Selling and Operational Adaptation in Brazil

Apart from adapting to the Brazilian culture, you may find yourself having to reassess the way you traditionally operate and conduct business. Here are some things to think about when you're planning:

• Will you be able to easily obtain the raw materials you require?
• Will you be able to import all the materials you need?
• Will you be able to find skilled workers in Brazil?
• Will you be able to take current employees, if needed?
• Are you obliged to employ nationals?
• Are you prepared, if necessary, to increase workforce and productivity?
• Are you familiar with the laws, regulations and trade barriers that could affect your business?

Selling and getting your goods to market

To improve the chances of successful business expansion in Brazil, you need to consider a few key issues. Sales presence, for instance, should be a top priority. Will you sell directly? Will you trade over the internet? Perhaps trade shows are more suitable? Could you benefit from a local partner who knows the market? Here are a few fundamental choices:

• Get yourself a Brazilian distributor who has a proven track record of selling on a local or national level.
• Find sales agents who can either sell your products or services, or alternatively acquaint you with potential clients or customers.
• Joint ventures with local companies have gained in popularity, primarily because of their knowledge and established presence in the market. It is often a pricey option but lessens the risk.
• Set up your own Brazilian office, ensuring maximum control on all operations. This is obviously the most expensive of all your options.

When considering the distributional needs of your business, it is essential to account for the logistical factors which could affect it. These include things, such as:

Infrastructure

The infrastructure of a country could prove integral to the success of your business. Consider logistical reasons that your business found domestic prosperity: was it the ease of which you could run it? Reliable distributors, maybe? An efficient transportation network?

It is important to contextualise these issues with the country you are expanding to: ultimately, can it offer the same logistical benefits?

The Brazilian infrastructure are generally well-developed, with the exception of few regions of the country. There are about 30 airports altogether in Brazil, some of which accept flights from overseas, such as those at Rio de Janeiro, So Paolo and Brasilia, while many otherwise inaccessible or slow-to-get-to places, such as Manaus in the north, also receive flights. Flights arrive at major destinations from North America, Europe, Asia and Australia. Domestic flights cover most of the country, with good transfer facilities at each airport. Rio de Janeiro-Galeo Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport is Brazils number one airport and the main international gateway to Brazil. Dozens of major international and domestic airlines serve hundreds of world destinations from Galeo Antonio Carloss two terminals. Unless you have plenty of time, air travel is the best way to get from one city to another.

A list of UK freight forwarders with particular experience in shipping goods to Brazil is available contacting the UK Trade & Investment website. The main ports for container movement are: Santos (So Paulo); Rio de Janeiro; Rio Grande (Rio Grande do Sul); Parangu (Paran); Vitria (Esprito Santo) and Salvador (Bahia). All of these ports are part of transport corridors involving hydroways, roads, railways and terminals used for the transportation of goods to and from foreign markets.

There are over 40 terminals operated privately for the handling of specific commodities eg oil, minerals, coal, wood, sugar, ro-ros etc. Freight fowarders, known in Brazil as Despachantes, are often hired by importers to clear goods because they can usually do the job more quickly because of their connections. All the main ports offer extensive warehouse facilities including refrigerated stores and bonded warehousing.

Wholesale

Traditionally, wholesalers are used for selling low-value directly to retailers and, occasionally, the public and businesses. It is an economic way of targeting and reaching vast numbers of people quickly, and frees you from the burden of contacting retailers individually.

Distributing products in bulk not only means products sell faster than one-at-a-time, but it also allows your business to grow at a quicker rate.

Dispensing products and collecting money is generally considered more manageable and easy than dealing with a variety of customers. However, both the wholesaler and retailer will add their own mark-ups, meaning your profit margin will be less than full potential.

Just like with distributors, do some meticulous research into the wholesalers available. Here are some things to think about when choosing an appropriate wholesaler: