FSB tells small businesses: "nothing beats selling abroad"

Date: 9th June 2009

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has suggested that small businesses open up their products to the international market.

The campaign comes in on the back of research conducted by the British Chamber of Commerce (BCC) and UK Trade and Investment (UKTI), outlining the realities of such a market manoeuvre and the benefits it can bring.

Stephen Alambritis, head of public affairs at the FSB, said: "The export market [can] raise the reputation of a business, raise the turnover and raise the opportunity to get money for investment. There is nothing to beat selling abroad as well as to the home market."

Despite the apparent benefits, it would appear pro-activeness concerning the export market is not a trait that comes naturally to British firms, however.

Of those that already export, 58 per cent of companies do so because of approaches from customers and 19 per cent because they were approached by an agent or distributor, according to the research by the BCC and UKTI.

The research also found that 43 per cent of firms said they did not export as it did not feature in their business plan.