplaces and the technical challenges such as integrating with various e-commerce platforms, managing cross-border logistics, and ensuring compliance with data protection laws. These points were illustrated through several case studies on different European platforms, including Europages, Zalando, and Carrefour.

Sincere thanks to La Fabrique de l'Exportation and the Maison de l'International de la Métropole de Brest for their collaboration and support in making this event possible.

The Replay is available here: https://fb.watch/tG10vIwGdY/

Université d'Été de l'Internationalisation des Entreprises

On July 4 and 5, we had the pleasure of participating in the Université d'Été de l'Internationalisation des Entreprises (UEIE) in Aix-en-Provence this year dedicated to how to cope with geostrategic changes to grow business on a global scale.

Throughout the two days, we attended several conferences and workshops featuring expert speakers who shared their knowledge of current trends and future opportunities in global trade. These sessions provided insights, tools, and strategies that we can apply to both our internationalization efforts and those of our clients.

The event also included a unique networking evening, offering a valuable opportunity to connect with industry peers, share experiences, and establish new business relationships.

Bravo to all the organizers OSCI - Les Accélérateurs du développement international🌍↗ French Foreign Trade Advisors CCI France International MEDEF International EOC INTERNATIONAL La Fabrique de l'Exportation for their hard work in making this event a resounding success!

Les Débats du Commerce International

On July 16, we hosted our first debate on international trade, a new series of events organized by La Fabrique de l'Exportation.

Titled « Politiques commerciales Trump-Biden : bonnet blanc-blanc bonnet ? », this event featured a discussion led by Alain Bentejac and Jean-François Boittin, covering several topics such as:

• U.S. protectionism and the implications of the Trump and Biden administrations for global markets
• U.S.-China and U.S.-Europe trade relations, highlighting historical context, recent policy changes, and their impact on global trade
• The future of the World Trade Organization (WTO)
• The Inflation Reduction Act and its potential implications for international trade and economic policy

Alain Bentejac and Jean-François Boittin's contributions and expertise were great! They provided us with a better understanding of these complex issues and sparked the dialogue on the future of U.S. trade policies.

New EBRD project with our former client BENSON SHOES

I had the pleasure of participating in the launch of a new project for Benson Shoes, aimed at expanding its cross-border e-commerce in Europe. This project represents a significant milestone for the company, opening up new international growth opportunities and setting the stage for a broader market presence.

The project's primary focus is to enhance Benson Shoes' e-commerce capabilities, making it easier for the company to reach customers in the countries of the European Union. By optimizing its online platform and SEO, integrating advanced logistics solutions, and adapting its marketing strategies to local markets, Benson Shoes will be well-positioned to benefit from the growing demand for quality footwear across Europe.

In collaboration with the EBRD, I will work with the best advisors specializing in cross-border e-commerce and international SEO. Our goal is to create an efficient process for Benson Shoes, enabling the team in Casablanca to leverage its competitive advantage and expand its customer base.

This project has immense potential and I am confident it will lead to building a strong presence for Benson Shoes in the European markets. I look forward to seeing the positive outcomes of this collaboration!

And next?

• New EBRD projects: our collaboration with the EBRD is growing with new projects in Kazakhstan, Georgia, and Morocco, aimed at helping local SMEs grow internationally.
• Upcoming Stratexio training: on September 5 in Angers and September 11 in Lille, we will provide two training days organized in partnership with Stratexio. These events will focus on best practices and strategies for internationalization through E-Export and cross-border marketplaces.
• Workshop for Bpifrance's agro-food accelerator: on September 18, an exclusive E-Export training dedicated to the agro-food companies part of Bpifrance's accelerator. This workshop will offer practical sessions and advice on how to use multiple channels to boost export sales.
• Masterclass on E-Export and AI for BIG: on October 10, we will be at the Bpifrance Inno Génération (BIG) event with a special masterclass on E-Export and AI. This will be an excellent way to celebrate the 10th anniversary of BIG, the largest event dedicated to entrepreneurship.
• And much more, so stay tuned!

Do you want to participate in any of these events? Or do you want ToWebOrNotToWeb to organize an E-Export event for you? Contact me silvia.carter@towebornottoweb.com!

This newsletter takes its name from my new book “Digital E-Export - E-Commerce, Marketplaces, SEO, SEA, Social Selling and E-Marketing”, now available on Amazon worldwide!

If you want to know more about E-Export follow our page ToWebOrNotToWeb 👍