Hi-Fella Insights

Expanding Your Business Beyond Borders

In today’s globalized market, selling products internationally can open doors to new opportunities. Whether it is to get new international buyers or to build relationships with suppliers from other countries. However, it’s not always straightforward. To succeed, you need smart marketing, a grasp of international regulations about trade, and knowledge of foreign sales channels. With this article, we’re going to provide you with information on how to sell products internationally and how to find international customers.

Marketing strategies for global sales

How to sell products internationally? To thrive in this dynamic landscape, it’s essential to develop effective marketing strategies tailored for global success. There are several marketing strategies that you can try for your business.

  1. Add local flavor
    There’s nothing universal when it comes to local flavor and preferences. So in order to get the locals interested, you need to stand in their shoes. For example McDonald’s Korea makes something like Bulgogi Burgers. In India, they mostly use curry to attract customers.
  2. Cultural differences
    You also need to understand cultural differences when it comes to finding international customers. Different cultures might need different approaches. That’s why your product can sell out in one country, but probably not in other countries. For example Chevrolet’s Nova failed in Spain because No-Va means ‘no-go’ in Spanish.
  3. Social media
    Utilizing social media can help you reach international customers because almost all people in the world use social media to promote their business. Even the big names of business such as Coca Cola, Pepsi, Samsung, and Unilever use their social media presence to promote their products. They use paid campaigns to help them reach customers.
  4. Events and promotion
    The best example for this campaign is when there’s a sports event, sport and energy drink brands are always their sponsors. Nike, Adidas, and Red Bull are three examples. They utilize sport events to elevate their sales.
  5. Pricing and packaging
    Pricing and packaging are two of the most critical things in marketing. For example shampoo is usually sold in a bottle of 200-500 ml. But in countries like Indonesia it is better to create sachet packaging of 50-100 ml to provide those in rural areas or those that have lower income.

International Trade Regulations

Introducing an export strategy to your business involves understanding and complying with various legal responsibilities that govern international trade. Different countries have different laws, rules, and trade agreements with the United States that can impact your export operations. Different products also have different rules. Being aware of these regulations is essential for selecting the right export partners and protecting your business from unfair practices.

  1. Licensing and Documentation
    Some countries require special permits to import goods. While the foreign buyer often handles this, you should make sure they have all the needed paperwork. In the U.S., certain products might need export licenses, so check if your items fall into this category.
  2. Tariffs and Taxes
    Many countries charge taxes on imported goods, which can make your products more expensive for customers. You also need to consider Value Added Tax (VAT) or similar taxes, as they affect your pricing.
  3. Free Trade Agreements (FTAs)
    The U.S. has deals with some countries that can make exporting easier by reducing or eliminating tariffs. Using these agreements can give your business an advantage when selling to these countries.
  4. Research and Resources
    You can find information and help from organizations like the Office of Textiles and Apparel (OTEXA) to understand the rules and requirements for exporting.

Distribution Channels

There are many types of distribution channels. Five of them are direct sales, retailers, distributors, resellers, and wholesalers.

  1. Direct sales
    Direct sales are when companies can sell things to people in a few different ways. One way is when they sell things directly to you, like a bakery selling its own bread in its shop. Another way is through the internet, where you can buy things from a company’s website. For instance, you can download music straight from a record label’s website. This is handy for things like music and computer programs that you can get online.
  2. Retailers
    Retailers play a crucial role as distribution channels for products, and they come in various forms, from your local supermarket and department stores to specialty shops and large retail giants. In today’s diverse marketplace, marketers have the opportunity to work with retailers to make their products available in physical brick-and-mortar stores, online shops, or even a combination of both digital and physical retail spaces. This versatility allows businesses to reach a broad and varied customer base through different avenues.
  3. Independent distributor
    Independent distributors are someone or agent who supplies products to retailers. They are typically used as a link in the marketing distribution chain. They have established networks with the retailers and they usually store products in their own warehouse, saving you from extra expense for maintaining storage facilities.
  4. Reseller
    Similar to distributors, but resellers sell directly to customers rather than retailers. They usually have online stores. They take commissions of the price on every sale. They also organize the shipment of products from the manufacturers or suppliers to their buyers.
  5. Wholesaler
    Wholesalers are like the bulk-buyers of the business world. They purchase large quantities of goods and can either sell them to retail stores or sometimes even to regular people through big warehouses or online shops. If your products are things that people buy in large amounts, like groceries, using a wholesaler can be a smart choice.

Unlock global opportunities for your products with Hi-Fella, an online platform where suppliers and buyers from around the world unite. With only downloading the Hi-Fella app on PlayStore or App Store and signing up for an account, you can start selling internationally today and watch your business soar. Join us now!

