Choosing an Import Agent

Choosing an Import Agent Free Online Research Papers In exporting, an agent overseas might be a company or partnership or an individual working on a self-employed basis. The agent agrees to try to win orders for you (the principal, i.e. the would-be exporter), and pass such orders on to you for possible acceptance, without the agent taking title to the goods. That’s how the word agent is used narrowly, but it’s also used in a wider sense to include some intermediaries who do buy and sell on their own account. Thus, there are several different types of agent in international trade. As an assessor for the professional body The Institute Of Export IOE International Trade www.export.org.uk I have set questions regarding various aspects of import agents; and this essay looks at the different types of possible agent overseas; the qualifications such an agent should have; steps involved in choosing such an agent; and the ways in which a principal and its overseas agents (once appointed) should help each other. In this essay, I’ll use UK English (e.g. stock) rather than, say, US (inventory). This is no criticism of any particular variety of English: I have enjoyed living and working in the US for two years, but I am more familiar with UK English. What are the different types of agent overseas? A commission agent does not hold stock, apart perhaps from samples. An agent del credere is a commission agent who bears the credit risk (that is to say, the risk of the importer not paying). A stocking agent is a commission agent who holds stock, without buying on her/his own account. A distributor has preferential rights to buy and sell specified products in a specific territory. A stockist is a distributor but one who generally receives greater reward because s/he undertakes to carry a specified level of stock. Distributors/stockists usually operate on their own account, so they risk making losses. Any of these agents/distributors/stockists might also agree to offer and provide after-sales service. What qualifications/qualities should an import agent possess? An import agent very probably needs to have the following positive qualifications/qualities: local knowledge and contacts; marketing ability; product/service enthusiasm; and the disposition to learn, and update her/himself; the resources to cover the entire proposed territory (sales; and, if agreed, after-sales); the official (and, if relevant, minority) language(s) of the importing country, and preferably the principal’s language also; plus solvency, probity, and good health. If the agency is a company as opposed to an individual, there is somewhat less chance of business being interrupted through illness, accidents, or death. An agent probably also needs to have the following negative qualifications/qualities: NOT represent too many other principals (i.e. the potential agent should NOT be a so-called agency collector); and NOT hold conflicting agencies, although complementary agencies are often very useful, e.g. let’s say you manufacture cutlery (knives, forks, etc), and the prospective agent might already represent manufacturers of crockery (bowls, dinner plates, cup, saucers, etc), and glassware, for example, but NOT cutlery. Having generated a list of potential agents, one should take the following steps: make a short-list; obtain status/credit reports (from a bank and/or a credit-vetting agency); if possible, make a personal visit to see the potential agents and their organisations; preferably bring one or two of the potential agents over to see your operations; and, if things look favourable, move towards written agreement. How can you help each other? Well, even if it is not made explicit in the written agreement, there needs to be good two-way traffic between principal and agent in all relevant information (within reasonable bounds of commercial sensitivity). From the agents side, changes in, for example, import regulations, customs duties, quotas, exchange controls, competition, social/market/marketing trends, technical standards, and trademark and service-mark regulations. From the principals side, development plans for production capacity and new products and services, and any expected delivery problems. Additionally, holding conferences for agents from various territories can be useful, as can the (e-)mailing of company newsletters. In certain circumstances and subject to appropriate safeguards, the principal might be prepared to consider providing loans to the agent, possibly even on lenient terms. To conclude, no exporter should leave everything to the agent: the exporter (and not just the agent) should participate in trade fairs and exhibitions in the target market, and periodically visit the premises of customers and potential customers. Best wishes. Bon voyage. Research Papers on Choosing an Import AgentDefinition of Export QuotasRiordan Manufacturing Production PlanMoral and Ethical Issues in Hiring New EmployeesBionic Assembly System: A New Concept of SelfMarketing of Lifeboy Soap A Unilever ProductPETSTEL analysis of IndiaThe Relationship Between Delinquency and Drug UseQuebec and CanadaStandardized TestingGenetic Engineering

SAT French Subject Test Information

SAT French Subject Test Information Bonjour! Êtes-vous qualifià © pour parler franà §ais? Bilingualism is a trait that may set you apart on your college application if the decision is tight whether or not you make it in. Here, youll find out what this test is all about. Note: The SAT French Subject  test is not part of the Redesigned SAT Test,  the popular college admissions exam. The SAT French Subject test is one of the many SAT Subject Tests, which are exams designed to showcase your particular talents in all sorts of fields. And if your talents extend into the French realm, then this exam can help you showcase it to your future alma mater. SAT French Subject Tests Basics Before you register for this test, here are the basics about how youll be tested: 60 minutes85 multiple-choice questions200-800 points possible3 different types of French questions: Vocabulary in context, Fill-in-the-blank, and Reading comprehension questions SAT French Subject Test Content Vocabulary in Context: Approximately 25 to 26 questionsWith these questions, youll be tested on vocabulary used in various parts of speech. You will also need to know a few basic French  idioms.Structure: Approximately 25 to 34 questionsMany of these fill-in-the-blank questions will ask you to read a slightly longer passage and select the best choices for the blanks. Your knowledge of French sentence structure is tested.Reading Comprehension: Approximately 25 to 34 questionsHere, youll be given a multi-paragraph passage and asked reading comprehension questions about the passage to gauge your true comprehension of the language. The passages can be drawn from fiction, essays, historical works, newspaper and magazine articles, and everyday materials such as advertisements, timetables, forms, and tickets. Why You Should Take the SAT French Subject Test In some cases, you will need to take the test, especially if you are considering choosing French as a major in college. In other cases, its a great idea to take the French Subject Test so you can showcase that highly sought-after skill of bilingualism. It shows the college admissions officers that you have more up your sleeve than your GPA or wonderful SAT or ACT test scores. Taking the test, and scoring high on it, demonstrates qualities of a well-rounded applicant. Plus, it can get you out of those entry-level language courses. How to Prepare for the SAT French Subject Test To ace this thing, youll need at least two years in French during high school, and youll want to take the test as close to the end of or during your most advanced French class you plan to take. Getting your high school French teacher to offer you some supplementary materials is always a good idea, too. Plus, the College Board offers free practice questions for the SAT French Test along with a pdf of the answers, too. Sample SAT French Subject Test Question This question comes from the College Boards free practice questions. The writers have ranked the questions from 1 to 5 where 1 is the least difficult. The question below is ranked as a 3. Si tu faisais du jogging tous les jours, est-ce que tu te -mieux? (A) sentiras(B) sentirais(C) sentais(D) sens Answer: Choice (B) is correct. Sentences introduced by si express hypothetical situations when the verb in the clause introduced by si is in the past tense (imparfait). When this is the case, the verb in the main clause must be in the conditional. Choice (B), sentirais (would feel), is the conditional form and therefore the correct answer. Choice (A), sentiras (will feel), is in the future tense; choice (C), sentais (felt), is in the past tense (imparfait) and choice (D), sense (feel), is in the present tense.