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w w w.in s i g h t o n m f g . c o m November 2014 • /INSIGHT ON MANUFACTURING | 13 less than 1 percent five years ago to about 10 percent of its total sales. It's done quite well in Germany and is even breaking into France, a country that's nationalistic about its cheese products. "If you're going to do it, you've got to be committed, because the results won't come in a hurry," Schwager says. "And I would always tell people you need to plan on two to three years of investment before you start to turn the corner to get enough volume to make it pay off." COMMERCIAL • INDUSTRIAL • MANUFACTURING 1. "What is your competitive advantage with your product?" says Roxanne Baumann, director of global engagement for the Wisconsin Manufacturing Extension Partnership. "I can tell you if you're getting international inquiries right now, people are finding you because they like your value proposition. You want to develop a strategy to find customers who want that value proposition." 2. How can we choose the best country to begin exporting, or if a country has approached us about exporting, how do we start? "We can provide that type of information – what are the regulations, how do you comply, how do you find a freight forwarder, how do you find a distributor?" says Tandra Sbrocco, global education coordinator at Lakeshore Technical College. 3. Who are you selling your product to? What else does your buyer do? What will be the end use of your product? "You as the exporter of record still have the responsibility to check and make sure all these compliance issues are clear," says Dani Long, owner of the Chilton-based International Business Development, Inc. Questions to ask yourself about exporting To connect with manufacturing companies focused on the future and to learn more about member benefits, go to www.newmfgalliance.org Strengthen your workforce 1 ALLSTARS N e w N o r t h C A r e e r s i N M A N u f A C t u r i N g A p u b l i c a t i o n o f t h e N E W M a n u f a c t u r i n g A l l i a n c e | P r o d u c e d b y I n s i g h t P u b l i c a t i o n s Meet Erin and other All Star winners who are making a difference in manufacturing. 2014 Join the NEW Manufacturing Alliance… a group of manufacturers working with educational institutions, workforce development boards, chambers of commerce and state organizations to promote manufacturing in our region. Our objectives: • Create a positive view of manu- facturing careers in our area • Grow partnerships with K-16, media and other manufacturers • Promote workforce development • Advance collaboration efforts that promote the health of manufacturing