Exporting Your Goods

Visiting the Market

Visiting an export market is critical for you to get a sense of the market and to meet potential intermediaries. The following five questions and answers can help you in planning visits:

Why do we need to spend money and time visiting the market if we have an intermediary?
When should we plan to visit?
What preparations do we need to make for the market visit?
What about participating in international trade shows?
What about participating in trade missions?

Why do we need to spend money and time visiting the market if we have an intermediary?

While an intermediary can do much of the actual work for you, it will help a great deal if you have a feel for the market, the challenges that the intermediary faces, and the activities of your competitors.

When should we plan to visit?

It is particularly efficient to visit at a time of year when there is a trade event scheduled at which you can meet a range of people. Be sure to check national holidays before arranging a visit.

What preparations do we need to make for the market visit?

Click here for a guide to planning for trips to your export market. You will want to clarify for yourself what types of contacts you wish to make, which might include:

  • Potential agents and distributors
  • Potential partners
  • Industry association executives
  • World Trade Centre
  • Government contacts
  • Manufacturers
  • Trade media
  • Other Canadians doing business in the market

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What about participating in international trade shows?

Trade shows are excellent opportunities not only to introduce your products to the market but also to network and meet potential foreign agents or partner. Trade Show Week and Trade Show News Network both provide information and contact addresses concerning trade shows. Be sure to review the attached file on Trade Show Marketing.

What about participating in trade missions?

If you have an opportunity to travel to your export market as part of a trade mission, it can be an excellent opportunity to both learn about the market and to meet key potential intermediaries in a context where you have particular credibility because of being part of the trade mission. For information about trade missions, sign up for the newsletter of TradeStart and check the events calendar of the Canada Export Centre.