1. Is any new business done on business missions?

Yes, trade missions are all about new business. These missions are aimed at helping Canadian and European business organizations, new or experienced, large or small with establishing new business opportunities.

2. Do I have to cold call my prospects and set up my own appointments for a business mission?

No, the Omniglobe Business Solutions does the cold calling for you. At the same time, your company is responsible for researching the target market and making sure that it fits with your strategy. We use our professional expertise in the market area of the mission to identify prospects, qualify them and make appointments on behalf of the mission participants.

3. Will my competitors be traveling on a business mission that I am also participating in?

It’s possible, but it doesn’t happen very often. Our business missions can be a multi-sector, which means that you will very likely be traveling with business people who you haven’t previously met.

4. I am looking for a partner, distributor or a supplier. Could I still be a part of a business mission if my company isn’t in direct sales?

Yes, this can be accommodated through the profile you prepare for Omniglobe Business Solutions.

5. Are business missions politically driven?

As the mission organizers, our main focus is on the business program – the job of setting up business meetings and coordinating logistics. Occasionally there is political participation on trade missions. We look at the Canadian Government involvement as a positive addition to business missions. Participants have the unique opportunity to meet with our political leaders. As well, there are often more networking events included in the mission. We believe that business missions are all about new business opportunities and including political representatives on a mission is almost always good for results.

6. I want to be part of a business mission, but they never seem to go to the market that I want, or take place at a convenient time.

If your company has a market in mind that you’d like to pursue and you’ve done the research to support it, we can help through our business development consulting. We use an in-market expertise to do the prospecting and arrange the meetings with relevant contacts and organizations.

7. I want to be part of a business mission, but they are very costly and it takes time and money to follow up.

Business missions are expensive to organize, but we feel the costs are equitable and do not limit the participation of any business prepared to undertake new market development. The follow-up costs can vary but they are necessary. Before participating in a business mission, your company should be able to commit to follow-up with your qualified prospects. Market development does take time and money, and the consideration of the long-term approach should always be considered.

8. Is it difficult to get around and do business in an unfamiliar place?

It can be challenging, but that’s where we can help. We can offer a “Doing Business In Canada” session prior to missions, which gives information on the country or region’s business environment, as well as its market needs. This program also offers sources of further information and provides an opportunity for one-on-one discussion with market specialists.

9. Will I be required to provide feedback once I return from a business mission?

At the end of the trade mission, we hold an information group get-together. This meeting not only provides an opportunity to celebrate successes, but also allows participants to tell us how the mission has gone: the quality and quantity of their meetings, the logistics, and the accommodations. Following this meeting, we will only ask you once about your overall results in a scheduled five-minute phone call, six months following the mission. By then you will have had time to follow-up on leads and hopefully have some business developing through the normal business cycle.