E-Commerce Tips

Develop Customer Relationship Management (CRM) on your internet site as part of your e- strategy. There are programs to help you qualify customers and communicate live while they are browsing at the merchandise either through e-mail, video or phone.
Betty Penny, Penny & Associates Inc.

Have your web page designed by experts in the field, not by your children or relatives; efficiency and maintenance of the site are very important and all the legalities must be addressed and the right links connected.
Evnur Taran, Northern Legacy Inc.

When building virtual alliances, focus on the business opportunity first; the structure of your relationship will follow. Look for an alliance partner who energizes and empowers you, not controls you, someone you can trust and with whom you can do things together that you couldn't do before. Nurture the relationship through good communication.
Diane Girard, Global Links Network

General Trade Resources

Export Development Canada (EDC)

Provides insurance and financial services, bonding products and small business solutions to Canadian exporters and investors and their international buyers. Supporting of Canadian direct investment abroad and investment into Canada. Much of business is done in partnership with other financial institutions and through collaboration with the Government of Canada.

Forum for International Trade Training (FITT)

The organization is a source of current, industry-validated information available on how to buy, sell, manufacture, finance and source products, raw materials or services anywhere in the world. As an industry-driven world authority on global trade, FITT strive to provide reliable and timely knowledge and practical resources to advance the field of global business.

MacRae's Blue Book (US)

America's original industrial directory since 1893, MacRAE'S is where today's industrial buyers go to find the exact product or service they need, when they need it. Using its powerful search features, users unlock the power of MacRAE'S by instantly accessing information on over 500,000 North American industrial companies with more than 2 million product listings indexed under more than 50,000 product headings http://www.macraesbluebook.com/

Canadian Trade Index (CTI)

The Canadian Trade Index (CTI) came into existence in the year 1900, to promote the interest of Canadian industry, commerce and foreign trade. Today, the Canadian Trade Index is distributed and used extensively throughout Canada and worldwide, and now contains detailed information on over 30,000 Canadian companies, featuring nearly 100,000 product listings under more than 20,000 headings. http://www.ctidirectory.com/

Really Useful Sites for International Trade Professional (FITA)

Get a free subscription to FITA's "Really Useful Sites for International Trade Professionals" A bi-weekly e-mail newsletter highlighting 4-5 web sites that are useful or enliven your business day - from FITA's International Trade Web Resources.

Canada Tariff Finder

The Canada Tariff Finder is a free tool that allows Canadian exporters to check the tariffs applicable to a specific good in a foreign market. The focus is on countries where Canada has a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in place.