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Nadhifa Syafiera

Nadhifa Syafiera

Weaving realism and surrealism in a piece of paper with her quill.

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And while this doctrine was originally written for a 19th-century Europe grappling with mechanisation and urban poverty, its philosophical architecture is highly relevant to today’s conversations on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) standards. From Papal Doctrine to ESG Standards: The Bridge ESG has become the de facto language for expressing how corporations manage risks and opportunities beyond traditional financial metrics. But at its core, ESG is about values translated into systems: how we treat people, how we steward resources, and how we design institutions to be accountable. In this context, Pope Leo’s teachings become not only compatible with ESG but foundational to it. Consider the thematic overlap: Social justice aligns with Social (S) in ESG, covering labour conditions, employee wellbeing, and equitable supply chains. Ethical use of property aligns with Governance (G), touching on shareholder responsibility, executive accountability, and ethical decision-making. Concern for the common good parallels Environmental (E) imperatives, especially the long-term view of sustainability and stewardship. This is particularly relevant for multinational export-import players who straddle jurisdictions, labour regimes, and supply chains that often include both highly regulated markets and vulnerable geographies. Corporate Governance: A New Moral Imperative Corporate governance is no longer just about fiduciary responsibility and compliance checklists. Boards are now expected to think critically about systemic risks—climate, inequality, supply chain fragility—and to embed values into business models. This is where Pope Leo’s influence becomes strategically significant. His emphasis on subsidiarity, a principle later elaborated in Catholic social teaching, holds that decisions should be made at the lowest competent level. Applied to corporate governance, this suggests empowering local suppliers, decentralising certain ESG strategies, and trusting community-rooted partners rather than imposing top-down mandates. For export-import firms, especially those operating in developing economies, this governance model encourages: Partnering with local stakeholders on environmental and social policies. Ensuring board diversity includes voices with on-the-ground operational or social insight. Establishing ethical trade committees that go beyond legal compliance into moral accountability. A good example comes from Unilever, which embedded sustainability goals directly into board oversight mechanisms, giving ESG performance equal weight to traditional financial KPIs. This approach reflects not just smart governance but the moral sensibility that Leo XIII envisioned—a business accountable not only to shareholders but to society at large. 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For global firms, this means: Auditing suppliers for not only compliance but dignity—ensuring workers have safe conditions, fair pay, and voice mechanisms. Moving from reactive CSR donations to proactive value-chain transformation. Embracing long-term contracts with suppliers that reward ethical practices over lowest-cost bids. Apple, for instance, began publishing annual supply chain responsibility reports in the 2010s, and while not perfect, the move to public accountability mirrors the moral transparency that Pope Leo would consider essential in any economic structure. ESG Reporting: The Shift From Optics to Substance Pope Leo XIII warned against philanthropy as a substitute for justice. Today, businesses are often accused of “greenwashing” or “social-washing”—presenting ESG initiatives as branding exercises rather than embedded values. This is where his legacy offers a potent corrective. 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Impact investing, faith-based investing, and ESG screening are no longer niche. According to the Global Sustainable Investment Review, global sustainable investment reached $35.3 trillion in 2020, accounting for more than a third of total assets under management. Faith-aligned investment groups, including Catholic institutions managing multi-billion-dollar endowments, increasingly exclude companies that violate labour rights, degrade ecosystems, or operate in high-conflict zones. Pope Leo’s social vision now directly influences capital flows. Export-import players hoping to attract institutional investors must demonstrate more than quarterly earnings—they must articulate how their operations align with justice, stewardship, and human dignity. These are not soft values; they are becoming capital differentiators. The Strategic Advantage of Moral Clarity It’s tempting to see ESG as a chore, an imposition from regulators and activist investors. 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As ESG matures from a trend to a global standard, his insistence on dignity, justice, and moral economy becomes increasingly relevant. Businesses that embrace this long view—treating social responsibility as governance, not charity—will not only report better metrics. They’ll build more enduring, ethical, and ultimately profitable operations. Join Hi-Fella Today! As Pope Leo’s enduring emphasis on social justice gains renewed relevance in today’s ESG-driven business landscape, export-import companies must rise to the challenge of aligning profit with purpose. Hi-Fella supports this shift by connecting you with ethically aligned partners, offering transparency tools to enhance ESG reporting, and enabling responsible sourcing across global markets. Whether you're aiming to meet new governance standards or build a supply chain that reflects your values, Hi-Fella empowers you to trade responsibly while staying competitive in a world where ethics and economics go hand in hand.
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