June 2010

emita is pleased to announce Cheiron BRC Ltd as June's Member of the Month. You can find out more about this local company below from their Managing Director, Pearl Cole, including the company’s overseas challenges, international achievements and aspirations for the future.

Please provide a company background including when it was established, where it is located, how many staff you employ etc.

Cheiron BRC Ltd was founded in 2008 to provide companies with the specialised service they need to compete in our global economy. We are located in Northamptonshire, England and we service the UK and various parts of Europe. We currently have 2 permanent employees while we hire in other team members on a project by project basis depending on their skill sets and the project requirements. Most research projects usually require a team of 3 -5 members.

Please provide an overview of the products and services offered and areas of specialisation.

Our main services include bespoke training, which is tailored region, industry and contact level with foreign clients. We give practical advice on how best to interact with foreign clients. Quick Guides are a new addition that allows clients to explore key points of interest in a particular country, with minimum cost. This is interesting because the client can choose a few topics they find most interesting and it comes with 90 minutes of consultation. This is a great option for everyone as someone new to an area may select business management structures and etiquette modules, while experienced traders may want more information about the current government and its policies towards foreign investment.

How did you find out about emita and what benefits do you find the most valuable?

It’s actually a rather amusing story. My colleague Lisa Baldwin from Best Network Asia and I were planning an International Business Day last September. I was tasked with the job of pursuing exhibitors. So I called Emita and spoke to Juliet to find out more about what they do and if exhibiting would be of any interest. The more she spoke the more interested I became in Emita. It’s funny because she wasn’t even trying to sell me on it, she was just telling me what the organization was about. By the end of the conversation, I was filling out my application online.

I really appreciate and benefit from the effort that goes into each event. There are quality speakers that provide quality information which is then made available on the website.

How long has your company been active in the export / import market and which countries do you currently trade with?

We’re fairly new to international trade as we just started last fall. We currently trade with France but are quite open and prepared for new opportunities within the EU.

What made you decide to expand your business overseas?

Opportunity. Having completed my MA in International Relations and Diplomacy in Paris and most of my MBA whilst working as a corporate trainer, I had a few connections that I exploited when I started the consultancy the year before.

What has been your biggest exporting / importing challenge?

Marketing is quite challenging when you export your services rather than goods.

What’s the most helpful piece of international trade advice you have received?

This is a hard question to answer. After meeting so many experienced people and really trying to glean as much as I can from our conversations... I must say, the best advice applies to life in general. Never give up. I don’t take that to mean you should continue down a path that isn’t working, rather just knowing it can be very difficult to break into a new market. It will take a lot of hard work and probably time and other resources. Don’t neglect the domestic side of your business and continue to pursue the opportunities.

What does the future hold? Any particular markets you are looking to target next?

If only I had a magic ball... or mirror I think I could better answer that question. As for what I have planned. I’m looking to implement new processes in the training design so that I can train others to do the training as I plan for expansion.

There are quite a few partnership opportunities that I’m exploring at the moment with diversity trainers and language schools. It’s still in the works however.

In the very near future, there is the International Business Day event, being held on 24 June 2010 at the HSBC Commercial centre in Northampton. A lot of time has going into planning and it is a really exciting time as we approach this promising day. Attendance is free and you may find more information and online registration at www.ibd2010.co.uk